I'm new to this community but your story really resonates with me as a parent who's been through similar FAFSA struggles. Reading through all the amazing advice you've received here, it's clear that the inheritance asset reporting error is likely your main culprit - that difference between 20% student assessment vs ~5.6% parent assessment on $15,000 could easily explain a huge chunk of your inflated SAI. One additional tip from my own experience: when you submit your Professional Judgment appeals, include a simple cover letter that summarizes ALL the errors you've identified (inheritance reporting, possibly retirement accounts, etc.) in bullet points. This makes it easy for busy financial aid counselors to quickly understand your case without having to dig through multiple forms. Also, if you haven't already, consider reaching out to your state's higher education agency. Many states have ombudsman programs specifically for FAFSA disputes that can provide additional support or even intervene with schools on your behalf. With three kids in college and your income level, there's absolutely no way that SAI should be that high once these corrections are made. The fact that this community has helped identify so many potential issues shows you have a very strong case for appeals. Keep fighting - you've got this!

I'm new to this community but your story really hits home for me as someone who's been through similar FAFSA challenges. Reading through all the incredible advice you've received here, it's clear you have multiple strong grounds for appeals! The inheritance asset reporting error seems to be your biggest issue - that $15,000 being assessed at 20% as a student asset instead of ~5.6% as a parent asset could easily add $2,100+ to your SAI alone. Combined with potentially including retirement accounts (which shouldn't be counted at all), you're probably looking at a massive SAI reduction once these are corrected. I wanted to add one thing that helped me during my appeals process: create a simple "Financial Reality Statement" that shows your actual monthly expenses with three kids in college versus your available income after taxes. Sometimes seeing the real cash flow situation helps financial aid counselors understand why the calculated SAI is completely unrealistic for your family. Also, don't hesitate to mention the specific hardship of being a single parent supporting three college students simultaneously - that's exactly the kind of unusual circumstance that Professional Judgment reviews are designed to address. With your income level and three kids in college, there's no question you should qualify for substantial need-based aid once these errors are corrected. This community has given you an excellent roadmap - now it's time to execute! You've absolutely got this!

As a parent who just went through this process with my son this past fall, I can definitely confirm what everyone else has been saying - CSS Profile is SO much easier than FAFSA when it comes to account setup! Your son will use his existing College Board account (the same one from his SAT) to start the CSS Profile application. When he gets to the parent financial section, he'll have the option to invite you via email to complete that portion directly. When you get that email invitation, you'll create a simple parent login through the secure link - it's not a full College Board account like your son has, just a basic username/password specifically for the parent section. The whole setup takes maybe 2-3 minutes max! And unlike FAFSA where you need those separate FSA IDs, this keeps everything streamlined under one application. One thing I wish someone had told me beforehand: CSS Profile asks for WAY more financial detail than FAFSA - home equity, retirement accounts, medical expenses, small business info if applicable, etc. So definitely gather all your documents first! Also make sure to check which of your son's schools actually require CSS before submitting, since there's a fee for each school after the first one. Most public universities only need FAFSA, while private colleges typically want both. The whole process was actually pretty smooth once I understood how it worked!

As a parent who just completed the CSS Profile process with my daughter last month, I wanted to add my voice to this incredibly helpful discussion! Everyone here has given such accurate and reassuring information. The CSS Profile account setup really is much simpler than the FAFSA nightmare we all went through. Your son will use his existing College Board account to start the application, and when he reaches the parent section, he can invite you via email to complete your portion. You'll create a basic parent login through that secure link (takes about 5 minutes), but it's definitely not a full College Board account - just a simple username/password for accessing the parent financial section of his specific application. One thing I'd emphasize that others have mentioned: CSS Profile asks for significantly more financial detail than FAFSA. Have your tax returns, bank statements, home equity information, medical expenses, and any small business details ready before you start. The application can be saved and resumed, which is a lifesaver given how thorough it is. Also, definitely verify which schools on your son's list actually require CSS Profile before submitting, since there's a fee for each additional school. Generally public universities only need FAFSA, while most private colleges require both CSS and FAFSA for institutional aid consideration. This community has been so helpful - it's amazing how much clearer these processes become when explained by parents who've actually been through them recently!

I'm in the exact same situation and it's so stressful! I submitted my FAFSA in December and it's been showing "processing" for months. What's really frustrating is that I keep seeing mixed information - some people saying their schools have packages ready while others are still waiting like us. I called my financial aid office last week and they basically said "we're waiting on the Department of Education just like you are." It's reassuring to read all these comments confirming it's a widespread issue and not something wrong with my specific application, but I'm still worried about planning for next year. Has anyone heard if schools are going to extend their enrollment deposit deadlines because of these delays? I feel like they have to, right? We can't make decisions about where to attend without knowing what our aid packages look like!

This whole thread has been so helpful - I was starting to think I was the only one still stuck in FAFSA limbo! I submitted mine in early January and it's been "processing" ever since. My stress levels have been through the roof because I'm a transfer student and really need to know my aid package to make my final decision between two schools. It's actually kind of reassuring (in a weird way) to know that this is a system-wide disaster and not just me. I've been checking my studentaid.gov account obsessively every morning hoping something would change. Now I know to stop torturing myself with daily checks and just wait it out like everyone else. The most frustrating part is that this was supposed to make the FAFSA "simpler" but it's created way more problems than the old system ever had. I really hope they get their act together before next year's cycle because no student should have to go through this uncertainty!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and currently dealing with a very similar situation to the original poster. My partner and I co-own a small auto repair shop (LLC) and I've been incredibly confused about how to handle the business reporting on our 2025-26 FAFSA. Reading through this thread has been both helpful and concerning - especially learning about the elimination of the small business exclusion that several people mentioned. I had no idea about these recent changes! Can anyone confirm if there's an official FSA resource or phone number where we can get definitive guidance on current business reporting requirements? I want to make sure we report our 50/50 ownership correctly and don't jeopardize our daughter's aid eligibility. Thanks for all the valuable insights shared here - this community seems like such a great resource for navigating these complex situations!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this thread has been. My spouse and I are going through the exact same situation with our small catering business, and I was completely lost on the FAFSA reporting requirements. The discussion about the elimination of the small business exclusion was a real eye-opener - I had no idea about these recent changes! It's honestly frustrating how poorly these major updates were communicated to families. I really appreciate everyone who shared their experiences and especially those who clarified the current rules. For anyone else reading this thread, it definitely seems like the key takeaway is to verify everything with the official FSA website and current year instructions, since the rules have changed so much recently. The 50/50 ownership split approach makes sense for our situation too. Thanks to this community for providing such valuable real-world guidance on navigating these complex requirements!

Wow, this thread is exactly what I needed to find! I'm a first-time FAFSA parent and completely overwhelmed by the whole process. My son is starting college this fall and our SAI came back at $19,500 on a household income of $78,000 - which honestly feels impossible for us to manage. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I'm realizing we probably made some of these same mistakes. I'm pretty sure we might have incorrectly reported something because that number just doesn't add up with our actual financial situation. I'm going to follow the advice here and call Federal Student Aid tomorrow morning at 8am to request a detailed breakdown of our calculation. Also planning to ask our son's college about that "common FAFSA errors" document that was mentioned - such a great tip! One quick question for the group: if we do find errors and need to submit corrections, how long does it typically take for schools to recalculate financial aid packages? We're getting nervous about accepting/declining aid offers before the May 1st deadline. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such a helpful resource. It's comforting to know we're not alone in finding this process confusing and that there might be light at the end of the tunnel!

As someone who just went through this exact same situation last month, I can't stress enough how important it is to get that detailed SAI breakdown from Federal Student Aid! My family's SAI was initially calculated at $24,000 on an $82,000 income, which was completely unrealistic for us. After reading through similar experiences in this community, I discovered we had made two major errors: 1. We accidentally included our home equity as a reportable asset (primary residence should NOT be included) 2. My wife's 403(b) contributions were somehow counted twice in the calculation It took about 6 phone calls over two weeks to finally get through to FSA and get the corrections processed, but our SAI dropped by over $11,000! The school then revised our daughter's aid package accordingly. For anyone starting this process - I'd highly recommend doing a "dry run" of the FAFSA before you actually submit it. Print out the questions and go through them with your tax documents in hand to catch potential mistakes early. Also, don't be afraid to call both FSA and your school's financial aid office multiple times if needed - persistence really pays off with this system. The new FAFSA formula is definitely less forgiving than the old EFC system, but many of these shocking SAI calculations are due to reporting errors that can be fixed. Keep advocating for yourselves!