My cousin works in financial aid at a university and she said they're seeing tons of similar problems with the new FAFSA system. She said always save PDFs of everything you submit!!! Even if it seems to go through ok.

UPDATE: We successfully created a new FAFSA application tonight and everything went smoothly! My son sent me a new contributor invite without any problems, and this time I triple-checked my SSN before proceeding. The system accepted all our information and we were able to submit without issues. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

u should DEF file those taxes ASAP!!! my cousin got the pell grant and then they did that verification thing 6 months later and she had to pay back ALL THE MONEY because her dad hadn't filed taxes or something. it was a nightmare for her!!

To answer your question about future aid: Yes, issues with verification can affect future aid eligibility. If a student has to return funds due to verification problems, they may be flagged in the system, which can delay or complicate future aid processing. It can also potentially affect Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements if the financial adjustments impact enrollment status. This is why it's crucial to maintain accurate and complete financial documentation for the entire period you're receiving aid.

everyone saying credit score doesn't matter is right. they ONLY look for bad stuff. my brother in law had like a 680 score which isn't even that great but got approved no problem because he didnt have any negative marks. its weird how they do it. BTW if u get denied u should look at Sallie Mae or Discover private loans. interest rates are higher but sometimes its the only option.

Update: I ended up applying yesterday and got an immediate denial due to the wage garnishment, even though it's paid off. I used that Claimyr service that someone recommended here to reach Federal Student Aid (after trying unsuccessfully for days on my own), and they were super helpful! The agent explained exactly what documentation I needed to submit for the extenuating circumstances appeal and how to present my case. I submitted everything yesterday afternoon and now I'm waiting to hear back. They said it usually takes 2-3 weeks, but sometimes faster. In the meantime, my twins' financial aid offices confirmed they'd be eligible for additional unsubsidized loans if my appeal doesn't go through. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I'll post again when I hear the results of my appeal.

One solution that helped some of my advisees: if you have good credit, look into using a 0% APR credit card for part of the tuition (if the school accepts it), then aggressively pay it off before the promotional period ends. This works best if you need to bridge a smaller gap for 12-18 months. Not ideal, but I've seen families successfully use this to avoid high-interest loans when they have stable income but just need to spread payments out.

After checking around extensively last month, I found Earnest was offering the lowest rates - I qualified for 7.25% with similar credit to yours. Not under 7% but better than most. They consider more than just credit score - they look at savings patterns, employment history, and education. Worth checking out. Also, I'd strongly recommend calling your son's financial aid office and asking specifically about their institutional loan programs. Many schools have their own loan funds with rates around 5-6% that they don't widely advertise but are available to continuing students in good standing.

For your appeal, it's best to be specific about what you need financially. Look at what you can realistically afford monthly, calculate that annual amount, and then specify the gap you need filled. For example: "We can manage $X per year, leaving a gap of $Y that we're requesting in additional grant/scholarship aid." This approach shows you've done the math and are being reasonable. Also mention competing offers from other schools - "School B offered us $22,000 in institutional grants, making it $7,000 per year more affordable than your current offer." Documenting those medical expenses could be very significant for your appeal. Make sure to quantify the impact on your finances.

nobody talks about this but u can negotiate with colleges!!! they have wiggle room in their budgets. my son got an extra 8k just by showing them better offers from competing schools. be confident when u call them!!!