Update: I called the FSA office this morning (waited 45 minutes but finally got through). They added a note to my profile about the identity theft situation and gave me some specific instructions for when we file the FAFSA. They also suggested we request an extension from any schools with early financial aid deadlines just in case there are processing delays. Thank you all for your helpful advice!

So glad you were able to get through to FSA and get that note added to your profile! That was definitely the right first step. One thing I'd also recommend - keep detailed records of every phone call, reference number, and person you speak with throughout this process. With identity theft situations, sometimes information doesn't get passed along properly between different departments or agents. Having your own paper trail can save you from having to re-explain your situation multiple times. Also, if your son's FAFSA does get selected for verification (which sounds likely), respond to any requests immediately - even a few days delay can push you to the back of the processing queue. Wishing you and your son the best of luck with this whole process!

Just to add a final point - if your nephew's biological father is contributing significantly to his education costs, that should be reported in the additional information section of the FAFSA or in a separate letter to each college's financial aid office. While it won't change the federal calculation, individual colleges may take it into account when awarding their institutional aid.

As someone who just went through this process with my own stepkid, I can confirm what others have said - it's definitely just the parent your nephew lives with most (his mom) plus her current spouse (stepdad). The FAFSA doesn't care about the biological father's income or his new wife's income in this situation. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have all the tax documents ready for both the mom AND stepdad before you start - you'll need their W-2s, tax returns, and bank statements. The process goes much smoother when you have everything in front of you rather than trying to hunt down documents mid-application. Good luck!

Wednesday afternoons - that's a great tip! I'll try that too if my morning attempt doesn't work. Thanks!

I feel your frustration! I went through something similar last year with my FAFSA verification. One thing that helped me was calling their TTY line at 1-800-730-8913 - it's technically for hearing impaired students but sometimes has shorter wait times. Also, if you're a first-generation college student or from a low-income family, you might qualify for assistance through TRIO programs at your school - they sometimes have direct contacts at Federal Student Aid that can escalate issues faster than the general helpline. Don't give up, and definitely document all your call attempts in case you need to appeal any deadlines later!

This is such an inspiring outcome! Thank you for sharing your success story - it gives me hope for my own financial aid appeal process. I'm dealing with a similar situation at a different school where they're using processing delays to deny aid. Your advice about documenting everything and being persistent is gold. I'm definitely going to reach out to my admissions counselor too - I hadn't thought of that angle. Congratulations on getting the aid you deserved!

This is such a great example of why students need to advocate for themselves in the financial aid process! William, your persistence really paid off and I'm so glad you shared the specific steps that worked. For anyone else facing this issue, I'd also suggest screenshotting your FAFSA dashboard showing the submission date as backup documentation - sometimes the confirmation emails can get lost but your account history is always there. It's ridiculous that schools are using processing delays against students, but stories like this prove that appeals can work when you have the right documentation and approach!

Summarizing what everyone has said: 1. Only your mom is legally responsible to the Department of Education 2. The divorce court may create a separate agreement between your parents 3. For future FAFSAs, you'll report the parent you live with more (or who provides more support) 4. Your FAFSA SAI calculation will change if you're only reporting one parent's income instead of two I'd recommend having your mom login to studentaid.gov to confirm she's the only one on the loan and to understand her repayment options going forward.

I'm going through something similar with my parents' separation. One thing that helped me was getting everything in writing from my loan servicer about who's actually responsible. You can also check your mom's Federal Student Aid account to see all the loan details and payment history. The divorce might actually help with your future FAFSA if you end up reporting just one parent's income instead of both - could potentially increase your aid eligibility depending on their individual financial situations.