Has anyone noticed how the new FAFSA is supposed to be "simplified" but somehow it's WAY MORE COMPLICATED??? My daughter is applying for the 2025-26 year and the old version was way easier to submit correctly. This SAI calculation thing is so confusing compared to the old EFC system.

UPDATE: I tried submitting through Firefox as suggested and manually entered our tax information instead of using the DRT. After a brief heart attack when it seemed to freeze during processing, it FINALLY went through! The confirmation page shows it's been successfully submitted. Thank you all SO MUCH for your help! I'm going to contact my son's schools today to let them know about the amended return situation. Fingers crossed there won't be verification issues, but at least the application is in before the priority deadline.

my cousin works in financial aid and she told me they're SWAMPED right now with the new FAFSA changes. said people are waiting wayyyy longer than usual.

If your SAR shows code 099 without any other processing codes, that's good news! It means your application has been processed successfully, and you should see your SAI calculation soon. You could still be selected for verification later (about 30% of applications are), but that would be initiated by your specific college, not the federal processor at this point. One recommendation - download and save a PDF copy of your submitted FAFSA and confirmation page. If there are any delays that might affect your school's deadline, having documentation of your submission date can be helpful when speaking with your school's financial aid office.

Did you resolve this issue? I'm curious what the outcome was, as it might help others who get similar notices in the future.

This is why i HATE the new FAFSA. The entire system is filled with these kinds of confusing notifications. My daughter got an "action required" email that made it sound like her application was going to be rejected, but it was just asking her to fill out an optional survey. The stress these vague emails cause is ridiculous.

when i was waiting for financial aid stuff last year i just kept checking my portals at each school. some schools put the info in ur applicant portal before they even email u about it. sometimes u can see ur package weeks early if u keep checking!!

I remember this anxious waiting period all too well! Just wanted to add that while your SAI will impact need-based aid calculations, schools still have a LOT of flexibility in how they build your package. My brother and I had identical SAI scores (we're twins) but got completely different packages from the same school because we applied to different programs and had different academic records. Also, if your financial situation has changed since you submitted your FAFSA (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), document everything now so you're ready to submit an appeal if needed. The formal term is "Special Circumstances Review" and most schools have a process for this.

anyone know if this works the same way for parent PLUS loans? my daughter is starting her sophomore year and we're refinancing

Thank you all for the helpful information! I feel much better knowing we did it correctly. The whole process is so confusing, especially with the recent changes and our new marriage situation. I did make sure to include all of our household assets in my section, so it sounds like we're good to go. I'll definitely keep an eye out for any verification requests though, and make sure my daughter follows up with the schools requiring the CSS Profile for additional information from both of us.