UPDATE: The Department of Education just released a statement yesterday saying they've identified the calculation errors and will be implementing a mass correction to all affected SAI calculations within the next 4 weeks. Schools have been notified to expect updated ISIRs (Institutional Student Information Records) by mid-May. They're prioritizing corrections for current high school seniors who need to make enrollment decisions soon. The main issues they identified were: 1. Incorrect handling of retirement assets 2. Errors in the income protection allowance calculations 3. Problems with how dependent vs. independent student calculations were processed If you're seeing a $0 SAI that seems incorrect, you're almost certainly affected by this error and should expect an updated calculation soon.

This is exactly what I needed to hear! My family is in a similar situation - we make around $75k and got a $0 SAI which seemed impossible. I was starting to panic about whether we'd be able to afford college at all if the "real" calculation came back much higher. It's frustrating that this rollout has been so buggy, but I'm relieved to know it's a known issue being actively fixed rather than us having to fight the system individually. The timing is really stressful though - my son has to commit to a school by May 1st and we have no idea what our actual financial aid will look like. Has anyone heard if schools are extending their deposit deadlines because of these FAFSA issues? I'm worried about putting down a deposit based on incorrect financial aid information.

I've been working through this with several families - here's what worked for us: 1. Have the parent log in with their existing FSA email/username 2. When prompted about not having an SSN, click "yes" to confirm 3. Complete the attestation form (even though they did this in previous years) 4. The system will then link their account correctly 5. Wait until mid-March for the signature portion It's definitely confusing, but this process has worked consistently. The key is using the SAME email as before to maintain continuity with previous years' applications.

I'm new to helping with FAFSA applications but have a similar situation coming up. Just to confirm I understand correctly - parents without SSNs who had FSA accounts from previous years should: 1. Use their existing email/login credentials 2. Complete the new attestation form (even though they did it before) 3. NOT create a brand new FSA ID 4. Wait until mid-March for signature submission Is this the consensus? I want to make sure I give accurate guidance when I start helping families next week. The system changes with FAFSA Simplification really seem to have created confusion even for returning users!

Good luck!! So nice to see a parent thinking about both their kid's future AND their own dreams!

This is such an inspiring thread! @Yara Sayegh, I love that you're pursuing your own education goals while being so thoughtful about your daughter's financial aid. As someone new to understanding FAFSA, I had no idea that having multiple family members in college could actually help with aid calculations. The detailed explanations from @Amina Diallo about Title IV eligibility and the half-time enrollment requirements were really eye-opening. I'm bookmarking this conversation because I have a feeling this information might be useful for my own family situation down the road. Best of luck with your cosmetology program - can't wait to hear how it all works out!

Update: I managed to get into my account! Turns out I had set up my FSA ID with an old work email. After trying the Forgot Username feature with about 5 different emails, it worked with the old one. I was able to change my email to my current one and reset my password. Now we're all set to start my second child's FAFSA. Thanks everyone for your help!

Congrats on getting it sorted! This thread is super helpful for other parents going through the same thing. For anyone else reading this - definitely try all your old email addresses first before calling. And once you do get back in, I'd recommend writing down your FSA ID info AND storing it in a password manager if you use one. Three years between kids is long enough to forget everything! Also consider setting up the FSA ID mobile app if they still have that - might make it easier to access next time.

Thank you everyone for all your help. I feel much better knowing there are options to appeal this. I have an appointment with financial aid next week, I'm gathering all our documentation about the 401k withdrawal for medical expenses, death certificate, and current financial situation. I'll also check with the school about their institutional aid options. Fingers crossed we can get this sorted out - my daughter has worked so hard and deserves this opportunity.

Good luck with your appointment next week! Just wanted to add that when you meet with financial aid, be prepared to explain not just the 401k withdrawal but also how your current monthly budget looks without that one-time money. They often want to see that your day-to-day financial situation doesn't match what the FAFSA formula calculated. Also, if your daughter hasn't already, make sure she's applying for outside scholarships too. With your family's circumstances, she might qualify for scholarships specifically for students who've lost a parent or are from single-parent households. Every bit helps when you're trying to avoid taking on too much debt. You're doing everything right by advocating for her - don't give up!