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THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!! My kid had a 4.2 GPA and got National Merit recognition and these greedy colleges still expect us to pay $25K+ per year. It's criminal what they're charging for education. And don't get me started on textbooks and all the extra fees they tack on AFTER you commit. Our generation could work summer jobs to pay for college but now kids graduate with mortgage-sized debt. And the "financial aid" is a joke - mostly loans that will take decades to pay off.
Heyy there ~ not sure if this helps but have you checked the email address that was used for the FAFSA application? Both my son and I received an email with the SAI in it about a week after submitting! The email came from noreply@studentaid.gov with the subject "Your 2025-2026 FAFSA® Form Has Been Processed" and the SAI was listed right at the top of the email. Maybe check your spam folder too?
A quick update on the most recent FAFSA rules - if you haven't received an SAI email within 7-10 days of submission, there might be an issue with your application. The most common reasons are: 1. Signature problems (both student and parent need to sign) 2. Mismatched information that triggered a verification flag 3. Technical processing delays (which have been happening a lot this application cycle) You can check application status on studentaid.gov - even from your parent account, you should see if there's a "More Information Needed" status or if it still shows as "Processing.
Just wanted to share a happy update - our daughter's financial aid package populated this morning! About 5 days after the link first appeared. Got a decent Pell Grant amount and some work-study. Still waiting on the Wisconsin Grant amount to show up, but the big federal pieces are there. For anyone still waiting, hang in there!
My nephew had the same thing at UW-Parkside, blank link for two weeks then suddenly the full aid package appeared. He had to accept each part individually tho and almost missed the deadline because the email went to spam! Tell your kids to check spam folders for anything from the financial aid office!
I had this same birth year loop problem and I think I accidentally made it worse? I tried creating a new FSA ID thinking that might help, but now my application shows BOTH accounts linked to it somehow and I'm completely locked out. Has anyone dealt with something similar? The verification system seems completely broken this year. I regret not applying back in October when it first opened.
Oh no, creating a second FSA ID can definitely cause problems! The system flags it as potential identity fraud. You'll need to call and specifically ask for the FSA ID recovery team. They can help untangle multiple accounts, but you'll need to verify your identity with pretty extensive documentation. They might ask for your previous tax returns, so have those ready.
UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that after trying all the suggestions here, I FINALLY got past the birth year loop! What worked for me was: 1. Waiting until after the weekend patch the advisor mentioned 2. Using Firefox in private browsing mode 3. Manually typing my birth date instead of using dropdowns 4. Completing that section early morning (around 6am) I'm now able to continue with the application! I also contacted my daughter's school financial aid office and they were super understanding, gave her a 2-week extension on the priority deadline. Thanks everyone for your help!!
Tobias Lancaster
i filled out fafsa last year and they gave me the run around for WEEKS trying to get ahold of someone on the phone!!! had a question about my dads tax info (im 22 and they still wanted his info even tho i dont live with him???) and kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold for like 2 hours. so annoying
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Peyton Clarke
•The dependent/independent status rules can be frustrating. At 22, you're still considered dependent for FAFSA purposes unless you meet one of the independence criteria (married, veteran, have dependents, etc.). The phone issues are unfortunately common - I've found that calling very early in the morning (right when they open) sometimes helps. Or you could try that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier if you're still dealing with this issue.
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Marcelle Drum
Thank you all SO much for the helpful information! I feel much more prepared now. I'll definitely apply as soon as the 2025-2026 FAFSA opens in October, and I'll make sure to have all my documents ready in case I get selected for verification. It sounds like with my situation as a single parent with $43k income, I should qualify for some Pell Grant funding, which is really encouraging. I'll also check with Michigan's higher education agency about state grants and look into each school's institutional aid options. This has been incredibly helpful!
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