@questioner: Yes, families can make legitimate financial decisions before filing FAFSA. The key factors are timing and purpose. Transfers made solely to maximize aid eligibility could potentially be questioned, but normal financial management decisions are perfectly acceptable. For example, if parents reimburse themselves for education expenses they previously covered from their own funds, or if students contribute to household expenses, these are legitimate money movements. The important thing is that any financial changes reflect genuine family financial arrangements, not temporary shuffling just for FAFSA purposes. Documentation of the legitimate purpose behind any significant money movements is always recommended.

Just wanted to add from personal experience - we were in almost the exact same situation last year! Had about $8K in my daughter's savings from birthday/graduation gifts over the years. After reading similar advice here, we used her account to pay tuition and it made a noticeable difference on this year's SAI calculation. One tip for your appointment tomorrow: bring a printout of both account balances as of today. Sometimes the financial aid officers ask for this info during verification meetings, and it shows you're prepared. Also, don't stress too much about the Tuesday deadline - most schools have a grace period for payment plans if financial aid is still processing. Good luck with everything! The FAFSA maze gets easier once you've been through it a few times.

UPDATE: I finally got in! Used the Claimyr service that someone mentioned above to reach an FSA agent who gave me specific instructions. Had to clear ALL browser data, turn off my wifi, connect via mobile hotspot, and then access the site at 4:15am. Not ideal but it worked! Now frantically filling everything out before any more technical issues happen. Thanks everyone for the help!

I'm having the same exact issue! Been locked out since Monday trying to complete my daughter's FAFSA. Really frustrating that this keeps happening every year during crunch time. I'm going to try the early morning access method that @Mei Chen mentioned - hopefully 4am works better than normal hours. Has anyone had luck contacting their school's financial aid office directly about this? Wondering if they have any workarounds or if they're just telling everyone to wait it out.

You're doing great by having a plan! Just wanted to add one more tip - when you do get your aid packages, don't just look at the bottom line. Break down each offer to see: - How much is grants/scholarships (free money you don't repay) - How much is work-study (money you earn working on campus) - How much is subsidized vs unsubsidized loans - What the interest rates are on any loans Some schools make their packages look better by including Parent PLUS loans or private loans that have much higher interest rates. As a single parent with your income level, you'll want to stick to federal direct loans if possible - they have better repayment options and protections. Also, once you start school, look into becoming a tutor or TA if possible. Many schools pay well for these positions and the flexible schedule works great for parents!

Your negative SAI is actually fantastic news! As others mentioned, it means maximum Pell Grant eligibility. I went back to school as a single parent too with similar income and was amazed at how much the dependency status of my children helped with aid calculations. One thing I wish someone had told me - start building relationships with the financial aid offices at your target schools NOW. Don't wait for acceptance letters. Most offices are happy to do preliminary aid estimates based on your SAI, and some schools have special emergency funds or institutional grants for parents returning to education that aren't widely advertised. Also consider community college for prerequisites if any of your target programs allow it. I saved thousands doing my first two years at CC while working, then transferred. The credits counted the same but cost about 1/4 as much. You've got this! The hardest part is taking that first step, and you're already there.

Hey I just remembered something important!! Make sure your daughter applies for scholarships TOO not just FAFSA!! My son got a $5,000 scholarship just for writing a 500-word essay about why he wants to be an engineer!! Lots of free $$$ out there if you look for it!!

One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - make sure to keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit! When my older kid went through this process, we had to resubmit documents multiple times because things got "lost" in the system. I created a dedicated folder (both digital and physical) with copies of all tax documents, W-2s, bank statements, and screenshots of every FAFSA submission confirmation. Also, if your daughter ends up getting selected for verification (which is pretty common), having everything organized will save you weeks of scrambling to find documents later. Trust me on this one!

Thank you all SO much for this detailed advice! This is exactly what I needed to hear. I'm feeling much more prepared now. I'll definitely: 1. Mark December 1st on my calendar and plan to submit FAFSA that first day 2. Start gathering our 2023 tax documents now 3. Create FSA IDs for both me and my husband in November 4. Research which of her target schools require CSS Profile 5. Make a list of each school's priority financial aid deadlines One follow-up question - should I also be looking into private scholarships now, or wait until after we see what financial aid packages look like? I don't want to overwhelm myself but also don't want to miss opportunities. Really appreciate this community - you've all been incredibly helpful! 🙏

As someone who just went through this process with my oldest, I can't stress enough how important it is to get organized early! One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - consider opening a dedicated email folder or using a spreadsheet to track all your financial aid deadlines and requirements for each school. Each college can have different deadlines, different required forms (some want CSS Profile, some don't), and different verification requirements. Also, don't forget about your state's financial aid programs! Many states have their own grant programs with earlier deadlines than federal aid. In my state, we had to submit by February 15th for the state grant, which was actually a significant amount of money. The process feels overwhelming at first, but once you break it down into steps like you've done, it becomes much more manageable. Your daughter is lucky to have a parent who's planning ahead like this! Best of luck with everything!