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Just a quick update - I got the SSN issue fixed with my daughter's application after we used that Claimyr service. The agent said nearly 40% of applications this cycle have similar verification issues because of how the new system processes things. The good news is that once it's fixed, the aid package usually comes through within 5-10 business days since the SAI calculation is already done.
UPDATE: We called the financial aid office this morning and they were super helpful! Turns out there was a transposed digit in my son's SSN. They're sending a specific verification form that he needs to complete and submit with a copy of his social security card. They said it should be processed within 3-5 business days after they receive it. Thanks everyone for your help!
omg its sooo annoying we have to do this every single year. i wish they would just let us submit once for all 4 years
So it sounds like I should mark my calendar for December but maybe plan to actually do the application in January? And I'll need my 2023 taxes again.
That's a good plan. Also, make sure your school doesn't have any early priority deadlines. Some schools have January deadlines for certain scholarship packages, so check with your financial aid office to confirm. Since you've already done the 2024-2025 FAFSA, the 2025-2026 one should be a bit easier. Your FSA ID will already be set up, and some of your basic info will carry over. You'll just need to update any income changes and review your contributor information. One other thing to remember: if your financial situation has changed dramatically since 2023 (like job loss or major medical expenses), you can submit an appeal for professional judgment to your school's financial aid office after you receive your aid package. They can adjust your aid based on your current situation, regardless of what the FAFSA shows based on 2023 taxes.
I just want to warn you about something that RUINED us last year. When they ask about assets, DO NOT include your retirement accounts (401k, IRA, etc) or the value of your primary home. I made this mistake and it MASSIVELY inflated our SAI score. My son lost out on like $8000 in grants because of my mistake!!!! By the time I realized and tried to correct it, they said it was too late for that academic year. The instructions are confusing but trust me - ONLY include checking/savings accounts, secondary properties, investments, and business assets if you own more than 50% of a business with over 100 employees.
To answer your follow-up question about W-2s: While the total from your tax return is most important, it's good to have all individual W-2s available just in case. Sometimes the verification process requires them, especially if you or your spouse had multiple employers. Also, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool doesn't transfer all information - just the main tax return data. For any income not reported on your federal tax return (like child support received), you'll need to enter that manually. One final tip - take screenshots of your confirmation page and save/print the confirmation email. I've had instances where students' FAFSAs were claimed to be "not received" despite confirmation numbers. Having that documentation saved me weeks of headaches.
Have you checked if your application is stuck in verification? Sometimes the system flags applications for verification but doesn't clearly communicate it. For grad students with separate filing spouses, the FAFSA often requires additional verification due to the separate tax situations. Log into studentaid.gov and check the verification status specifically.
I didn't think about verification being the issue since I never received a clear notification about it. I just checked my studentaid.gov account and don't see anything obvious about verification, but I'll click through all the sections again to make sure I'm not missing something. Would my school also be notified if verification was needed?
Yes, your school would be notified if verification was needed, but sometimes there's a communication gap. In my experience, it's worth directly asking your financial aid office if your application has been flagged for verification. They can see status details that might not be immediately visible to you in the student portal.
Update on your situation: I consulted with our graduate financial aid specialist. For the 2025-26 FAFSA, there's a known issue affecting graduate students with separate-filing contributors. The system sometimes fails to process applications when there's any discrepancy in financial information, particularly with retirement accounts and business income. My recommendation: 1. Start a fresh application 2. Have both your and your husband's tax documents ready side-by-side 3. Report retirement accounts on the correct person's profile (not split) 4. Be extremely precise with business income if either of you has any 5. Double-check the "support provided" section numbers The good news is that graduate student aid deadlines are typically later than undergraduate, so you should still have time to correct this for fall semester.
Thank you for checking with a specialist! You're right about retirement accounts - we weren't sure how to handle my husband's 401k and my Roth IRA. I'll start fresh and make sure to report each account with the correct person rather than trying to split them. And yes, he does have some small business income so I'll be extra careful with that section. You've been incredibly helpful!
Christian Bierman
Somtime the schools take FOREVERRR to send out there aid packages, my daughters college took almost 2 MONTHS after fafsa processed to send her awards. So frustrating!! But you can call the financial aid office directly to ask for a timeline, sometimes they'll give you an early estimate over the phone.
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Emma Olsen
•yep this is normal unfortunately. my son's took 6 weeks last year and we were PANICKING the whole time. colleges don't seem to understand parents need this info to plan!!
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Kiara Fisherman
UPDATE: I finally called the college's financial aid office and they said they're behind on processing because of all the FAFSA delays this year. They expect to have aid packages out within 2 weeks, and they suggested we go ahead with orientation since we can still make decisions after seeing the package. The woman was super nice and said based on our SAI, we should qualify for "significant assistance" but wouldn't give specific numbers. Fingers crossed!
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Savannah Vin
•That's great news! "Significant assistance" is definitely promising language from a financial aid officer. They typically don't use those terms unless they expect you'll receive a substantial package. While waiting, make sure all verification documents are ready if requested - having those prepared can speed up the final steps.
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