


Ask the community...
btw be careful when u finally do get to make corrections! sometimes the system will randomly reset other sections when u update one part. happened to me and i didnt notice until after i resubmitted. make sure u review EVERYTHING again before final submit
Update: I just checked the FSA website and they've posted about a known issue with the 2025-2026 FAFSA review cycles. They're currently experiencing longer than normal processing times when schools are added to existing applications. The good news is they're prioritizing applications with upcoming deadlines, so make sure to call and mention your son's priority deadline when you speak with them.
UPDATE: My husband finally got his FSA ID created and verified instantly! We were able to make all the corrections and submit them before the deadline. Just got the confirmation email that our corrected FAFSA was processed successfully. THANK YOU everyone for your help and quick responses! For anyone facing this issue in the future - yes, spouses need separate FSA IDs even with joint taxes, but the process can be completed quickly if all their personal information matches their records.
Great news! Glad to hear it worked out. Make sure to check your SAI (Student Aid Index, formerly EFC) in a few days to see if the corrections changed your aid eligibility. If anything looks wrong, you still have options to appeal directly with your school's financial aid office.
After reading through your situation more carefully, I have one more suggestion. Ask your school's financial aid office specifically about a "Professional Judgment Review" or "Special Circumstances Review." Explain that you've submitted FAFSA but it's delayed in processing. Some schools have authority to make provisional financial aid offers based on estimated information, which can later be adjusted once your official SAI comes in. They might be reluctant to mention this option unless you specifically ask for it by name.
I just called and asked about this! The financial aid counselor said they can potentially do a "preliminary aid package" based on our previous year's FAFSA and tax returns, which would at least give us access to some loans to start with. We have an appointment tomorrow morning to bring in all our documentation. Thank you SO much for this suggestion!
i had this same issue but with verification that took forever!!! finally got through on the phone after trying for weeks and they told me my fafsa was selected for verification but they never sent me the notification!! like how was i supposed to know?? maybe yours is stuck in verification too? worth asking when u finally reach someone
To clarify some confusion in this thread: For 2025-2026 FAFSA purposes, your situation falls under the "special case" rules. Since you have 100% physical custody and claim your daughter on taxes, she is automatically considered your dependent for FAFSA purposes regardless of the financial support test. This is specifically addressed in the FSA Handbook section on household size for independent students. Government benefits received for the child (SNAP, WIC, etc.) actually count as support YOU provide. So you're absolutely correct to include her in your household size, and doing so will help your SAI calculation significantly.
Thank you for explaining it so clearly! That makes me feel much better. Do you know if I need to do anything special when entering her information, or just include her in the household size number?
You'll just include her in your household size number when asked. The new FAFSA form is actually clearer about this than previous versions. There's a specific question about 'dependents who receive more than half their support from you' - and for the reasons I explained, your daughter qualifies. If selected for verification later, you'd primarily need to show she lives with you (custody agreement, school/daycare records listing you as guardian, medical records, etc.) and your tax return showing you claimed her.
I was in this same situation!!! my daughter was 3 when i went back to school and i only made like $12k but she lived with me full time. I DID include her in my household size and i got way more financial aid bc of it (full pell grant + state grants). i think they look at household size vs income so having her counted helped me qualify for more. never got any questions about it either
Issac Nightingale
UPDATE: We got it figured out! My daughter created her FSA ID and started a new application. I did lose all my previously entered information, but now we're on the right track. For anyone else who makes this mistake - you definitely need to have the STUDENT start the application first! Thank you all for your help.
0 coins
Tyler Murphy
•Great news! Just a heads-up that after you both sign, expect about 3-5 days for processing before her SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation appears in the dashboard. That's when you'll know if additional verification is needed.
0 coins
Alana Willis
Glad you figured it out! Honestly they should rename the parent section to "contributor section" or something so it's more obvious. My kid was also confused cause he thought I could just do the whole thing for him lol
0 coins