I'm also dealing with defaulted loans from around that same timeframe (2011) and have been absolutely paralyzed by this situation for over a decade! Reading through everyone's experiences here is honestly the first ray of hope I've had in years. Like so many others, I had completely convinced myself that I was permanently banned from any federal aid and would need to come up with impossible amounts of money upfront. The fact that Fresh Start exists and that rehabilitation payments can be income-based (potentially as low as $9-15/month!) is absolutely mind-blowing to me. I've been trapped in that same shame and avoidance cycle that so many people have described - the fear of facing it felt scarier than just continuing to hide from it, but that just made the anxiety worse over time. It's incredible to see how many people here have successfully gone from defaulted loans to receiving Pell Grants again. That proves this nightmare situation is actually fixable, even though it's felt impossible for so long. I'm definitely going to start with the Fresh Start program since it sounds like the quickest path forward, but knowing rehabilitation is there as a backup gives me real peace of mind. Thank you everyone for sharing your stories so openly - this thread is exactly what I needed to finally stop letting my past mistakes control my future and start taking action to get my life back on track!

I'm also in this exact situation with defaulted loans from around 2013, and this entire thread has been such an emotional rollercoaster for me - but in the best way possible! I've been living with this constant dread and shame for over 10 years, absolutely convinced that I had permanently destroyed my chance at ever going back to school. Like so many others here, I thought I'd need to pay thousands upfront or hundreds per month that I simply don't have. Learning about Fresh Start and income-based rehabilitation payments as low as $9-15/month is honestly life-changing information that I wish I'd known years ago! The relief I feel just knowing there are real, concrete solutions is incredible. I've been stuck in that same avoidance cycle where the fear of dealing with it felt worse than just ignoring it, but reading all these success stories proves that facing it is actually manageable. What really gets me emotional is realizing how many of us have been silently carrying this same burden, thinking we were alone and permanently screwed. This thread is proof that we're not! I'm going to start with Fresh Start first thing tomorrow - after reading everyone's experiences, I finally feel like I can take control of this situation instead of letting it control me. Thank you all for being so brave in sharing your stories - you've literally changed the trajectory of my life today!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My mom has been out of work for about 6 months and I was really hoping I could just handle everything myself since she gets overwhelmed with online stuff. But after reading all these responses, it's clear there's no way around it - she definitely needs her own FSA ID and has to sign everything herself. Thanks everyone for the heads up about unemployment benefits counting as income too - I would have totally missed that! And @Natasha Petrov, that Claimyr service sounds really helpful since I know I'll probably have questions once we start filling everything out. Has anyone else used it or have other tips for getting through to FAFSA support when you need help? Guess it's time to have "the talk" with my mom about creating yet another online account 😅

I've been helping students with FAFSA applications for years, and unfortunately yes - you absolutely must create a parent FSA ID for your mom even with zero income. Here's what you need to know: 1. Every dependent student needs parent contributor signatures, regardless of income level 2. Your mom will need her own FSA ID to electronically sign your FAFSA 3. She'll report $0 income but still complete asset questions 4. If she received unemployment benefits in 2023, those count as reportable income Pro tip: Make the FSA ID creation a team effort! Sit with her, have all documents ready (SSN, driver's license), and choose a time when you're both patient. The process usually takes 10-15 minutes once you have everything organized. Also, having a parent with low/no income often increases your aid eligibility, so this extra step is actually working in your favor financially. Don't let the technology hurdle discourage you - the financial benefits make it worth the effort!

Thanks for creating this thread - I was starting to think my computer was dying! I've been having the exact same loading issues for the past three days. What's really frustrating is that I got about 80% through my son's application on Tuesday, but then it froze during the parent financial information section and now I can't even get back to where I was. Has anyone else lost partial progress like this? I'm worried I'll have to start completely over. Also seeing lots of great advice here about trying early morning hours - definitely going to set my alarm for 5am tomorrow and give it another shot with incognito mode. Fingers crossed!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who works in financial aid at a state university - we're definitely seeing a huge uptick in students reporting these technical issues this week. The FAFSA system gets absolutely hammered this time of year, especially with the new SAI calculations putting extra load on their servers. A few things that might help beyond what's already been mentioned: - If you're using a VPN, try disconnecting it temporarily - Some campus libraries have dedicated "FAFSA completion" computers that seem to work better (might be worth calling your local college to ask) - The mobile app version sometimes works when the desktop site doesn't And please don't panic about missing deadlines! Most schools (including ours) are very understanding about technical difficulties with the federal system. Just document your attempts with screenshots and timestamps. We'd much rather work with families on extensions than have students miss out on aid because of website issues that are completely out of their control.

Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful as someone just starting to navigate this process! I'm feeling much more prepared now thanks to everyone's detailed explanations. One thing I wanted to add for other newcomers - I just discovered that some colleges have their own institutional loan programs for parents that might have better terms than Parent PLUS loans. I found out our daughter's prospective school offers a parent loan program with a lower interest rate and no origination fee. It's worth asking the financial aid office about all available options during your aid review meeting. Also, for those of you mentioning the complexity of managing multiple loans from different servicers - I've heard some families create a simple calendar reminder system with all the different due dates and servicer contact info. Seems like good organization from the start could save a lot of headaches later. The point about timing applications closer to when tuition is due really resonates with me. Every month of avoided interest accrual adds up! I'm planning to mark my calendar for about 60 days before our first payment is due to start the Parent PLUS application process. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this kind of practical wisdom is invaluable for families going through this for the first time!

As a newcomer to this whole Parent PLUS loan process, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this thread has been! Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has really clarified what seemed like a confusing and overwhelming process. I'm in a similar situation to the original poster - my son will be starting college in fall 2025, and my spouse and I were also confused about whether we could apply jointly. It's reassuring to know we're not the only ones who found the official information unclear on this point! The key takeaways I'm gathering are: choose the parent with better credit history (not income), consider the long-term credit impact, explore all other options first, and time the application strategically to minimize interest accrual. The tip about checking for state-specific parent loan programs and institutional loans from the college itself is something I definitely wouldn't have thought to research on my own. One question I have - for those who've been through this process, how much lead time should we realistically plan for getting everything sorted? Between waiting for FAFSA processing, reviewing aid packages, and potentially appealing for more aid, it seems like there are a lot of moving pieces with their own timelines. Thanks everyone for creating such a valuable resource for families navigating this process!

As a newcomer to this community and the financial aid world, I just wanted to add my voice to this incredibly helpful discussion! Miguel, your question was exactly what I needed to see - I just received my SAI of -1800 and was completely confused about whether that was good or bad news. Reading through all these detailed responses has been like getting a crash course in financial aid from people who actually know what they're talking about! I'm especially grateful for the practical tips about setting up financial aid portals, creating spreadsheets for deadlines, and understanding that negative SAI means high financial need rather than something I messed up. The advice about checking state aid programs and asking schools about their specific policies is going to be so valuable as I move forward. It's amazing to see how this community comes together to help first-time applicants navigate such a complex but crucial process. Thanks to everyone who shared their expertise - you're making college feel much more achievable for those of us who are figuring this out as we go!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for this comprehensive discussion! Miguel, your question perfectly captured what so many first-time FAFSA applicants are experiencing. I just received my SAI results showing -2050 and was honestly terrified, thinking I had made some catastrophic error in my application. Reading through everyone's detailed explanations about how negative SAI actually indicates high financial need has been such a relief! The practical advice shared here is invaluable - especially the tips about setting up financial aid portals early, creating spreadsheets to track deadlines, and understanding that each school will use your SAI differently. I'm particularly grateful for the insights about state aid programs and work-study opportunities, which I hadn't even considered. It's amazing to see financial aid professionals, experienced students, and supportive parents all contributing their knowledge to help newcomers navigate this complex process. This thread is going to be my go-to reference as I work through my applications. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative community!