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The app is actually being discontinued with the new FAFSA. Everything is moving to the studentaid.gov website with the redesigned form.
Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this confusion last year! You absolutely keep your existing FSA IDs - they're like your permanent digital identity for all things federal student aid. The key thing to remember is that the FSA ID system and the FAFSA application are separate - even though the FAFSA form gets updated every year with new features and requirements, your login credentials stay the same. I've been using the same FSA ID since my oldest started college 3 years ago, and now I'm using it for my second child too. The only time you'd need a new one is if you completely lost access and couldn't recover it through the official channels.
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really helpful to hear from someone who's been through this with multiple kids. I was getting stressed thinking we'd have to start from scratch, but it sounds like once you have your FSA IDs set up, you're good to go for years. That makes the whole process seem much more manageable!
Coming back to this thread - there was an official announcement from Federal Student Aid yesterday about intermittent login issues affecting some users. They're implementing a fix this weekend. If your daughter still can't access her account by Monday, definitely contact them directly as her account might need individual attention. Remember that the 2025-2026 FAFSA priority deadline for many colleges is coming up in March, so you'll want to resolve this soon!
Thanks for the update! I'll have her try again after their weekend maintenance. If that doesn't work, we'll definitely reach out to them directly. Really appreciate everyone's help with this!
I'm dealing with the exact same issue! My daughter has been trying to log into her 2025-2026 FAFSA for over a week now and keeps getting timeout errors. We've tried different browsers, clearing cache, and logging in at different times of day but nothing works. It's so frustrating because the deadline is approaching and we can't even get past the login screen. Has anyone found a reliable solution that actually works? The StudentAid.gov help page is basically useless and just tells you to "try again later.
quick tip for elmselect - make sure u put in the EXAXT school name. i kept getting no results until i realized i was typing "university of michigan" instead of "university of michigan-ann arbor" lol took me forever to figure that out
As someone who just went through this exact decision process last semester, I wanted to add a few things that might help: 1. **Grace period differences**: Federal loans have a 6-month grace period after graduation before payments start. Some private loans offer this too, but not all - definitely confirm this with any private lender you're considering. 2. **Tax benefits**: Federal loan interest is tax-deductible up to $2,500/year (with income limits). Private loan interest is also deductible, but it's worth noting for your future planning. 3. **Death/disability discharge**: This is morbid but important - federal loans are discharged if you become permanently disabled or pass away. Not all private loans offer this protection, so check the fine print. 4. **Consider community college**: If you're really struggling with costs, taking some gen ed requirements at community college over summer can reduce your total borrowing need. Many CC credits transfer and cost a fraction of university tuition. The mix approach you ended up with sounds really smart - maximizing federal protections while getting better rates where possible. Good luck with everything!
This is such helpful additional info! I had no idea about the death/disability discharge differences - definitely something I need to check on the private loan I'm considering. The grace period point is huge too since I'm not sure exactly when I'll have a job lined up after graduation. The community college suggestion is really smart for reducing overall costs. I might look into taking some summer courses at our local CC to knock out a few more gen eds and reduce what I need to borrow next year. Thanks for sharing your experience!
That's fantastic news, Fatima! Your success story gives me so much hope. The $12,000 in institutional grants plus the potential for departmental scholarships shows that persistence really pays off. I'm definitely going to follow your approach - gathering all the medical documentation and emphasizing my daughter's academic record when we meet with financial aid next week. It's encouraging to hear that schools are recognizing these SAI formula issues and actually setting aside funds to help families navigate the transition. Thanks for sharing your update - it's exactly what so many of us needed to hear right now!
This is so encouraging to read! I'm new to this whole financial aid appeals process and honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed by everything. My family is in a similar situation - our SAI jumped dramatically when my older sibling graduated, and I'm worried about affording my sophomore year. Seeing that schools actually have institutional funds set aside for these exact situations gives me hope that there might be options I didn't know about. Thanks for sharing your experience, it really helps to know that the appeal process can actually work!
Welcome to the community, Julian! Don't feel overwhelmed - you're already taking the right steps by researching your options here. The appeals process might seem daunting, but as you can see from everyone's experiences, many schools are genuinely trying to help students navigate these SAI formula changes. Since you're facing a similar sibling graduation situation, I'd recommend starting by gathering documentation of any special circumstances (medical expenses, job changes, etc.) and scheduling a meeting with your financial aid office ASAP. Many schools have deadlines for appeals, so don't wait too long. Also, ask specifically about departmental scholarships in your major - these are often overlooked but can provide significant funding that isn't tied to FAFSA calculations. Good luck with your appeal!
Thanks so much Sophie! This is all really helpful advice. I'm definitely going to start gathering documentation right away - we actually had some unexpected medical expenses this past year that I hadn't thought about including in an appeal. I'll also look into departmental scholarships in my engineering program. It's reassuring to know that there are people here who understand what we're going through and are willing to share their knowledge. I really appreciate the warm welcome to the community!
Amara Oluwaseyi
Update: I finally got through to FSA today (after using that Claimyr service someone mentioned) and they confirmed December 1st for the 2025-26 application. The agent also said they're planning a "smoother rollout" than last year but I'll believe it when I see it! She recommended creating your FSA ID well before December if you don't already have one, because that system gets overloaded too.
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Sofia Torres
As a newcomer here, I just want to say thank you all for this incredibly helpful thread! I'm in the exact same situation - my son will be a sophomore next year and I was completely confused about the FAFSA timeline. The December 1st date is definitely news to me, but it makes sense given all the changes they've been making. I'm going to follow everyone's advice and set up multiple reminders, make sure our FSA IDs are ready, and submit as early as possible on December 1st. It's really reassuring to see a community where people help each other navigate this confusing system!
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