Just wanted to add one more thing that helped us - keep track of all the deadlines! Even if you decide to file both FAFSAs, the deadlines can be different for each academic year. Some state grants and institutional aid have earlier deadlines than the federal ones, and these can vary between the gap year and enrollment year. We almost missed a state grant deadline because we assumed they were the same. Also, if your daughter ends up changing her mind about which school to attend during her gap year, you might need to update her FAFSA with the new school code. Good luck navigating this process!

As someone who works in financial aid, I want to emphasize something that hasn't been mentioned yet - timing of when you submit can matter for state aid! Some states have limited funding pools that are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. If your daughter is planning to attend college in your home state, check if your state has early FAFSA deadlines or limited grant funds. For example, some states require the FAFSA to be submitted by March 1st for maximum state grant eligibility. This could influence whether you want to submit the gap year FAFSA just to establish that early filing pattern. Also, if your family's financial situation is likely to change significantly between 2023 and 2024 (job loss, divorce, major medical expenses, etc.), the different tax years used for each FAFSA could work in your favor or against you, so factor that into your decision too.

UPDATE: We fixed it! Thanks everyone for your help. What worked was having my dad log in and complete his ENTIRE contributor section. After he submitted his part, I waited about 2 hours, then I tried the tip from @profile4 about using the "Start a New FAFSA" link, and it worked! I was able to access my application again and continue where we left off. No data was lost thankfully. For anyone else with this issue, make sure your contributor completes their ENTIRE section before you try to continue.

Wow, this thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now - added my mom as a contributor yesterday and now I'm completely locked out of my FAFSA. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like the key is making sure the parent contributor completes their ENTIRE section first. I'm going to have my mom log in tonight and finish everything on her end, then try the "Start a New FAFSA" workaround tomorrow. It's so frustrating that this is such a common problem with the new system - you'd think they would have fixed these bugs by now! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions.

Update: I checked our FAFSA submission and all the numbers were entered correctly. I also called three of the colleges where my daughter applied and they were actually really understanding! Two of them sent me their Special Circumstances forms specifically for reporting one-time financial events, and the third one asked me to wait until we receive the aid package and then appeal if needed. Thanks everyone for the advice and reassurance. I feel much better knowing this isn't as unusual as I thought!

As someone who just went through this process with my son, I can confirm that what you're experiencing is actually pretty normal with the new FAFSA system! The key thing to remember is that colleges use both numbers - they see your Pell eligibility (which shows your income situation) AND your SAI (which reflects the temporary asset bump from the inheritance). Most schools I dealt with were very understanding about one-time events like inheritances, especially when families are transparent about what the money is being used for. Since you mentioned it's for medical bills and home repairs, that's exactly the kind of situation financial aid offices are equipped to handle. One tip: when you fill out those Special Circumstances forms, be specific about dollar amounts being allocated to medical expenses and repairs. Documentation really helps, but don't overwhelm them with paperwork upfront - just mention you have it available if needed. The fact that you still qualify for Pell actually works in your favor because it signals to schools that your family's day-to-day financial reality is different from what that big SAI number suggests. Good luck with the process!

Why doesn't your brother just take a gap year and work full time? Save up some money. Maybe your dad will change his mind by next year. Thats what my son did when I couldn't afford to help him

I'm a financial aid advisor and want to add one more option that hasn't been mentioned yet - your brother should look into becoming a ward of the court or having documented homelessness. I know this sounds extreme, but if your parents are truly refusing all financial support AND he's not living with them consistently, there might be grounds for a dependency override based on "lack of parental support and contact." Also, some states have their own grant programs that have different dependency requirements than federal aid. What state are you in? Programs like Cal Grant in California or TAP in New York sometimes have more flexible rules. Another strategy: if he can establish residency in a state with generous need-based aid and lower dependency requirements, that could help. But this usually requires living there for 1-2 years first. The gap year suggestion from @Jamal Edwards is actually really smart - he could work, save money, AND potentially establish more independence that strengthens his case for aid the following year.

waitng for finaid is the WORST!!! i had an sai of like +3000 and still got some aid so you'll def get something with -1500. good luck!!

Hey Millie! I'm in a very similar situation - single mom with kids and just got back my SAI last week too. Mine was -1800 and I was just as confused about what it meant! Reading through all these responses is really helpful. One thing I learned from my financial aid counselor is that you should also look into your state's grant programs. Some states have really generous need-based grants that stack on top of federal aid. Also, don't forget about things like childcare grants if your school offers them - that was a game changer for me when I went back to school a few years ago. You're doing great by planning ahead and asking these questions early! The whole process is overwhelming but it sounds like you're going to get some good aid with that negative SAI. Fingers crossed for both of us! 🤞