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.

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!

One more tip: Once you submit your corrections, print or save the confirmation page that shows your confirmation number. This provides proof of your submission date and time. If there are any processing issues later, having this documentation is invaluable when discussing with your financial aid office.

also - the signature page at the end is confusing. make sure u click the SUBMIT button after signing. i just signed and closed the page like an idiot and had to do it all over again lol

I'm going thru the exact same situation with my daughter's school (different top-tier college). We got a similar email basically saying "wait and see" but her roommate already got her full package for next year?! Makes no sense. The stress is killing me because we literally can't afford to continue without similar aid to what she received freshman year. Are we supposed to just wait until July or August to know if we can afford to return??

Update from the financial aid world: The Department of Education recently announced they're still experiencing significant delays processing 2025-2026 FAFSAs, particularly with the new SAI calculation system. Many schools are operating with incomplete information, which explains (but doesn't excuse) their vague responses. Here's the important part: federal student aid amounts (Pell Grants, subsidized loans, etc.) should still be available regardless of when your FAFSA is processed. It's the institutional aid (money from the college itself) that works on a first-come, first-served basis at many schools. I still recommend scheduling that direct conversation with financial aid to clarify exactly what your options are.

Why does the FAFSA website ALWAYS have issues right around deadline time? It's almost like they WANT students to miss out on financial aid. Been dealing with this garbage system for 3 years now. Every single year, same story, different error messages. 🙄

UPDATE: I tried the incognito mode + phone hotspot suggestion from @profile3 and IT WORKED!! Got past the error screen and was able to complete my entire application! For anyone else having this issue - definitely give this solution a try. Thank you all so much for the help!