One more important tip: The new system calculates the Student Aid Index (SAI) differently than the old EFC formula. Your son might qualify for more or less aid than in previous years, even with similar financial information. The biggest changes are: 1. More protection for low-income families 2. Different treatment of multiple students in college 3. Changes to how assets are counted Once you complete the form, your son should contact his college's financial aid office to understand how his specific aid package might change under the new system. Many schools are still figuring out how to adapt their institutional aid to work with the new federal formula.

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble with the parent contributor invitation system, make sure your son sends the invitation from HIS account after he's already started his application. I kept trying to create my FSA ID before my daughter had sent the invite and it kept giving me errors. Also, the 2022 tax thing threw me off too - apparently they switched to "prior-prior year" a few years ago to make processing faster, but with all the delays this year it seems pointless! The whole "simplified" FAFSA is anything but simple. Hang in there - we're all figuring this mess out together!

UPDATE: Thank you all for your advice! I spoke with both the financial aid office and the enrollment management director. They've agreed to provide us with a preliminary aid estimate based on our SAI score, and they're extending our deposit deadline to June 1st. They also put in writing that if the final package is significantly different, we can request a full deposit refund. I'm still frustrated with the overall situation, but I feel much better knowing we have some flexibility. For anyone else dealing with this, definitely reach out directly to the school and ask for these accommodations - it worked for us!

This is such great news to hear! I'm a high school counselor and I've been dealing with panicked families all month about these FAFSA delays. Your success story gives me hope that I can guide other families through this same process. I'm definitely going to share your strategy with my students - specifically asking for preliminary estimates based on SAI scores and getting deposit refund policies in writing. The fact that you got an extended deadline AND a refund guarantee shows that schools really can be flexible when families advocate for themselves. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone. Stories like yours help other families know they're not powerless in this situation!

Just wanted to update - I called FSA this morning (used the Claimyr service that was suggested and got through in about 15 minutes!). The agent confirmed that since my mother's Social Security and retirement cover more than 50% of her expenses, I was correct NOT to include her in my household size. She suggested I keep documentation of how I calculated this in case of verification. Thanks everyone for your help!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my grandfather who moved in with us last year. He has his pension and Social Security, but we cover some of his medical expenses and help with groceries. Reading through these responses, it sounds like I need to sit down and actually calculate what percentage of his total support we're providing. The 50% rule seems pretty clear once you understand it, but you're right that the FAFSA wording can be confusing at first glance.

just filled out fafsa for my kid and the question says "How many people are in your parents household" and then explains it means people your parents support between july 2025 and june 2026. so definitely current/future not past. hope that helps

I just went through this same situation with my daughter's FAFSA this year! It's definitely confusing when the tax year and household size timeframes don't match up. Just to add another perspective - make sure you also consider any other dependents you might have. For example, if you have younger children still living at home, they count in your household size even if they're not college-bound yet. Also, if you're divorced or separated, only count people in YOUR household that you support, not your ex-spouse's household. The FAFSA customer service can be hit or miss, but your son's college financial aid office is usually really helpful with these specific questions once he's admitted and enrolled.

For the original question about timing: - Parent PLUS: Apply May-June 2025 for the 2025-2026 year - Private loans: Apply 30-45 days before tuition due date (typically late July/early August for fall semester) Remember that interest accrues from disbursement for both loan types, so you don't want funds too early. And for the housing deposit specifically - check if the school offers any deferment options for financial aid recipients. Some do!

Just wanted to add from my experience last year - make sure to check if your daughter's school participates in the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) system for private loans. Some schools have specific requirements about when private loan applications can be submitted relative to PLUS loans. Also, keep in mind that if you're denied for PLUS, your daughter automatically becomes eligible for an additional $4,000 in unsubsidized federal loans (up to $5,000 for juniors/seniors), which might reduce how much you need from private loans. The financial aid office should walk you through this if it happens, but it's good to know ahead of time!