Did you get this resolved? One other thing to check - if you're using a saved application from a previous year as a starting point, sometimes the SSN field gets masked with asterisks but actually contains incorrect data. Try starting a fresh application and manually entering all the information to see if that resolves the verification issue.

glad u fixed it! reminds me of when my cousins grant got delayed for 3 months because his middle name was William on SS card but he put Bill on FAFSA lol

To answer your follow-up questions: 1. Work-study is NOT a guaranteed job. It means you're eligible to earn up to that amount through certain campus jobs, but you still need to apply and get hired. Many schools have special work-study job boards. 2. About accepting loans: You can typically accept now and cancel later if you don't need them (up to certain deadlines). However, I usually recommend only accepting what you know you need, then requesting more later if necessary. Just be aware that processing additional loans mid-semester can take time. 3. For Parent PLUS: These require a separate application and credit check, and the loan is in your parent's name, not yours. They're entirely responsible for repayment.

Verification is indeed something to address immediately. It's a process where the Department of Education requires your school to confirm certain information on your FAFSA. About 30% of FAFSA filers get selected. You'll need to submit additional documentation - typically tax returns, W-2s, or statements of non-filing. Some schools require their own forms too. This is time-sensitive because your financial aid won't be disbursed until verification is complete. Log into your school's financial aid portal to see exactly what documents they need, or call their office for guidance. Missing verification deadlines is one of the most common reasons students lose their financial aid.

@profile7 Yes, COVID-related income impacts are still being considered by many institutions through professional judgment reviews. The key is documenting the impact clearly: 1. Provide tax returns or profit/loss statements showing the decline 2. Include information about the recovery (current pay stubs, updated profit/loss) 3. Explain specifically how COVID affected the business 4. Note any COVID relief funds received Most schools have specific COVID impact forms or sections in their appeal process. While the acute phase of the pandemic has passed, the ongoing economic impacts are still valid grounds for appeal at many institutions.

@profile5 We were actually considering a gap year too because of all this chaos! But after talking with several admissions counselors, we decided that might create even more problems. Transfer students often receive less institutional aid than first-year students, and gap years can sometimes affect scholarship eligibility. Instead, we're planning to commit to the school that seems most flexible with their financial aid process, even if it's not our daughter's absolute first choice. The admissions counselor we spoke with yesterday said they're creating a special mid-year review for families affected by the FAFSA delays, where they'll reevaluate aid packages in January once everything has stabilized.

Update: I finally got it to work! Combination of solutions that worked for me: 1. Compressed all my PDFs to under 1MB each using an online tool 2. Renamed files to just numbers and letters 3. Used a computer at my school's library 4. Did it at 6:30am when server load was probably lower Thanks everyone for your help! For anyone else struggling with this issue - keep trying different solutions and don't give up. The verification status in my account updated almost immediately once the upload finally went through.

Great news! For others who may find this thread: If you're still experiencing upload issues after trying these techniques, there are two official workarounds recently announced by FSA: 1. Request a secure email link by calling the FSA helpline (though wait times are still long) 2. Ask your school's financial aid office about their "FAFSA verification bypass protocol" - a temporary measure allowing schools to verify certain documents through their own systems The Department of Education has also extended many internal verification deadlines due to these technical difficulties, so don't panic if you're running into these issues close to your school's priority dates.

Update on timelines from what I'm hearing across several schools where I work with students: Applications processed in early March are starting to have SAIs appear this week. The Department of Education seems to be working through a backlog in roughly chronological order. For the original poster - since yours was processed on 3/22, I'd expect you'll see an SAI within the next 7-10 days based on current patterns. If schools need financial information before then for scholarship consideration, you can request an extension based on FAFSA delays - most institutions are being flexible this year given the widespread issues.

btw did u check the actual student aid report pdf not just the dashboard? sometimes the SAI is in there even when it doesn't show on the main screen. click on "view student aid report" under the processed application