I remember when I was applying for college back in 2017, we didn't have this SAI thing at all! We had EFC instead. The entire system keeps changing every few years and honestly it just makes everything more confusing for families. I spent weeks trying to figure out my brother's financial aid stuff last year because everything was different from when I applied. Why can't they just make a simple system that tells you exactly what you'll get??

You're right that the change from EFC to SAI has been confusing for many families. The good news is that negative SAI numbers are generally more straightforward to interpret than the old EFC system. The change was actually intended to make aid eligibility clearer and expand Pell Grant access. But your frustration is completely valid - the financial aid system should be more transparent about outcomes!

you should look into if he qualifies for a dependency override maybe? my brother got one when my mom couldnt help with his college anymore and he got way more financial aid

Update for anyone who finds this later: We had success! After meeting with Yale financial aid (and yes, they had a separate summer aid form due in March that we just barely made), they're covering about 60% of the summer costs through a combination of loans and a small grant. For the remaining amount, we're using the consortium agreement idea to have him take one class at our local community college that will transfer back. Thank you all SO MUCH for your help - we're looking at about $3,800 out of pocket instead of $9,000+. Still not cheap but manageable with a payment plan.

One thing no one mentioned yet - your son should create his own email account BUT make sure you have access to it or that he adds you as a recovery option. My son never checks his email and almost missed the verification deadline because important notices went to his inbox. For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, both student and parent will get separate notifications, so having access to both accounts is really helpful.

I work in a college financial aid office. Here's what your son needs for his part of the FAFSA: - Social Security Number - Alien Registration Number (if not a U.S. citizen) - Federal income tax returns - W-2s and other records of money earned - Bank statements and records of investments (if any) - Records of untaxed income (if any) And absolutely get separate email addresses. This isn't just a preference - it's required by the system. Gmail and Outlook both offer free accounts that he can keep permanently. Also, start the process early! The new system has had issues, and priority deadlines for many schools are in early February 2025.

One other thing to check - when you login, make sure you're looking at the 2025-2026 FAFSA and not accidentally viewing last year's application. The portal sometimes switches between years and causes confusion. If you're certain you're viewing the correct year's application, then follow the advice above about having your husband sign again. The signature status bug is definitely not uncommon this year.

My son's FAFSA did the same thing but his SAI ended up increasing by almost $1500 after we resigned!! We never found out why. The whole system is broken this year.

my cousins nephew had similar problem with fasfa this year and ended up not going to college at all because of it... the whole system is broken honestly

Update: I want to thank everyone for the amazing advice! I was able to contact my son's top choice school and they've extended our financial aid deadline by 30 days. I also used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and actually got through to a FAFSA representative who was super helpful. She walked me through the Professional Judgment request process and specifically told me which documents to upload. I've submitted everything yesterday and now we wait. The rep said it should take 2-3 weeks for review, which still gives us time before the extended deadline. I'm still nervous but feeling much more hopeful now. Will update when we hear back!