We went through something similar with my son. After weeks of no communication, we were told his FAFSA had been selected for verification because of a "data mismatch" between what was reported and his tax information. When we provided the documents, we discovered the FAFSA system had pulled the wrong line from our tax return! Had to submit corrections and now waiting AGAIN for processing. This whole rollout has been a disaster!

Financial aid advisor here. I'm seeing this issue at multiple institutions. The root of the problem is that the Department of Education launched the new FAFSA without adequately testing the tax line item mapping. For families with anything beyond simple W-2 income (self-employment, capital gains, retirement contributions, business income), the system is inconsistently pulling data. Remember that the SAI formula itself also changed this year, so even if the data was pulling correctly, your expected contribution might be different from previous years. I suggest: 1. Request a manual review of your tax information at all schools 2. Ask each financial aid office for a breakdown of exactly which income figures they're using 3. Keep documentation of all communications 4. Request deadline extensions where needed We're telling families to expect resolution by mid-May, but some institutions may process corrections sooner.

The FASFA system is BROKEN! I tried going back to school last year and wasted weeks filling out their stupid forms only to be denied because my income from 2 years ago was too high. Nevermind that I'm making half that now! The whole system punishes adult learners who are trying to improve their situation. And good luck getting anyone on the phone to explain anything. Total nightmare.

OP did u ever figure out how to create ur FSA ID? that was the hardest part for me lol

Update: I just wanted to add that if this turns out to be related to CSS Profile vs FAFSA methodology differences, you can absolutely request an institutional methodology review. Many schools have appeal processes specifically for families who face significant differences between federal and institutional need analysis. Be prepared to explain any special circumstances (medical expenses, caring for relatives, recent job changes, etc.) that might not be captured in the formulas.

After you talk to the financial aid office, make sure you get EVERYTHING in writing. When we were dealing with our SAI discrepancy, the person on the phone told us one thing, but then the official response was completely different. Document every call - who you spoke with, what they said, date and time. This helped us tremendously during our appeal process.

Did you try that Claimyr service I mentioned? Just wondering if it worked for you. It made such a difference for me after weeks of frustration.

Have you checked if your son's school has a FAFSA workshop or help session? Our local community college has been running them because of all the problems this year. They had financial aid advisors who could help navigate the system and even had a direct line to FSA.

Wait til you get to the part where you have to do entrance loan counseling and the Master Promissory Note... that's a whole other confusing process 🥴 The FAFSA itself is just the first step of like 10 steps

One more important thing: if your financial circumstances have changed significantly since you filed your 2023 tax information (which is what the 2025-2026 FAFSA uses), you can request a Professional Judgment review from your school's financial aid office. This is especially relevant if there's been: - Job loss or significant income reduction - Extraordinary medical expenses - Parent divorce or separation - Death of a parent/spouse - Natural disaster expenses This could potentially lower your SAI and increase your grant eligibility. Documentation will be required, but it can significantly improve your aid package in some situations.