I'm a newcomer here but dealing with the exact same issue! My daughter is 17 and didn't file taxes in 2022 (she was 15 and only earned about $800 babysitting). Her FAFSA got rejected for the same reason yesterday. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the signed statement option or services like Claimyr to get through to FSA. Ana, thank you so much for posting your successful resolution steps! I'm going to try your approach with uploading the parent statement first, then using Claimyr to reach an agent. It's absolutely ridiculous that this is even an issue - the system should recognize that minors with minimal income don't file taxes. Fingers crossed I can get this sorted out as quickly as you did. This community has been a lifesaver!

New member here and unfortunately joining the club of parents dealing with this exact nightmare! My 17-year-old son's FAFSA was just rejected yesterday for the same reason - he didn't file taxes in 2022 when he was 15 and only made about $600 from a part-time job at a local store. I'm so grateful I found this thread because I was completely lost on what to do next. Ana, your step-by-step solution is incredibly helpful! I'm going to try the combination approach of uploading a signed parent statement confirming he wasn't required to file, then using Claimyr to reach an FSA agent. It's absolutely mind-boggling that the system assumes every student filed taxes regardless of age or income level. This should be a simple checkbox fix, not a bureaucratic maze that takes weeks to resolve. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's given me hope that this can actually be fixed relatively quickly once you know the right steps to take!

I'm also going through the FAFSA process for the first time and this thread has been a lifesaver! I was completely stuck on the same question about my primary residence. The investment section wording is so confusing - when it mentions "real estate" my immediate thought was to include my house since that's literally what it is. But reading everyone's experiences here makes it crystal clear that the primary residence exclusion overrides everything else. What really sealed it for me was seeing how many parents mentioned calling the Federal Student Aid helpline directly and getting confirmation that primary homes stay completely off the FAFSA - no home value, no mortgage debt, nothing. The stories about people who made mistakes and had to go through lengthy corrections really emphasize how crucial it is to get this right from the start. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and help newcomers like me navigate this confusing section. It's incredible how much stress one poorly-worded part of the application can cause, but having this community support makes all the difference when you're doing this for the first time!

I'm also new to the FAFSA process and this discussion has been incredibly helpful! I was stuck on this exact same question about my primary residence. Like so many others here, when I saw "real estate" mentioned in the investment section, my first instinct was to include my house since it's literally real estate. But reading through all these experiences makes it abundantly clear that the primary residence exclusion is absolute - your home and mortgage stay completely off the FAFSA form. What really gives me confidence is seeing how many parents got direct confirmation from Federal Student Aid representatives, plus all the successful applications where people excluded their primary homes entirely. The stories about correction nightmares really drive home how crucial it is to get this right the first time. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it's amazing how much stress one confusing section can cause, but having this community support makes navigating the FAFSA so much less intimidating for first-time filers like me!

I've been following this thread as someone who went through a very similar situation two years ago (self-employed + divorce), and I wanted to share what I wish I had known earlier. The biggest mistake I made was not understanding that the FAFSA looks at "prior-prior year" tax information. So for the 2024-25 FAFSA, they're using 2022 tax data. This means if your divorce was finalized in 2023, you might still be filing based on married/joint status from 2022, which could actually work in your favor OR against you depending on your ex's income. Also, since you're self-employed, timing is everything. If you have any flexibility in when you take distributions or make large equipment purchases, these decisions made in the "base year" (2022 for current FAFSA) can significantly impact your aid eligibility. One resource that really helped me was the College Board's CSS Profile calculator - even if the schools you're applying to don't require CSS Profile, the calculator helps you understand how different financial scenarios affect aid eligibility. It's free and helped me model different "what if" situations before submitting my actual FAFSA. My advice: definitely start with free resources, but don't be afraid to invest in professional help if you're still confused. The $275 I eventually spent on a consultant was the best money I spent in the entire college process. Just make sure they understand the timing implications of self-employment income!

As a newcomer to this whole process, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm in a somewhat similar situation - not divorced but dealing with irregular self-employment income and feeling completely overwhelmed by the FAFSA process. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has given me a much clearer roadmap: start with free resources (state agency hotline, college financial aid offices), then consider professional help if still needed. The specific red flags to watch out for when hiring consultants are invaluable - I had no idea that guaranteeing specific aid amounts was a scam tactic. One thing that really stood out to me was how much the timing of financial decisions can impact aid eligibility, especially for self-employed parents. I'm definitely going to look into whether any of my upcoming business expenses or income recognition can be strategically timed. For those considering professional help - it sounds like the consensus is that $200-300 for a qualified consultant (CFP, CPA, or fee-only advisor specializing in college planning) can be worth it for complex situations, especially when divorce and self-employment are involved. Just make sure they're current on the new SAI calculations! Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - both positive and negative. It's so much more helpful than the generic advice you find online!

As someone who's been working in higher education administration for several years, I wanted to add some perspective on WGU's financial aid model that might help your cousin make an informed decision. One thing that's particularly unique about WGU is how they handle "academic year" definitions for federal aid purposes. Since they operate on 6-month terms rather than traditional semesters, the Department of Education considers each term as half an academic year. This actually works in students' favor because you can access your full annual loan limits across just two terms instead of three quarters or two semesters plus summer. For your cousin's situation with the $8,500 EFC, she'll likely qualify for about $4,000-5,000 in unsubsidized loans per term (since she's 24 and independent). Given that WGU's tuition is around $3,800-4,500 per term depending on the program, the loans should cover most of her costs. One strategic consideration: if she has any existing college credits, WGU's transfer credit evaluation is pretty generous, and combined with their competency-based approach, she could potentially finish much faster than anticipated. I've seen students complete bachelor's degrees in 18 months because they were able to test out of courses based on work experience. The key is being realistic about time commitment - most successful WGU students dedicate 15-25 hours per week to coursework. If she can maintain that pace while working, the financial benefits of accelerating through the program could be substantial.

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly detailed and helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm actually in a similar situation to the original poster's cousin - I'm 25, considering WGU for their cybersecurity program, and trying to figure out how their unique financial aid system works. Reading through everyone's experiences, what really stands out is how much the competency-based model can benefit working professionals who already have relevant knowledge and skills. The fact that you can accelerate through familiar material while the flat-rate tuition structure keeps costs predictable is really appealing. I'm particularly grateful for the insights about WGU's improved customer service - it sounds like they've made significant strides in addressing the communication issues that were problematic in earlier years. The 15-20 minute wait times mentioned by recent students are so much better than the horror stories from a few years ago. One question I have for current students: how do you effectively prepare for the competency assessments? Do you use the course materials provided, or do you supplement with external resources? I want to make sure I'm truly mastering the material and not just rushing through to finish quickly. Thanks again to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this kind of authentic insight is invaluable for making such an important educational decision!

This is such a helpful thread! As someone who's been helping family members navigate FAFSA for a few years now, I can confirm that with an SAI of 4400, you're definitely in good shape for Pell Grant funding. What I always tell people is to also look into work-study opportunities at your community college - with your SAI, you'll likely qualify and it can be a great way to earn some extra money while gaining relevant work experience on campus. Also, since you're working full-time while attending school, make sure to keep track of any education-related expenses (books, supplies, etc.) for tax purposes - you might be eligible for education tax credits too!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to find this detailed discussion! I'm in a very similar situation to Jamal - independent student, working while attending community college, and completely new to the financial aid process. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has been incredibly enlightening. The breakdown of SAI ranges and Pell Grant amounts, the information about state grants (had no idea these existed!), and the practical tips about work-study and tax credits are exactly what I needed to hear. It's reassuring to see that the system can work for students like us, and the emphasis on applying early and checking all available resources is noted. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complex processes!