Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble finding the second disclosure statement, you can also call your daughter's college financial aid office directly and ask them to clarify exactly which document they need. Sometimes they'll accept a screenshot of the SAI from your studentaid.gov dashboard if you can't locate the actual PDF. Also, keep in mind that with all the FAFSA changes this year, processing times have been longer than usual - some families are seeing 7-10 days instead of the typical 3-5 days for the second disclosure statement to arrive.

For anyone still confused about the terminology - I work at a college financial aid office and can confirm that what schools call the "second disclosure statement" is indeed the Student Aid Report (SAR) that contains your official Student Aid Index (SAI). This document is generated after your FAFSA is fully processed and verified. You should receive it via email at the address you provided on your FAFSA, typically 3-7 business days after submission (longer this year due to system changes). If you can't find it in your email, log into studentaid.gov and look for "View and Print Student Aid Report" in your dashboard. Schools need this because it contains the official processed data they use to calculate your financial aid package. Hope this helps clear up the confusion!

UPDATE: I wanted to share what worked for me in case it helps anyone else. I called MOHELA this morning, asked specifically for a PSLF specialist, and requested to be switched from SAVE to PAYE. The first rep tried to tell me it wasn't possible, but I asked for a supervisor and mentioned the FSA guidance. The supervisor confirmed I could switch plans and processed my application! My payment will increase from $45 to about $75 per month - not ideal but MUCH better than the $550 standard plan. Most importantly, I'll continue making qualifying PSLF payments. For those still struggling, be persistent and specifically reference your right to change IDR plans despite the SAVE litigation. Thank you all for your help and support through this nightmare!

This is such a relief to read! I'm a social worker at a nonprofit and got hit with the same SAVE suspension nightmare last month. My servicer (FedLoan) initially told me I had to go into forbearance and lose my PSLF progress, but after reading this thread I called back three times until I got someone who understood the situation. I'm now on IBR and my payments only went up about $20/month from what I was paying under SAVE. The key was being super specific about wanting to switch IDR plans due to the litigation, not just asking for "options." I also want to mention that if anyone is having trouble with their servicer, filing a complaint through the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) can sometimes get faster results than the FSA feedback system. They take student loan complaints seriously and servicers have to respond within 15 days. Hang in there everyone - this political mess isn't our fault and we shouldn't have to suffer for it!

So glad to hear you got this resolved! This is such a valuable thread for anyone dealing with FAFSA SSN issues. I had a similar problem last year with my daughter's account where we entered her middle initial incorrectly, and it created the same validation nightmare. Your step-by-step breakdown of the solution will definitely help other parents who find themselves in this frustrating situation. The key takeaway seems to be asking specifically for "manual SSN correction" and requesting tier 2 technical support if needed. Thanks for taking the time to update us all!

What a relief to read through this entire thread! I'm a high school guidance counselor and I see this exact FAFSA SSN issue come up with students every year - usually around this time when deadlines are approaching. The detailed solution you all worked through here is spot-on. I'm definitely going to reference this thread when helping families navigate similar problems. The key points about asking for "manual SSN correction," requesting tier 2 support, and contacting the college for deadline extensions are all excellent advice. Thanks for documenting the entire process so thoroughly - this will help countless families who run into the same frustrating situation!

Thank you all so much for the advice. I'm going to: 1. Include my stepdad's disability income on the FAFSA as required 2. Immediately prepare special circumstances documentation for each school 3. Try that Claimyr service to get official clarification from FSA 4. Apply to a few more schools that might have better institutional aid It's frustrating that we have to report income that's basically consumed by medical expenses, but at least now I have a plan. I'll update if I get anywhere with the special circumstances appeals.

I went through something similar last year! My stepdad's disability income really hurt our financial aid prospects too. One thing that helped was reaching out to the financial aid offices BEFORE submitting the FAFSA to ask about their professional judgment policies. Some schools were way more helpful than others in explaining what documentation they'd need for medical expense appeals. Also, don't just focus on the big state schools - some smaller private colleges have way more flexibility with institutional aid and are more willing to work with families dealing with medical expenses. I ended up getting a much better aid package from a school I almost didn't apply to because I thought it would be too expensive. Keep pushing on those appeals even if the first response isn't great. Sometimes it takes multiple conversations to get to someone who really understands the situation.

I went through a similar situation with my daughter last year when my ex-husband lost his job mid-year. One thing I learned is that you can actually update your FAFSA information if there's been a significant change in circumstances since the tax year being used. The 2025-2026 FAFSA uses 2023 tax data, but since your ex-husband's disability started in 2024, you may be able to get what's called a "data change" to reflect his current lower income. Contact the financial aid office at your daughter's university - they can often make adjustments for situations like long-term disability that happened after the base tax year. This could potentially give you even better aid than just choosing which parent to report!

Just wanted to add another perspective on this - I work at a university financial aid office and see these situations frequently. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that if your daughter's father is receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), this information should definitely be included in any Professional Judgment appeal. Disability benefits are treated differently in the aid calculation and can significantly impact the final determination. Also, make sure to keep detailed records of all medical expenses related to the disability, as these can sometimes be factored into the appeal process as well. The key is comprehensive documentation when you approach the financial aid office - the more complete picture you can provide of the changed circumstances, the better they can assist you.