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If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
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D3 coach here. That's a legitimate comment, though perhaps phrased in a way that sounds shadier than it is. While D3 schools can't offer athletic scholarships, coaches often have influence with admissions and can advocate for merit scholarships for desirable recruits. Some schools also have "leadership" scholarships or other merit-based awards that aren't technically athletic but may favor students with demonstrated excellence in various areas including athletics. This isn't guarantee of specific amounts though - more of an indication that the coach will advocate for your son in the financial aid process. Ask for clarity about what specific scholarship opportunities their recruited athletes typically receive.
That's exactly right. My daughter was recruited for volleyball at a D3 school, and while they couldn't offer athletic scholarships, she received a "leadership" scholarship that was significantly higher than what most students with similar academic credentials received. The coach definitely had influence in that process.
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I think our plan now is to: 1) Submit FAFSA as early as possible after Oct 1 2) Use the Net Price Calculators for each school on his list 3) Prepare for CSS Profile for the private schools 4) Talk to his coach about potential merit aid opportunities 5) Have honest conversations about what we can realistically afford I feel much less overwhelmed now! One last question - for his dream school that might be a financial stretch, should we apply Early Decision or would that put us at a disadvantage for negotiating financial aid later?
Early Decision is binding and can absolutely limit your ability to negotiate aid. If finances are a major concern, I strongly recommend Early Action instead (non-binding) so you can compare aid packages from multiple schools. Some schools claim to meet full demonstrated need for ED applicants, but their definition of "need" may differ from yours. The ability to compare and potentially leverage offers is invaluable in the financial aid process.
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The CSS Profile generally doesn't receive automatic corrections like FAFSA does because it's not directly connected to federal databases. However, your schools will typically use the FAFSA SAI as the official figure. If there's a significant difference between your CSS and FAFSA calculations, contact your financial aid office to clarify which they prioritize.
Update: Just got off the phone with my university's financial aid office. They confirmed they'll use my updated (lower) SAI for calculating my aid package! They also recommended I forward the same information to the scholarship committees. The counselor mentioned this type of adjustment happens quite often, especially with first-time FAFSA filers. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!
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Since you mentioned being a first-generation college student, I'd recommend reaching out to your school's Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) or TRIO office if they have one. These programs specifically help first-gen students navigate processes like FAFSA and often provide additional grants. Also, don't forget that the FAFSA is just step one of the financial aid process. After your FAFSA is processed, you'll receive: 1. Student Aid Report (SAR) with your Student Aid Index (SAI) - this replaces the old Expected Family Contribution (EFC) 2. Financial aid offers from each school you listed (these vary widely!) 3. Potential requests for verification (happens to about 30% of applicants) Then you'll need to formally accept/decline each aid component and complete entrance counseling if taking loans. The whole process can take 3-4 months from FAFSA submission to final aid package, so starting early is crucial.
Thank you! I hadn't heard about those programs for first-gen students. I'll definitely look into that at the schools I'm applying to. The SAI is what determines how much aid I get, right? Is there a certain number I should be hoping for?
Your SAI (Student Aid Index) can range from -1500 to 999999. The LOWER your SAI, the MORE aid you'll potentially receive. A negative SAI (-1500 to 0) indicates high financial need and eligibility for maximum Pell Grants. An SAI below 6000 typically qualifies for some Pell Grant amount. But remember, your SAI is just one factor schools use to determine your total aid package. Each school has its own funding and methodology for distributing institutional aid beyond federal programs.
dont forget to also fill out the CSS profile if ur applying to private schools!! its different from fafsa and has a fee but lots of private colleges require it for their own scholarships. my sister almost missed out on $15k/yr bc she didnt know about it!!
I hadn't heard of the CSS Profile at all! Do all private schools require it? I'm applying to a mix of public and private colleges.
The CSS Profile is required by about 200 mostly private colleges and universities for awarding their institutional aid (not federal aid). Unlike FAFSA, it does have a fee ($25 for the first school, $16 for each additional), but fee waivers are available. It asks more detailed financial questions than FAFSA, including home equity and the finances of non-custodial parents. The complete list of participating schools is on the College Board website. It's definitely worth completing if any of your schools require it, as institutional aid can often be much larger than federal aid packages.
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After trying that Claimyr service I mentioned, I actually got through and have an update to share - they were able to put my account in admin forbearance while they investigate why my recertification wasn't processed. The rep confirmed they should have disclosed the new interest rate and recommended I submit a complaint through the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) about that specific issue. Apparently that gets fast attention from the loan servicers.
This is excellent advice. Filing a CFPB complaint creates a formal record and servicers are required to respond within a specific timeframe. It's one of the most effective tools borrowers have when servicers aren't following proper procedures.
One additional thing to be aware of - even if you get an administrative forbearance, interest may still accrue during this period unless you specifically get an interest-free forbearance (which is rare). Make sure you ask about this specifically when you speak with your servicer so you understand the full financial impact.
Thank you for mentioning this! I'll definitely ask about the interest accrual. At this point I'm just trying to avoid the $1500 payment hitting my bank account, but I want to understand all the implications.
Mikayla Davison
The whole FAFSA system is DELIBERATELY COMPLICATED to discourage people from getting aid!!! My daughter's cosmetology school told us one thing about her eligibility for grants and then the actual amount was HALF what they promised once the SAI came back. They kept saying "oh the federal formula changed" but they knew all along!!! Now she has loans she never wanted. Make sure you get EVERYTHING in writing from the school!!
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Max Reyes
•While I understand your frustration, the issue may not be deliberate deception. Cosmetology schools (and all schools) can only provide estimates before the FAFSA is processed. The 2025-2026 FAFSA uses the new SAI formula instead of the old EFC, which calculates aid eligibility differently. Many schools are still adjusting to these changes. That said, I absolutely agree with getting all financial aid promises in writing, and asking for a detailed breakdown of how aid is calculated for clock-hour programs specifically. The formulas are different than traditional semester-based programs.
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Savannah Glover
Update: We got everything sorted out! Found the manual entry option and added the school code. My son talked to the financial aid office at Bellamy today and they explained that because it's a clock-hour program, they calculate Pell Grants differently, but he should still qualify based on our financial situation. They're sending us a pre-award letter with estimates next week. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Felicity Bud
•That's great news! I'm glad you got it all sorted out. One final tip - make sure your son understands that for shorter programs like cosmetology, the disbursement schedule for aid might be different than what you'd see at a traditional college. Rather than getting aid at the beginning of each semester, funding is often tied to completing a certain number of clock hours. This can affect when funds are released for things like supplies and living expenses.
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