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I just checked my FSA account and saw they updated my payment count! It looks like they're still counting payments during this period as long as you're making them on time. Maybe try logging in again to see if your account shows the same?
UPDATE: I finally got through to an FSA representative (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned - it actually worked!) and got some clarification. You all were right - the SAVE program legal challenges don't affect payment counting for existing IDR plans. The agent confirmed all my payments are still being counted, including recent ones. She helped me submit a payment count review since I'd had multiple servicers, and recommended I keep all my payment confirmations just in case. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and advice. This whole system is still frustrating, but at least my timeline isn't being extended.
I'm honestly so confused by all of this. My daughter is also applying to colleges and some have Dec 1 deadlines, others Jan 15, and one Feb 1. Do I need to submit different FAFSAs at different times? And why does the form ask about parents' education if we don't qualify for need-based aid? The whole system seems designed to be complicated on purpose. I spent three hours on it yesterday and gave up.
You only need to submit one FAFSA, but aim to meet the earliest priority deadline among all her schools. The questions about parents' education aren't about financial aid eligibility - they're used to identify first-generation college students for certain programs and demographic tracking. Even if you don't think you'll qualify for need-based aid, I still recommend completing the FAFSA as you might be surprised at what she qualifies for, especially with the new SAI calculation method.
Thanks everyone for your helpful responses! We're definitely going to submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile before the December 1st deadline. I'm still learning all the ins and outs of this process - it's so much more complicated than when I went to college. Does anyone know how long after submission we should expect to receive the SAI calculation? And will that be sent to us or just to the schools?
You should receive your Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation within 3-5 days after submission if you use the electronic signature option. It will be included in your Student Aid Report (SAR), which you can access through your studentaid.gov account. This SAI will also be sent to all the schools you listed on your FAFSA. Each school will then use that SAI to develop their individual financial aid packages based on their available funding and policies. Good luck with everything!
This happens when there's a mismatch between what you reported and what the IRS data retrieval tool imported. The system locks up because it can't reconcile the difference. I recommend: 1. Try logging in very late at night or early morning (system maintenance usually happens around 2-4am EST, but right after is often a good window) 2. Use the FAFSA correction form (you can download a PDF version from studentaid.gov/resources) and fax it to the number on the form 3. As others mentioned, your daughter's school financial aid office can often make these corrections directly Also, be sure you're using the most updated browser - sometimes older browsers conflict with their security protocols.
Thank you! I didn't know there was a PDF correction form option. Will definitely look for that. I tried logging in at 3:15am last night based on another comment here and still got the same error, so I might try the fax route while also talking to her school.
You're welcome! One more tip: when faxing, include a cover sheet clearly stating the student's name, FAFSA ID, and the specific correction needed. Write "SYSTEM ERROR PREVENTING ONLINE CORRECTION" at the top in large letters. And send it multiple times if possible - their fax system can be just as unreliable as their website.
UPDATE: Finally got this resolved! I ended up doing three things simultaneously: 1. Used Claimyr to get through to an actual human at Federal Student Aid (THANK YOU for that suggestion - it actually worked!) 2. Contacted my daughter's school financial aid office 3. Faxed in the correction form The FSA agent confirmed there was a system-wide glitch affecting income verification corrections for many applicants. They made a note on our account and manually pushed our correction through. The school also submitted an override from their side. For anyone else dealing with this: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Take screenshots, save confirmation numbers, get agent names. The agent told me this has been happening to thousands of people with the new system rollout.
I had a similar issue and realized my student had to specifically select "Add a Parent/Contributor" in her FAFSA. Check if your student properly generated the invitation link for you - they expire after 14 days. Have them log in and check the "Action Required" section on their dashboard.
Cameron Black
just wondering im in similar situation but were doing the css profile too for some schools. does anyone know if the preliminary estimates include css profile info or just fafsa? thx
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Hannah White
•Great question. Schools that require the CSS Profile typically will want that data for even preliminary estimates, as it collects more detailed financial information than FAFSA. If you've completed the CSS Profile already, they can use that information while waiting for your FAFSA to process. If you haven't completed it yet, I would prioritize doing so if you want accurate preliminary estimates from those institutions.
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Natalie Chen
Update: I called three schools today based on the advice here. Two were really helpful! They asked for our AGI from last year's taxes, number of people in household, and number in college. One school gave us a rough estimate range, and the other actually walked through specific amounts for different types of aid they'd likely offer. The third school refused to give any numbers without the processed FAFSA. Now I need to call the other two tomorrow. I also tried the Net Price Calculators as suggested, but the information they asked for was pretty basic and I'm not sure how accurate the results will be. At least it's a starting point though!
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Santiago Martinez
•nice! which school gave u the most detailed estimate? curious if its one of the ones my kid applied to
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Natalie Chen
•It was a small private liberal arts college in the Northeast. They even said they'd email us the preliminary breakdown! I was really impressed with how helpful they were.
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