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Wait im confused about something. You mentioned your son's SAI is 1330 but then said the FAFSA confirmation shows eligibility for Pell up to $6,895. Are you sure thats what it says? My daughter's SAI was 1800 last year and she only got about $5,000 in Pell. I thought the lower your SAI, the more Pell you get? Maybe the amounts changed for this year?
You're right to question this. The Pell Grant amounts are adjusted yearly. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the maximum Pell increased to $6,895, and the eligibility thresholds were expanded. With an SAI of 1330, the student would qualify for very close to the maximum, but likely around $6,500-$6,700 rather than the full $6,895 (which is typically reserved for an SAI of 0). The exact amount is determined by a sliding scale.
one more thing - make sure ur son enrolls full-time (usually 12+ credits per semester) or the pell gets reduced proportionally. my brother only took 9 credits his first semester and only got 75% of his pell grant. they dont tell u this stuff upfront!!
Has anyone else noticed that the FAFSA system this year is WAY worse than previous years? I've been helping my students complete their FAFSAs for 6 years, and I've NEVER seen so many technical issues. The signature problems, the SAI calculation errors, the contributor section glitches... it's honestly embarrassing how poorly this rollout has gone. And don't even get me started on how they're claiming these problems are fixed when they clearly aren't!!
You're absolutely right. The "simplified" FAFSA has been anything but simple for many families. We've been telling our students and parents to expect delays and technical issues as they work through the system bugs. The Department of Education has acknowledged there are problems, but their timeline for fixes has been repeatedly pushed back.
UPDATE: We finally got this resolved! After trying everything suggested here with no luck, we did end up using Claimyr to reach FSA directly (after 3 days of failed call attempts on our own). The agent confirmed there was a mismatch between my daughter's name on her FSA ID (where she included her middle name) and the FAFSA (where she didn't). They fixed it on their end, and within a few hours, the signature button became active. We've submitted successfully and already received her SAI score! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.
That's great news! Thanks for updating us. It's so frustrating that such a small discrepancy can cause such a major roadblock, but I'm glad you got it sorted out before deadlines. What was your daughter's SAI if you don't mind sharing? Just curious how it compares to previous years' EFC calculations.
WHY are parents like this?!?! My dad was the same way. FAFSA deadline was LITERALLY the next day and he still hadn't done his part. I had to threaten to make him pay the difference in whatever aid I lost before he finally logged in. Parents have NO IDEA how expensive college actually is or how much these deadlines matter for OUR FUTURE.
UPDATE: I finally got through to my dad! I showed him exactly what he needed to do, made an estimate of how much aid I might lose (about $6000 based on last year's institutional grants), and set up a calendar invite with all his login info included. He completed it last night! Thank you all for your advice - especially about not sending another invitation since that could have reset everything. The application now shows "processing" status. So relieved!
same thing happend to my roomate last semester!!!! he's from colombia and fafsa was a NIGHTMARE for him. his finacial aid didnt come through until 3 weeks after classes started but the school gave him some kind of emergency loan to cover until then. ask ur school about emergency funding options!!!!
Update: Just checked the FSA website and today's maintenance is scheduled to end at midnight Eastern time. So you should be able to make corrections tomorrow. However, I still recommend pursuing the school waiver as your fastest option, as FAFSA corrections are taking 7-10 days minimum to process right now.
Isabella Costa
This is actually an important strategic decision that could significantly impact your daughter's aid package. If your future spouse has substantial income or assets, submitting before your marriage could result in more aid eligibility. Here's what the FAFSA documentation states: "Report your marital status as of today (the day you submit your FAFSA form). If your marital status changes after you submit your FAFSA form, check with the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend." Some additional considerations: 1. If your daughter will apply to private schools requiring the CSS Profile, their methodology may differ 2. If your income will substantially change in 2024 compared to 2023, you might need to request a professional judgment review anyway 3. Some schools have institutional methodologies that might consider your upcoming marriage regardless of when you submit
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Natasha Orlova
•Thank you for this detailed information. My fiancé does have substantially higher income than I do, so this could definitely affect her aid. She's applying to both public and private schools, so I'll need to research which ones require the CSS Profile as well. This is all much more complicated than I expected!
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Isabella Costa
•It definitely can be complex! For schools requiring the CSS Profile, check each school's specific requirements since they can customize their questions. Also, many financial aid offices are more understanding of family situations than people realize - if you're concerned, don't hesitate to contact your daughter's top choice schools directly to ask how they handle upcoming marriages in their institutional methodology.
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Emma Wilson
i think the fafsa is using 2023 tax info for the 2025-2026 year right? thats what my kids counselor said. so confused with all these changes
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Malik Thomas
•Yes, that's correct. The 2025-2026 FAFSA will use 2023 tax information (from two years prior). It's called prior-prior year reporting. But your marital status should reflect your current situation on the day you sign the FAFSA, not your status in 2023.
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