As someone who just went through this process with my twins, I can confirm everyone's advice is correct! Use your 2023 tax return that you filed in 2024. One thing I'll add - if you're self-employed or have any business income, make sure you're using the correct AGI line from your 1040. It's line 11 on the current form. Also, don't stress too much about minor mistakes - you can always go back and make corrections to the FAFSA after you submit it. The schools will usually let you know if something looks off and needs to be fixed. Good luck with your daughter's applications!

One thing that really helped me when I was filling out FAFSA for my son last year was to have all the documents organized before starting - your 2023 tax return, bank statements, investment records, etc. The FAFSA will ask for specific numbers and having everything in one place makes it so much easier! Also, if you're married filing jointly, make sure you're using the combined AGI from your joint return, not trying to separate out individual incomes. The form can be confusing but once you get through it the first time, it becomes much clearer for future years. Your daughter is lucky to have a parent who's being so careful about getting it right!

Yes, you can absolutely appeal financial aid offers! This is called a "professional judgment review" or sometimes a "financial aid appeal." Each school handles these differently, but the process typically involves: 1. Writing a formal letter to the financial aid office explaining why you believe additional aid is warranted 2. Providing documentation of any special circumstances not captured on the FAFSA (job loss, medical expenses, etc.) 3. Sometimes including a competing offer from another comparable institution Colleges have discretion to adjust their offers, especially if there are circumstances that the standardized FAFSA formula doesn't account for. Some schools have limited funds for adjustments, while others (particularly private colleges with large endowments) have more flexibility. The most effective appeals are those with documented changes in financial circumstances since your tax year data or exceptional expenses that affect your ability to pay the expected contribution. Simply saying "we can't afford it" without documentation typically isn't effective.

Just wanted to add one more thing that really helped us - create a spreadsheet to track all the different deadlines and requirements for each school your son applies to. Every college has different FAFSA priority dates, some require CSS Profile, some have their own supplemental forms, and scholarship deadlines can be all over the place. We had a simple spreadsheet with columns for school name, FAFSA deadline, CSS Profile required (Y/N), CSS deadline, any school-specific forms, and scholarship application deadlines. It saved us from missing anything important and helped us stay organized during what can be a really chaotic time. Also, if your son ends up applying to any schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need (mostly highly selective private colleges), those tend to be much more generous with aid even for middle-income families. The trick is getting accepted, but it's worth looking into if his stats are competitive!

btw one more thing - sometimes if u have a major change in financial situation u can appeal the SAI. my friend lost her job after filing fafsa and they got it reduced. so keep that in mind if anything big changes

I'm in a similar situation with my son - our SAI came back at 22,500 and I was initially panicked thinking we'd only get loans. But after reading through all these responses, I feel much more hopeful! It sounds like the key is really applying to a good mix of schools and comparing their actual aid packages rather than assuming the worst based on the SAI alone. One thing I'm planning to do is create a spreadsheet to track each school's total cost, what aid they offer, and our actual out-of-pocket cost so we can make an informed decision. Has anyone else found that helpful for comparing offers across multiple schools?

Thank you all for the incredibly helpful information! Just to make sure I have everything straight: 1. Use 2023 tax return for 2025-26 FAFSA 2. Have my son create his FSA ID early 3. For our changed financial situation, complete FAFSA first, then contact each school individually 4. Use the FAFSA Simulator to get an early estimate of our SAI 5. Make sure to mention multiple children in college when talking to financial aid offices 6. Pay extra attention to parent/contributor sections to avoid delays This has been so much more helpful than anything I've found on the official websites. I feel much more prepared now!

As someone who just went through this process with my oldest, I can confirm everything mentioned here is accurate! One additional tip: if you're planning to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) to automatically import your tax info, make sure you've filed your 2023 taxes using the EXACT same name and address that's on your FSA ID. Even small discrepancies like middle initials or apartment numbers can cause the DRT to fail, and then you'll have to enter everything manually. Also, keep in mind that if you filed an amended return for 2023, you might not be able to use the DRT and will need to enter the information manually from your tax documents. Starting early like you're doing is definitely the smart approach!

That's such great news that you got through and they have the relief program available! For anyone else still struggling with this - I'd also recommend checking if your school has a student emergency fund or hardship grants through the Dean of Students office. Sometimes these are separate from financial aid and can be processed faster. Also, if you're dealing with private landlords for off-campus housing, try contacting your school's off-campus housing office - many have relationships with local landlords and can help advocate for payment deferrals when students are waiting for aid. The key really seems to be being specific about the FAFSA delays when you're asking for help!

As someone who went through this exact situation last year (though not due to FAFSA delays), I want to emphasize how important it is to get everything in writing when you're requesting deferrals or extensions. When I contacted our apartment management company, they initially said they could waive late fees, but then later claimed they had no record of our conversation. Having email confirmations saved us from a $150 late fee. Also, for the health insurance specifically - most university health plans have a grace period that's not well advertised. When I called our student health services, they told me there's actually a 10-day grace period after the due date before coverage is suspended, which bought us extra time. Don't just assume the posted due date is the absolute deadline!