I'm a newcomer to this community and currently going through the 2025-2026 FAFSA process with my daughter. This thread has been incredibly helpful! I was having the exact same panic about not finding where to report our savings account balance. We have around $6,500 saved up and I kept thinking I was missing a crucial step that would mess up her financial aid. Reading everyone's experiences and confirmations about the FAFSA Simplification Act changes has put my mind at ease. It's reassuring to see so many parents who successfully submitted without asset information and received their SAI calculations without issues. Thank you to everyone who took the time to explain how the new system works - it really helps those of us navigating this for the first time!

I'm new to this community and currently filling out my first FAFSA for my daughter's 2025-2026 school year. This entire thread has been a lifesaver! I was literally losing sleep over not finding where to enter our $11,200 in savings accounts. I even started a new FAFSA application thinking I had somehow skipped a section the first time. It's incredible how many of us went through this exact same panic - really shows how poorly communicated these changes have been. Reading about everyone's successful experiences with the simplified system gives me confidence to finally hit submit. The fact that the new formula focuses on tax information instead of assets actually seems much more straightforward once you understand what's happening. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and explanations about the FAFSA Simplification Act - it's made all the difference for stressed parents like me!

As someone who just went through this nightmare with my own kid, I can't stress enough how important it is to document everything when you have these technical issues! Screenshot every error message, note the exact times you tried to submit, and keep records of any phone calls or chats with FSA. If the glitches cause you to miss priority deadlines, most financial aid offices will grant extensions if you can prove you were actively trying to complete the application. Also, pro tip - if you're still having issues, try using an incognito/private browser window. Sometimes cached data from previous FAFSA attempts can interfere with the new application.

Just wanted to add another potential solution that worked for my nephew last month - if you're still having issues, try completing the FAFSA during off-peak hours (like early morning or late evening). The system seems to be more stable when fewer people are using it. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might interfere with the form submission - we had to disable his ad blocker and password manager before it would go through properly. The timing thing especially seems to matter with Step 4 since that's where the system does a lot of backend calculations. Good luck to anyone still dealing with these frustrating technical problems!

I'm experiencing the exact same problem! Been locked out for the past 3 days trying to complete my parent tax information section. That "unknown error" message pops up right after I enter my FSA ID, just like everyone else is describing. It's actually really reassuring to see this is such a widespread issue with proven solutions rather than just my account being broken. I'm definitely going to try the late night login approach around 2am tonight since it worked so well for Taylor and others. If that doesn't work, I'll do the full password reset and 30-minute wait method that Ezra outlined. My school's financial aid deadline is in 12 days so I have a bit of breathing room, but the stress is definitely real! This thread has been way more helpful than trying to get through to FSA support. Thanks everyone for sharing actual working solutions instead of just venting - you're all lifesavers!

I'm having this exact same issue! Been locked out for 6 days now trying to complete my student tax information verification. The "unknown error" appears right after I enter my FSA ID credentials, just like everyone else here. This thread is honestly such a relief to find - I was starting to think there was something permanently wrong with my account. Reading through all the solutions you've all shared gives me so much hope! I'm definitely going to try the 2am login approach tonight since it worked for Taylor and so many others. If that doesn't work, I'll try the full password reset and 30-minute wait method that Ezra outlined. My priority filing deadline is coming up in just 5 days so I'm really feeling the pressure, but at least now I have actual proven strategies to try instead of just randomly attempting to log in throughout the day. Thanks everyone for sharing what actually worked rather than just complaining - this community support has been more helpful than hours on hold with FSA support!

As someone who just went through this process with my own family, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - those dependent benefits from your husband's SSDI are definitely NOT SSI! I made the same mistake initially and almost reported it in the wrong section. The key thing to remember is that SSI is needs-based assistance while SSDI is earned through work credits. Your son's benefits are considered "auxiliary benefits" under your husband's SSDI claim. Make sure to report them under the Social Security benefits question (92h) and only include the exact amount your son received, not your husband's portion. The online SSA portal is definitely the way to go for documentation - much faster than calling. Also, don't let the $1,400 worry you too much about his aid eligibility. My daughter still qualified for good aid even with similar dependent benefits on her FAFSA. You're doing great by double-checking this stuff!

I'm new to this community but have been lurking and reading posts about FAFSA questions since my daughter will be applying next year. This thread has been incredibly educational! I had no idea there was such an important distinction between SSI and SSDI dependent benefits. My husband is currently going through the SSDI application process, and if approved, our daughter might receive similar dependent benefits. It's so helpful to see the specific FAFSA question number (92h) mentioned multiple times and to know about the online SSA portal for documentation. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this gives me a roadmap for when we're in the same situation. Maya, I hope your son's financial aid application goes smoothly!

I just went through this exact same situation a few weeks ago and totally understand your confusion! Yes, the new FAFSA system requires both married parents to complete separate identity verification, regardless of your joint tax filing status. Your husband will need to create his own FSA ID and verify his identity through security questions, but the good news is he can absolutely do this from his phone while traveling. It typically takes 15-20 minutes and he'll just need his Social Security number, phone number, and email. Since you've already entered all the financial information from your joint tax return, he's really just confirming his identity and giving consent to share that data - no financial documents needed on his end. I'd strongly recommend having him complete the verification as soon as he receives the email rather than waiting until he returns, especially with potential scholarship deadlines. The myStudentAid app actually works quite well on mobile devices if that's easier for him to navigate. While the new system is definitely more cumbersome than before, once both parents complete their portions, processing typically happens within 3-5 business days. Don't panic - this is totally manageable even with his travel schedule!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and it's such a relief to find this thread! My spouse is also traveling for work this month and I had no idea about these new FAFSA requirements. Reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful - I was panicking thinking we'd have to wait weeks for processing. From what I'm gathering, the key points are: 1) Both parents need separate FSA IDs for identity verification (regardless of joint tax filing), 2) The traveling spouse can complete their portion on mobile in 15-20 minutes, 3) They only need SSN, phone, and email (no financial documents since that's already entered), and 4) Processing takes 3-5 days once both parents finish. I'm definitely going to have my spouse create their FSA ID proactively and complete the verification immediately when the email arrives. Thanks everyone for sharing your real-world experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical advice you can't get from official sources!