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Update us when you figure it out! My daughter will be applying next year and I'm trying to learn all the potential pitfalls.
Will do! So far it seems like the consensus is to wait a few days for the website to catch up with the email notification. If nothing changes, I'll need to call FSA directly.
UPDATE: You guys were right! I just checked this morning and now there's a verification request showing on my portal. They want me to verify my dependency status and submit my tax return transcript. The weird thing is they're still calling it a "correction" in the system even though nothing was actually incorrect. Thanks for all your help - at least now I know what I need to do!
My kid just started college last fall, and I was so confused by this whole FAFSA thing! We did ours last October, and yes, she did hers first then I did mine. What I didn't realize is that you have to do this EVERY YEAR! I thought once we were in the system we'd be set for all four years. But I guess we're about to start all over again for year two...
That's right, FAFSA needs to be submitted every year. However, renewal FAFSAs are typically easier because some information will carry over from your previous application. The good news is that for 2025-2026, the FAFSA Simplification Act has reduced the number of questions by about 60%, making the form much shorter than it used to be.
One important tip for your second year: make sure your daughter uses her existing FSA ID rather than creating a new one. A common mistake is students forgetting their FSA ID credentials and creating new ones, which can cause issues with linking to previous applications and sometimes delays processing. If she's forgotten her FSA ID information, there's a recovery process on the studentaid.gov website. And yes, as others have confirmed, the student still initiates the FAFSA and then adds parent contributors who complete their sections afterward.
That's a great tip - thank you! She might have forgotten her login information, so I'll have her check that first before we start the application process.
OK this is gonna sound weird but have you considered getting married? My roommate got married to his girlfriend (they were gonna get married eventually anyway) and it automatically made him independent for FAFSA. His aid package went from nothing to covering almost everything. Just saying 😂
I've literally considered this too LMAO 💀 My boyfriend and I have been together 3 years and joked about getting married for the financial aid benefits. The FAFSA struggle is REAL
I strongly advise against getting married solely for financial aid purposes. While it's true marriage establishes independent status, it's a serious legal commitment with many other implications. There are also potential legal issues if it's determined you married only for federal aid benefits. Focus on legitimate ways to maximize your aid within the existing system.
Update: I just spoke with my financial aid office. They said I can definitely still submit FAFSA for this academic year and potentially get aid for Spring 2025. They also have a special circumstances form I can submit to explain why my parents' income doesn't reflect my actual financial situation. It's not a guarantee, but worth trying! They also told me about a payment plan option for Spring in case I don't get enough aid. Thanks everyone for your helpful advice!
That's great news! The special circumstances form (sometimes called a Professional Judgment request) is exactly what you need. Make sure you provide thorough documentation of your financial independence - rent receipts, utility bills in your name, proof of income, etc. The more evidence you can provide that you're supporting yourself, the better your chances.
this new formula is so confusing!!! i thought it was supposed to make things easier but now im worried about applying for next yr...does anyone know if they're gonna change it again or is this permanent??
The FAFSA Simplification Act changes are likely here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future. The full implementation happened with the 2024-2025 FAFSA (which became available December 2023), and while there may be small adjustments, the core formula changes are part of legislation that would require Congressional action to significantly modify. Best to plan based on the current formula rather than hoping for another change soon.
UPDATE: I wanted to share what worked for us. After gathering all our documentation (medical bills, proof of reduced hours for my wife), we requested a Professional Judgment review with the financial aid office. We also used the Claimyr service that someone suggested to reach an FSA agent who explained exactly which parts of the formula affected us most (mainly the sibling adjustment change and how our retirement savings were counted). We just heard back today - they've restored $2,800 of the institutional scholarship and we'll be receiving an additional $950 work-study award that wasn't in the original package. Still a loss from previous years, but MUCH more manageable. For anyone else facing this issue - DEFINITELY appeal if you have any special circumstances, be extremely specific in your request, provide documentation for everything, and try to understand exactly which formula changes affected your situation so you can address them directly.
THANK YOU for sharing this! Just got my appointment scheduled for next week to appeal. Did you meet in person or was it all through email/online forms?
Dmitry Sokolov
When my son went to college in 2023 they didn't care that my husband died they still asked for all his information on the FAFSA can you believe it?? I had to call them like 5 times to explain he was DECEASED and they kept sending verification requests for his tax forms!!! The system is BROKEN!!! I'm still angry about it tbh
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Sofia Torres
•That absolutely shouldn't have happened. When a parent is deceased, you indicate that on the FAFSA and no information should be requested from them. If you encounter this issue (hopefully you won't with the new FAFSA system), immediately request to speak with a financial aid supervisor or director, not just a front-line staff member.
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Mei Wong
Thank you all so much for the advice and support. I feel much more prepared now. I'll definitely start getting organized with all the documentation, help my triplets create their FSA IDs in advance, and submit as close to December 1st as possible. I'll also look into the Social Security survivor benefits and start researching schools with good aid packages for multiples. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share your experiences and expertise!
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