We had to do this too with our FAFSA correction. Both my wife and I needed to authenticate separately, which was NOT the case in previous years. Just a heads up - after both of you authenticate and submit the correction, you'll probably get an email saying your "correction is being processed" and it can take 3-5 business days before your updated SAI is calculated. The whole system is frustratingly slow this year.

UPDATE: We finally got it fixed! Here's what worked for anyone dealing with the same issue: 1. I had to create my own FSA ID (took about 15 minutes) 2. We had to wait 48 hours for my FSA ID to fully verify with Social Security 3. We tried again, both authenticating separately 4. We removed the retirement account from assets 5. It took 4 business days but we just got notification that our SAI dropped by $12,000!!! THANKS everyone for your help. That $12k difference could mean thousands more in financial aid for our son's freshman year. So glad we fixed it!

I didn't know this was possible! Her first choice school has been really helpful throughout this process, so I'll definitely ask if they can provide an estimated package. That would at least give us some idea of what we're looking at financially while we wait for the official SAI. Thank you for this suggestion!

UPDATE: We got it resolved!!! First, I used Claimyr to get through to an FSA agent who confirmed we were stuck in verification and added a note to our account. Then I sent the verification documents to all three schools. Her first-choice school was amazing - they processed everything within 48 hours and somehow that triggered the SAI to appear in the system!\n\nHer SAI is $13,842, which qualifies her for some need-based aid plus the full federal loans. Not as much aid as I hoped for, but at least she can attend with a manageable loan amount. The financial aid director even offered us a special circumstances review since my income has decreased since 2023.\n\nTHANK YOU to everyone who helped with advice. This forum literally saved my daughter's college plans!

one more thing nobody mentioned - if ur working for government or non-profit u might qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness on Parent Plus Loans but only after consolidation and only on ICR. Its complicated but worth it if u qualify,

Based on the information you've shared, here's what I recommend: 1. First, consolidate your Parent Plus Loans through studentaid.gov into a Direct Consolidation Loan 2. Immediately apply for Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) 3. Consider whether filing taxes separately from your spouse would benefit you (run the numbers both ways) 4. Set up autopay for the 0.25% interest rate reduction 5. Mark your calendar to recertify your income annually With part-time income of $28k, your ICR payment could be significantly lower than the standard payment, possibly in the $200-300/month range if you file taxes separately. If you file jointly, it would be higher based on combined income. Remember that you'll need to recertify your income every year, and if your income increases, so will your payments. The loans would be eligible for forgiveness after 25 years of payments, though the forgiven amount would be taxable income. Do you know which loan servicer you have? That can sometimes affect the quality of service and information you receive.

Good news for you - I just checked and Mass Maritime does NOT require the CSS Profile, so that's not holding things up. Their website says financial aid packages should be released 2-3 weeks after FAFSA processing, so you're right at that window. If you can get through to the office, ask specifically if they need any verification documents. That's the most common holdup in aid packages - when they need additional tax documents or income verification.

UPDATE: I just checked Mass Maritime's financial aid website and they specifically state that all financial aid offers for Fall 2025 are being delayed by approximately 7-10 days due to FAFSA changes and processing issues. They're sending them out in batches based on application date. This is happening at many schools this year with the "new FAFSA" rollout causing nationwide delays. They should have communicated this better!

i took out both types of loans and honestly its fine. yeah interest sucks but my brother didnt take loans and took 6 years to graduate cause he was working so much. i graduated in 4 years and started making real $ faster. ended up better off financially even with the loans

One more consideration: if you're planning to work in public service (government, non-profits, teaching, etc.), you might qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness after 10 years of payments. This can make federal loans an even better option. Also, look into whether your school offers any payment plans that might reduce how much you need to borrow each semester. Some schools let you spread payments over the term instead of paying all at once, which can help if you're working part-time.