This thread has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea so many people were dealing with these massive SAI increases! Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear that the new FAFSA formula changes are having much bigger impacts than anyone expected. What strikes me most is how the system seems to be penalizing families who were already struggling or trying to be financially responsible. Between the reduced asset protection allowances, different treatment of retirement distributions, and the formula using outdated 2023 tax data that doesn't reflect current unemployment situations, it's creating real hardships for students who were counting on consistent aid. I'm really grateful for all the practical advice shared here - especially the tips about documenting everything, contacting student ombudsman offices, looking into emergency aid funds, and being persistent with appeals. The success stories like @Dmitry Ivanov getting a 40% SAI reduction give me hope that the system, while frustrating, can be navigated if you know what steps to take. For anyone still working through this process, it seems like the key takeaways are: start your professional judgment appeal ASAP, include comprehensive documentation of ALL financial changes (not just the obvious ones), follow up regularly, and don't be afraid to explore multiple resources simultaneously - emergency aid, payment plans, institutional scholarships, work-study, etc. Hang in there everyone - this situation is incredibly stressful but you're not alone in dealing with it!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the exact same thing happened to me! My SAI jumped from around 200 to over 9,000 despite our income actually decreasing this year. It's absolutely devastating when you're counting on that aid. Based on what I learned from going through this nightmare, here are the most important things to do immediately: 1. Contact your school's financial aid office ASAP to start a professional judgment appeal - don't wait for your aid package to come out 2. Gather all documentation of your dad's job loss: unemployment benefits letter, termination notice, recent pay stubs showing reduced income 3. Write a detailed letter explaining how your 2024 financial situation differs from the 2023 tax returns the FAFSA is using The new FAFSA formula is brutal - it reduced asset protection allowances and counts certain income differently than before. But the good news is that job loss absolutely qualifies for special circumstances review, and schools do have funds set aside for these situations. I also recommend calling the Federal Student Aid line directly (not just your school) to get a breakdown of exactly how your SAI was calculated. It can help you understand what specific factors caused the increase. Don't panic - the appeals process really does work, but you need to be proactive and persistent. Start gathering those documents today!

I'm a college financial aid advisor and see these international/non-filing situations regularly! A few additional points that might help: 1) When your son completes the FAFSA, he should save copies of EVERYTHING before hitting submit - the system can be glitchy and you don't want to lose hours of work. 2) For the Spanish tax document ("Declaración de la Renta"), make sure it's from tax year 2023 for the 2025-26 FAFSA. Keep the original Spanish version AND prepare an English summary of the key income figures. 3) Don't forget about asset reporting - if either parent has foreign bank accounts, investments, or property, those need to be converted to USD and reported too. 4) Consider applying to schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need, as your family's income situation will likely qualify for substantial aid. The verification process is standard for international income cases, so don't stress when (not if) you get selected. Having everything organized beforehand makes all the difference. Your son is fortunate to have such a supportive family helping navigate this process!

I'm new to this community but going through a very similar situation with my daughter! My husband works in Canada and I don't earn enough to file US taxes. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea about the IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter or that verification was normal for international income situations. One thing I wanted to add from our experience so far: when we called the FAFSA help line, they told us to make sure we have documentation showing the relationship between the student and the foreign-income parent (birth certificate, etc.) ready for verification. Apparently some families run into issues there. Also, our financial aid counselor at my daughter's school suggested keeping a detailed log of every phone call and interaction we have during the process - dates, names, reference numbers, what was discussed. She said it really helps if there are any discrepancies or delays later. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is going to save us so much stress and confusion!

Just wanted to add one more perspective on managing subsidized vs unsubsidized loans with twins! I went through this with my daughters who are now seniors in college. One thing that really helped us was setting up automatic payments on any unsubsidized loans we did end up taking - most loan servicers offer a 0.25% interest rate reduction for autopay, which saves money over the life of the loan. Also, if your twins are academically strong, encourage them to apply for merit scholarships at their schools even after they're enrolled. Many colleges have departmental scholarships that students can apply for after their first semester, and these can reduce the need for loans in subsequent years. My daughters were able to secure some small departmental scholarships ($500-$1500 each) that helped offset costs and meant we could decline some of the unsubsidized loans offered in later years. The key is to stay engaged with the financial aid process throughout all four years, not just during the initial application period. Aid packages can change based on academic performance, family circumstances, and available funding, so it's worth revisiting your borrowing strategy each year!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also preparing for twins starting college in fall 2025 and was feeling completely overwhelmed by all the loan terminology. Reading everyone's experiences has given me such a clearer picture of what to expect. A few key takeaways I'm noting for my own planning: 1) Direct Subsidized Loans are the gold standard since interest doesn't accrue until after graduation, 2) Having twins in college simultaneously can actually help with aid calculations by spreading our family contribution, 3) Award letters will clearly label loan types so we won't accidentally accept the wrong ones, and 4) We can accept partial amounts rather than full loan offers. I'm definitely going to create that tracking spreadsheet and submit both FAFSA applications as early as possible in October. The community college strategy is also intriguing - I'll need to research transfer agreements in our area. Has anyone had experience with twins choosing different paths (one community college, one four-year) or do most families keep them on the same track for simplicity? Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences - it's so much more valuable than the generic advice I've been finding elsewhere!

I'm jumping in as another parent navigating this for the first time! My daughter is also heading to college next fall and I was equally confused about the FSA ID situation. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I especially appreciate the warnings about scam websites and the advice about testing login credentials before starting the actual application. One quick question: should we create both FSA IDs at the same time, or is there a recommended order? I'm thinking we should have my daughter create hers first since she'll be the one initiating the FAFSA application, but I wanted to confirm that makes sense. Also, has anyone had success reaching Federal Student Aid by phone early in the morning or late in the day to avoid those long hold times?

I'm in exactly the same boat as you, Charlotte! My daughter is also college-bound this fall and I was completely overwhelmed trying to figure out the FSA ID situation. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief - it's clear that yes, you both need separate FSA IDs with different email addresses. What I found most helpful from everyone's advice is to start early (at least 2-3 weeks before you want to submit), have your daughter create her FSA ID first, then create your own, and make sure to test both login credentials before starting the actual FAFSA. I'm also going to follow the suggestion about having all tax documents completely finalized before beginning. It's so reassuring to know there are other parents going through this exact same confusion! We're definitely not alone in finding this process intimidating at first.

Hey TillyCombatwarrior! I just went through this exact same situation last month and can totally relate to the anxiety! "Processed" is actually fantastic news - it means the Department of Education has finished calculating your Student Aid Index (SAI) and officially sent your data to all the schools you applied to. You're completely done with the federal FAFSA requirements! I was freaking out too when I first saw "processed" because like you, I had no idea what it meant or if I needed to do something else. Turns out it's actually the status you WANT to see - it means you've successfully cleared the federal hurdle and now each school will create their own aid packages using your information. The reason you're not seeing award letters yet is because each school works on their own timeline. Some are super fast (2-3 weeks after processing) while others can take months depending on their aid cycles and available funding. I'd definitely recommend checking your individual school portals regularly, not just email, since some schools post updates there first. Also, your SAI should be available in your Student Aid Report under "My Documents" on studentaid.gov - that's the key number schools use to determine your aid eligibility. The fact that you don't see any verification requests is a great sign too! You've done everything right - now it's just the waiting game. Hang in there! 🙂

Hey TillyCombatwarrior! I just created my account here specifically to respond to your post because I went through this EXACT same panic just a few weeks ago! "Processed" is actually amazing news - it means you've officially completed the federal side of financial aid and your Student Aid Index has been calculated and sent to all your schools. I was in the same boat where I couldn't find my SAI anywhere at first, but like everyone mentioned, check under "My Documents" on studentaid.gov for your Student Aid Report. That's where you'll find that magic number that schools use to build your aid packages. The waiting for award letters is brutal (I'm still waiting on 2 out of 5 schools myself), but each institution really does work on their own timeline. I've been keeping a simple spreadsheet with my schools, their financial aid office phone numbers, and dates of any contact - it's helped me stay organized and less anxious. Since you submitted in April and it's now processed with no verification flags, you're in great shape! The hardest part (that terrible FAFSA form) is behind you. Now it's just a matter of waiting for schools to work their magic with your SAI. You've got this! 🎉