Yes! They gave me a case number and also sent an email confirmation of the changes. The financial aid officer at my daughter's school said these pension calculation errors are happening a lot this year, so they're processing adjustments pretty quickly once the corrected SAI comes through.

So glad you got it resolved, Liam! This gives me hope for my own situation. I'm dealing with a similar issue where FAFSA counted my husband's entire IRA balance as income instead of just the required minimum distribution we actually took. Did you have to provide any specific documentation beyond your 1099-R, or was the phone conversation enough to get the correction started? I'm preparing to call them next week and want to make sure I have everything ready.

One more thing to consider - the 2025-2026 FAFSA will require you to report real estate and business assets differently than previous years under the redesigned SAI formula. If you own property beyond your primary residence or have business interests, start gathering that documentation now. The calculations for the Student Aid Index now weigh these assets differently. December 1st is a good filing date though - not too early but well ahead of many school priority deadlines.

As someone who just went through this process last year, I'd definitely recommend creating your FSA IDs now! I was nervous about the same thing but it worked out perfectly. One tip that saved me - when you create the accounts, immediately log out and then log back in to make sure everything works. I also took screenshots of the confirmation pages just in case. The verification usually happens instantly if your info matches Social Security records, but sometimes it can take a few days if there are any discrepancies. Having everything set up early gave me peace of mind and made the actual FAFSA filing on December 1st much less stressful. Good luck with your first time - you've got this!

Update: I finally got through to someone at Federal Student Aid this morning. They confirmed that our application IS flagged for reprocessing because of how we reported my husband's retirement distribution. They said we should receive the updated SAI within 7-10 business days and that we don't need to take any action. I also spoke with my daughter's school, and they said they'll review her package once the new SAI comes in. Thank you all for your help! I would never have known to call and check without your advice.

For anyone still trying to figure out if they're affected - I was in the same boat last week! Here's what finally worked for me: I logged into my studentaid.gov account and looked under "My Activity" where it actually showed a new entry dated this month even though my FAFSA status still said "processed." That was the first clue something was happening with our application. Then I got the official email two days later confirming reprocessing. So definitely check that activity log section, not just the main status page. Also, if you reported ANY untaxed income (retirement distributions, unemployment benefits, child support, etc.), you're very likely in the reprocessing group. Hope this helps someone avoid the phone hold nightmare!

One thing nobody's mentioned is that if your income dropped 28% in 2023, you should definitely file a Professional Judgment request regardless of what you decide about the deposit waiver. That's a significant change that could dramatically affect your SAI and resulting aid package. For the PJ request, you'll need: - 2023 tax returns or W-2s - Documentation of job loss/income reduction (if applicable) - A detailed letter explaining the change - The school's special circumstances form (usually on their financial aid website) Also, check if your son's top choice uses CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA - private schools often do. The appeal process might be different for institutional aid vs. federal aid.

Update us on what you decide to do! The timing of these offers right before May 1 commitment deadlines is particularly challenging. Whatever you choose, make sure to submit any appeals ASAP - many schools distribute their remaining aid funds by mid-May.

Update: I finally managed to talk to someone at the Federal Student Aid office! Used the Claimyr service that was recommended and got through in about 20 minutes. The agent confirmed I should use zeros for the SSN and that I need to provide additional documentation to my school's financial aid office. They also said I should apply for a Professional Judgment review based on the special circumstances of our immigration process. Thank you everyone for your help!

This is such valuable information for anyone in a similar situation! I'm bookmarking this thread. One thing I'd add - make sure to keep copies of everything you submit to your financial aid office. I've seen cases where documents get lost in the shuffle, especially with non-standard situations like this. Also, if your school has an international student services office, they might have additional resources or experience with mixed-status families even though you're not an international student yourself. They often deal with similar documentation issues and might be able to provide guidance or advocacy if you run into problems with the financial aid office.