Quick update on deadlines: The Department of Education just announced that schools should be flexible with FAFSA deadlines this year due to the processing delays. Many universities are extending their priority deadlines by 2-3 weeks. Definitely worth checking with your specific school!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm a new parent going through this process for the first time and was completely panicking when I saw the "In Review" status. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring. It sounds like this is just part of the new system design rather than something we did wrong. I'm going to follow the advice about contacting the financial aid office and checking the portal regularly for status changes. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with these FAFSA issues!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm a first-time FAFSA applicant and had no idea there were so many potential issues with the electronic signature system. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the most common problems are: 1. Data mismatches between FSA ID and FAFSA (name variations, SSN typos) 2. Locked FSA IDs from failed login attempts 3. Verification flags that block signatures 4. Browser/technical issues For anyone else dealing with this, it seems like the key is to methodically check your personal information first, then try the FSA ID reset, and if all else fails, contact FSA directly (either through traditional phone support or services like Claimyr). The paper signature option is also good to know about as a last resort. Thanks to everyone who shared their solutions - this community is so valuable for navigating these financial aid nightmares!

As someone who works in financial aid at a community college, I see this electronic signature issue ALL the time. You're definitely not alone! A few additional tips that might help others: 1. **Check your browser's pop-up blocker** - sometimes the signature window gets blocked and you don't realize it 2. **Make sure you're using the most recent version of your browser** - older versions can have compatibility issues with the FAFSA site 3. **Try signing during off-peak hours** (early morning or late evening) - the system is less overloaded then 4. **Double-check that your FSA ID email is verified** - unverified emails can cause signature failures Also, for future reference, many schools have financial aid offices that can help troubleshoot these issues. Don't hesitate to call your school's financial aid office directly - we often have direct lines to FSA and can sometimes resolve these problems faster than calling the general helpline. The paper signature option Connor mentioned is definitely legitimate and something we recommend when students are up against deadlines. Just make sure to mail it certified/priority so you have tracking!

After digging through some news articles, it sounds like the legal challenge is specifically about how SAVE calculates discretionary income and the undergraduate-only subsidy. Since the court issued a stay rather than a permanent injunction, there's actually a decent chance this gets resolved before too long. In the meantime, I'd recommend everyone: 1) Apply for a different IDR plan as backup, 2) Document all communications with your servicer, and 3) Keep checking studentaid.gov for updates.

I'm in a similar boat and just wanted to share what I learned from calling my servicer (FedLoan) yesterday. They confirmed that if you had a pending SAVE application before July 18, it's essentially frozen - they can't process it but they also can't throw it away. The rep suggested I could either wait to see if the court decision gets overturned, or withdraw my SAVE application and apply for PAYE instead. She also mentioned that if the ruling gets appealed successfully, any payments made under a different IDR plan during the suspension period should still count toward forgiveness timelines. Still a mess, but at least there's some clarity on the process.

To address some of the excellent points raised in this thread: 1. The CSS Profile is a financial aid application used by about 400 mostly private colleges to award their institutional aid (separate from FAFSA). 2. For the "Professional Judgment" review, she should bring: proof of self-support (tax returns, W-2s, pay stubs), proof of separate residence (lease, utility bills), and a detailed personal statement explaining her situation. Letters from objective third parties who know her situation (teachers, counselors, employers) can help strengthen her case. 3. If her parents simply haven't filed 2023 taxes yet, they can provide estimated figures on the FAFSA and update later. The problem is getting them to participate at all. 4. For the dependency override, abuse or abandonment doesn't have to be formally documented through court systems - a detailed personal statement with supporting letters can sometimes be sufficient. Each school has different requirements. The key is persistence - she should not take one financial aid officer's "no" as the final answer. Sometimes speaking to different counselors or escalating to the director can yield different results.

I went through something similar a few years ago and wanted to share what ultimately worked for me. The key was documenting EVERYTHING and being very strategic about how I presented my case. Here's what I wish someone had told me: 1. **Keep detailed records** - I created a binder with every bill, lease agreement, tax return, and pay stub from the past 3 years showing complete financial independence. 2. **Write a compelling personal statement** - Don't just say "my parents won't help." Explain the specific circumstances that led to your independence and why parental cooperation is impossible. 3. **Get supporting letters** - I had letters from my employer, landlord, and a professor who knew my situation. These third-party perspectives really helped validate my case. 4. **Appeal to the right person** - The front desk staff often can't make exceptions, but department directors have more authority. I had to request a meeting with the financial aid director specifically. 5. **Be prepared for multiple attempts** - It took me three separate meetings and two written appeals before they approved my dependency override. The whole process took about 6 weeks, but I was eventually approved for full need-based aid. Don't give up after the first "no" - the system is designed to be difficult, but exceptions ARE possible with proper documentation and persistence. Also, while she's working on this, she should definitely file the FAFSA without parent info to at least get those unsubsidized loans. Something is better than nothing while fighting for the full aid package.

Thank you all for the incredibly helpful responses! I've put together a communication strategy based on your suggestions: 1. Created a visual aid showing SAI as an index rather than a payment expectation 2. Developed different explanation scripts for different audiences (first-gen vs. financially savvy families) 3. Focused more on what we CAN do rather than explaining all the formula changes 4. Started a collection of specific case studies to help our counselors explain common scenarios My director was really impressed with these materials, so thank you for helping this financial aid newbie look good! I'll pay it forward by sharing our resources with other new counselors struggling with the same conversations.

This is such a timely discussion! I'm a financial aid counselor at a community college and we're seeing similar challenges. One thing that's helped our students is creating a simple comparison chart showing "Old System vs New System" with real examples rather than trying to explain the technical differences. For the appeals process, I've found success with this approach: "The government changed their measuring stick, but your family's actual financial situation is what matters most to us. Let's look at what support we can provide regardless of what the formula says." Also, don't underestimate the power of acknowledging the frustration first. I usually start with "I know this is confusing and frustrating - you're not alone in feeling this way" before diving into any explanations. Sometimes validation goes a long way toward getting families to listen to potential solutions. One practical tip: I keep a "FAFSA changes cheat sheet" on my desk with the most common scenarios and simple explanations. Happy to share if anyone wants it!