I'm new to this community and just want to echo what everyone else has said about how incredibly helpful this thread has been! I'm facing the exact same situation with my FAFSA and TAP applications - my parents are unmarried but live together, and I was so confused when TAP only wanted one parent's information after I'd already submitted my FAFSA with both. Connor, thank you so much for not only asking this question but also following up with what your financial aid counselor told you. That update about potentially getting higher TAP aid with just one parent's income is such valuable information that I never would have known otherwise! What really impressed me about this thread is how everyone explained not just WHAT to do, but WHY the systems work differently. Understanding that TAP uses older methodology while FAFSA has updated their rules completely changed my perspective from "I must have done something wrong" to "oh, this is just how these different programs work." I'm planning to use my mom's information for TAP since I lived with her about 65% of the time last year, and I'm definitely going to start gathering documentation like @Ava Johnson suggested in case verification comes up later. For other newcomers who might be feeling overwhelmed by these financial aid inconsistencies, this thread is proof that even the most confusing situations have clear solutions when you have access to a supportive community like this one!

I'm brand new to this community and just wanted to say how grateful I am to have found this thread! I'm literally about to start my FAFSA and TAP applications next month and was already feeling anxious about having unmarried parents who live together. Reading through Connor's entire experience from initial confusion to final resolution has been incredibly reassuring. What really stands out to me is how this community not only provided the correct answer (use the parent you lived with most for TAP) but also explained the reasoning behind why FAFSA and TAP have different requirements. Understanding that TAP still uses older methodology while FAFSA has updated their rules makes the whole situation make perfect sense. The documentation tips from @Ava Johnson about keeping records to verify which parent you lived with most are so helpful - I would never have thought to gather that paperwork proactively. And Connor's update about potentially getting higher TAP aid with one parent's income is such encouraging news that I never would have known otherwise! For other newcomers who might be feeling overwhelmed by these financial aid inconsistencies, this thread is living proof that even the most confusing situations have clear solutions when you have access to knowledgeable community members willing to share their experiences. I'm actually looking forward to starting my applications now instead of dreading them!

Great question about mixed funds, @876094894ea6! For accounts with both earned income and gifts, you'll need to report them based on actual ownership. Money your daughter earned from her job = student asset. Money gifted from grandparents = technically still student asset since gifts to minors become their property. However, if grandparents deposited money directly into a 529 plan or other education savings account they own, that wouldn't be reported as student assets at all. But cash gifts that went into her regular accounts count as hers. For verification, schools typically want bank statements showing the balance on the day you filed FAFSA, plus sometimes 1-2 months of statements to show the balance is consistent. They're not usually looking for a detailed transaction history going back months - just verification that you reported accurate balances. If you're concerned about the assessment impact, consider having grandparents contribute directly to tuition payments instead of giving cash gifts in the future. Direct payments to educational institutions aren't considered gifts for FAFSA purposes and don't count as student assets.

Just wanted to jump in as someone who went through this exact situation last year! My son had a joint account with me that he'd been putting his work earnings into since he was 17. After reading through all the advice here and consulting with our school's financial aid office, we reported it as student assets since the money was clearly his from employment. Yes, it did impact our SAI more than if it had been parent assets, but we felt it was the most honest way to report it. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - if your son's college has a financial aid office that does pre-filing consultations, definitely take advantage of that! Ours was super helpful in walking through these kinds of ownership questions before we submitted the FAFSA. Much better to get clarity upfront than deal with corrections later. The laptop/college expenses strategy mentioned by others really does work well - we had our son buy his required laptop and textbooks for spring semester before filing, which legitimately reduced his reportable assets. Just make sure whatever you buy is something he actually needs for school!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to express how incredibly valuable this thread has been! I'm currently a junior starting my FAFSA application process and honestly was pretty intimidated by all the technical horror stories I'd heard from older students. But seeing how this community rallied around Miranda's crisis and turned it into this amazing comprehensive troubleshooting guide has been so reassuring. The detailed solutions - especially that winning combination of the 24-hour waiting period, Microsoft Edge browser, and different network connection - are exactly the kind of practical advice you can't find in official help documentation. What really impresses me is how many people came back to share their follow-up results and additional insights, like the financial aid office perspective on IP blocking and the tip about accessing during off-peak hours. This thread is basically a masterclass in collaborative problem-solving! I'm definitely saving this entire discussion as my FAFSA emergency kit. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise - this is exactly the kind of supportive community that makes tackling financial aid applications feel manageable instead of overwhelming!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredible this thread has been to discover! I'm currently a high school senior about to start my FAFSA application and was honestly pretty terrified after hearing so many horror stories about the website being unreliable. But reading through Miranda's entire journey - from the initial panic to the successful resolution - along with all the detailed troubleshooting advice from everyone has been incredibly reassuring. The step-by-step solutions, especially that winning combination of waiting 24 hours + using Microsoft Edge + switching to a different network, give me a solid game plan if I run into similar issues. What really stands out to me is how this community came together with both technical expertise and genuine support during such a stressful time. The insider knowledge from the financial aid office worker about IP blocking was particularly eye-opening - I had no idea that multiple failed login attempts could cause these access issues! I'm definitely bookmarking this entire discussion as my FAFSA emergency troubleshooting guide. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions, and congratulations Miranda on making your deadline! This is exactly the kind of peer support that makes navigating financial aid feel less overwhelming for students like me who are just getting started.

I'm also dealing with this exact same error right now! My daughter has been stuck on the signature page for 6 days and we're getting really desperate with her school's priority deadline approaching fast. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both reassuring (knowing we're not alone) and overwhelming with all the different solutions to try. I'm going to start with @Drake's systematic approach tonight - the 30-minute wait between clearing cache and logging back in makes a lot of sense for addressing the timeout issues @Amara Chukwu mentioned. If that doesn't work, we'll move through the other suggestions: updating FSA ID security questions, trying different devices/networks, disabling browser extensions, and logging out of all other accounts before attempting submission. The late-night timing that several people have mentioned is definitely worth trying too. I'm also calling our school's financial aid office first thing Monday morning to document these technical issues. It's absolutely ridiculous that families have to become IT experts just to apply for financial aid, but I'm grateful for everyone sharing their solutions here. Will report back on what works for us - this thread is becoming a lifeline for so many families!

I'm a parent who just went through this exact nightmare last week! After 9 days of trying everything imaginable, what finally worked was a very specific sequence: First, my daughter logged into her FSA ID account and updated her security questions (even though they seemed fine). Then we waited exactly 72 hours without ANY attempts - this was harder than it sounds with deadlines looming, but it was crucial. Finally, we tried at 3:15am from a completely different device (borrowed my neighbor's laptop) using their wifi, with ALL browser extensions disabled and logged out of every single account. The submission worked on the first try after following this exact process. I think the key was really letting the system fully reset after all our failed attempts, plus using a completely "clean" technical environment. Also want to echo what others said about calling your school - our financial aid office was incredibly understanding and actually helped us get connected to a Federal Student Aid specialist who confirmed that accounts can get stuck in verification loops that only resolve with time and system resets. Don't lose hope! Document everything and stay systematic in your approach. This broken system CAN be beaten with patience and the right strategy!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm starting my freshman year next fall and was feeling really anxious about managing financial aid and understanding what expenses were actually allowed. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much confidence and practical knowledge I never would have found anywhere else. The specific tips about technology grants, laptop requirements for engineering programs, manufacturer partnerships, and documentation systems are invaluable. I had no idea there were so many resources available beyond just the basic financial aid package. I'm definitely going to start researching early - checking with my future engineering department about laptop specs and discounts, asking about emergency grants and textbook voucher programs, and setting up that digital receipt tracking system that several people mentioned. It's also really reassuring to hear from current and recent students that using aid money for legitimate educational expenses like a quality laptop and textbooks isn't just allowed - it's expected and necessary for academic success. Sometimes these purchases can feel overwhelming financially, but you've all helped me understand that having the right tools is an investment in my education, not a luxury. Thank you to everyone who shared their real-world experiences and practical advice. This community is such an amazing resource for students navigating the financial aid system!

As someone who just went through the financial aid process for the first time this year, this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I was so worried about whether I could use my aid money for a laptop and textbooks, but reading everyone's experiences has really put my mind at ease. What I found most helpful were the specific action steps people mentioned - like checking with the engineering department for laptop requirements and manufacturer partnerships, looking into technology grants that don't need to be repaid, and setting up a digital receipt tracking system from day one. I had no idea about book voucher programs either, which could be a lifesaver if aid disbursement gets delayed. I'm particularly grateful for the advice about being strategic with loan money vs. grant money. It's easy to just think of financial aid as "free money" but the reminders about loan repayment really help put things in perspective. A $1,200 laptop for engineering coursework seems reasonable, especially when it's essential for running CAD software and other intensive programs. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it's so much more helpful than just reading official policy documents. This community really shows how students can support each other through these complex financial decisions!