Just a heads up - even after your spouse signs, it might take 3-5 business days for the system to update and calculate your SAI. Don't panic if it doesn't change immediately!

Quick update question: Have you been able to find any specific error messages when you log into studentaid.gov? Sometimes they hide the actual error details in the Message Center rather than displaying them prominently on the dashboard.

To answer your follow-up question - yes, her aid was delayed by about 3 weeks while verification was processed. But because we submitted everything quickly, it was still processed before the tuition due date. The financial aid office gave her a temporary hold on the account so she didn't have to pay out of pocket while waiting. Definitely talk to your school's financial aid office about your situation - they can often put notes in your file and help if there are delays.

wait, i just realized something important - make sure your mom's name is EXACTLY the same on everything. my mom's middle name was spelled differently on her SSN card vs green card and that caused so many problems!!

i herd some people just put "divorced" on FAFSA even if technically still married. NOT saying u should do that but ppl do. might be considered fraud tho so probably not worth risk

Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm going to: 1. Complete the FAFSA with both incomes as required 2. Immediately start the professional judgment process with each college 3. Gather documentation showing our 16-year separation and that I'm the primary caregiver 4. Use Claimyr to reach FSA for official documentation of their policy It's frustrating that the system doesn't account for long-term separations without formal documentation, but at least there's a pathway to get it addressed. I'll update this thread after we go through the process in case it helps others in similar situations.

One important detail that hasn't been mentioned yet: your daughter should also check if any of her schools require the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA. Many private colleges use both forms to determine aid. The CSS Profile goes through College Board (not studentaid.gov) and asks for more detailed financial information. If she hasn't completed that for schools that require it, her financial aid packages could be delayed or incomplete.

Yes, schools typically notify students if they require the CSS Profile, but these notifications can sometimes end up in spam folders or get overlooked in the flood of college emails. The good news is that many schools have late CSS Profile deadlines for exactly this reason. You can check which schools require it by visiting the College Board website. And don't worry too much - if it is required and she missed the deadline, contact the financial aid office immediately. Many schools are understanding and will still work with you, especially for incoming freshmen who are navigating this process for the first time.

To address your specific error about the mother's SSN and birthdate not being processed: This likely happened because the system now requires the actual person (you) to enter and verify this information using your own FSA ID, not your husband entering it on your behalf. Our financial aid office has seen hundreds of these cases since the new FAFSA launched. Starting fresh with each person having their own FSA ID is the cleanest solution. And don't worry about the previous attempts - the system will recognize the newest submission as the valid one.

And FYI when ur son makes his FSA ID, make SURE he uses an email he actually checks!!! My daughter used some random gmail she never looks at and we missed deadlines cuz she never saw the notifications 🤦‍♀️