ALSO!!!! Make sure your parents are ready to do their part if they need to be contributors!!! My dad took FOREVER to create his account and verify his info and we almost missed a school's priority deadline because of it!!! Don't wait!!!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who filed early last year - it was absolutely the right choice! I filed my FAFSA in October and received a much better aid package than friends who waited until spring. One thing that really helped me was gathering all my documents beforehand (2023 tax returns, W-2s, bank statements even though they don't matter for FAFSA calculations, etc.) so I could complete it in one sitting. The new system can be glitchy, so having everything ready prevents you from having to start over if you get kicked out mid-application. Also, don't forget to check each of your schools' priority deadlines - some are as early as February 1st!

my nephew did the beta and got rejected for pell grant but my sister said he should of qualified, they had to redo the whole thing and now hes getting the full pell grant. might be worth checking if your SAI looks right

Just to clarify for anyone reading this thread: if you completed the FAFSA during the beta/soft launch period (October-December) and received your SAI calculation, your application IS valid and you do NOT need to resubmit. However, you should: 1. Verify your application status shows "Processed" 2. Check that all selected schools are correctly listed 3. Contact schools to confirm they received your data 4. Make corrections if needed (without starting a new application) If schools say they don't have your data, contact Federal Student Aid directly for assistance.

Update: I finally got through to someone at Federal Student Aid who explained everything. Yes, pensions DO count as income on FAFSA. Since we're using 2023 tax info for the 2025-2026 FAFSA and my husband started receiving his pension in 2024, it won't show up on the initial FAFSA. BUT, she said we should absolutely submit a special circumstances form to each school explaining the new income source. Apparently, this is a really common issue with pensions, retirement distributions, and other income changes. Thanks everyone for your help! Now I'm just worried about how much this will affect his aid packages.

Great update! I'm glad you finally got a clear answer from Federal Student Aid. Just wanted to add that when you're submitting those special circumstances forms, make sure to include documentation of the pension payments (like the 1099-R forms you'll receive) and be very specific about the monthly amount. Also, don't panic too much about the aid impact - many schools are pretty understanding about pension situations, especially for union pensions like UAW. The financial aid officers deal with this scenario frequently and often have ways to account for it that are more favorable than just adding it as straight income. Good luck with your son's college applications!

Retirement accounts like 401k and IRAs are NOT reported on the FAFSA at all! They're completely excluded from the SAI calculation. So if your investment growth was primarily in retirement accounts, you don't need to worry about reporting that growth. Only reportable investments would include taxable brokerage accounts, 529 plans (reported as parent assets), stocks, bonds, CDs, etc. This is one reason why financial planners often suggest maximizing retirement contributions during college years.

Just wanted to add - if you're still unsure about anything, most colleges have financial aid offices that are super helpful with FAFSA questions. I called my daughter's school last year when I was confused about asset reporting and they walked me through it step by step. They'd rather help you get it right the first time than deal with corrections later. Plus they know exactly how their school handles different situations, which can be really valuable info!

After you speak with the financial aid office, I strongly recommend submitting a formal appeal letter. Include: 1. Documentation of unusual expenses not captured by FAFSA 2. Any changes in financial situation since you filed 3. Competing offers from other institutions 4. Specific calculation showing how they're not meeting their 75% promise Be polite but firm. Many families don't realize appeals are standard practice and schools expect them. With an SAI of 2500, your son should qualify for substantial need-based aid at a school claiming to meet 75% of need.

As someone who went through this exact situation last year, I'd recommend creating a spreadsheet to track all your son's aid offers as they come in. Include columns for COA, SAI, calculated need, grants/scholarships, loans, and actual percentage of need met. This will help you see which schools are truly generous vs. just good at marketing. Also, don't forget to factor in indirect costs like travel home, personal expenses, and potential summer storage. These can add thousands to your actual family contribution even if the school "meets need" on paper. When you call the financial aid office, ask for their estimated indirect costs too - some schools lowball these numbers to make their aid packages look more attractive. Your instincts are right to question this package. With an SAI that low, most genuinely need-blind schools would offer significantly more institutional aid.