As a newcomer to this community, I can't express how relieving it's been to read through this entire thread! I'm currently on day 18 of waiting after my FAFSA switched to "processed" status, and honestly I was starting to think something had gone terribly wrong with my application. @Miguel Ramos your complete journey from confusion to resolution gives me so much hope! The verification flag issue really shows how many invisible steps happen behind the scenes that we're never told about. And wow, that spam folder discovery - I literally ran to check mine immediately and found TWO emails from my school's financial aid office that I completely missed! One was just informational, but the other was asking me to confirm my enrollment status. Crisis averted thanks to your experience! @QuantumQuasar that timeline breakdown should be required reading for every FAFSA applicant! Having a realistic expectation of 2-8 weeks total processing time completely changes my stress level. Before this, I was operating under the assumption that "processed" meant "done" - had no idea schools then needed weeks to review and package everything. @Pedro Sawyer the enrollment deposit insight is incredibly valuable! I submitted mine about 10 days ago, so hopefully that moves me up in their queue. It's frustrating that these processing priorities aren't communicated transparently, but at least now I understand why some friends heard back way faster than others. This whole financial aid system really does feel like a black box, but finding this community has made such a difference in managing the anxiety. Thank you all for being so generous with sharing your real experiences - it's exactly the kind of honest information that's impossible to find in official resources! 🙏

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so thankful I found this thread! I'm currently in week 2.5 of waiting after my FAFSA showed "processed" and was starting to spiral thinking I'd somehow messed something up. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly calming - especially realizing that what feels like forever is actually totally normal timing! @Miguel Ramos your entire story arc from panic to resolution is so reassuring! The verification flag twist really shows how many behind-the-scenes steps we're never told about. And that spam folder moment - I immediately checked mine after reading that and found an email from my school's student accounts office about setting up my payment plan. Would have completely missed the deadline without your tip! @QuantumQuasar that step-by-step timeline is exactly what every financial aid website should show upfront! Understanding that "processed" is really just step 2 of like 6+ steps completely reframes the waiting period. Before this I thought processed meant I should hear back within days, not weeks. The enrollment deposit processing priority insight from @Pedro Sawyer is such valuable insider info! I submitted mine last week so fingers crossed that helps speed things along. It's wild how much these little details matter but aren't communicated anywhere official. This community has been a lifesaver for understanding what's actually normal vs. what just feels scary when you're in the middle of it. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences so openly! 🙏

Your SAI of 3521 is actually really promising! I'm a financial aid officer at a state university, and I can tell you that families with SAIs in that range typically receive substantial aid packages. Here's what you can realistically expect: - Pell Grant: approximately $3,500-4,000 (the formula changes slightly each year) - State grants: varies by state but often $1,000-3,000 additional - Institutional aid: depends heavily on the specific school The great news is that your SAI puts you well within the range for need-based aid at most institutions. State schools will likely offer you the best value, but don't completely dismiss private colleges until you see their aid offers - some have very generous institutional aid for middle-income families. One critical tip: when those award letters arrive in the next few weeks, create a simple chart comparing only the FREE money (grants/scholarships) against total cost of attendance. Ignore loans initially since they're available everywhere. This will give you the clearest picture of actual affordability. Also, definitely look into your state's financial aid programs - many require separate applications with earlier deadlines than FAFSA. You don't want to miss out on additional free money! You're doing everything right by getting informed early. With your SAI, your son should have some solid options!

Your SAI of 3521 is actually really good news! I'm a parent who just went through this whole process with my twin daughters last year, so I totally understand the stress and confusion. With an SAI around 3500, your son should definitely qualify for partial Pell Grant funding - probably somewhere in the $3,000-4,000 range based on the current formula. Plus, depending on your state, there might be additional state grant money available. The thing that really helped me understand everything was realizing that your SAI is basically what the government thinks you can reasonably pay per year toward college costs. So if a school costs $25,000 total and you get $8,000 in grants/scholarships, your family would be expected to cover about $17,000 through a combination of your SAI contribution, work-study, and potentially some loans. My advice: when those award letters start coming in (usually March/April), make a simple spreadsheet with columns for each school showing Total Cost, Free Money (grants + scholarships only), and Net Cost. Don't include loans in your initial comparison since those are available everywhere. Also, definitely apply to a mix of schools if you haven't already - sometimes the aid packages can vary wildly between similar institutions. You might be surprised by which schools end up being most affordable after aid! Hang in there - the hardest part (waiting for FAFSA results) is behind you now! 🎓

As someone who works in financial aid, I want to emphasize that everyone giving advice about the 120-day return window is absolutely correct - this is critical timing! One thing I'd add is that when you contact your school's financial aid office, ask specifically for the "R2T4" (Return to Title IV) form or process. This is the official federal term for returning unused loan funds, and using this terminology will help the staff understand exactly what you need. Also, don't be surprised if they ask you to provide a written statement explaining why you're returning the funds (scholarship received, changed living situation, etc.). This is standard documentation they need for federal compliance. The good news is that returning unused subsidized loan funds within the window is a fairly routine process that most schools handle regularly, so once you get the right person on the phone, it should be straightforward!

I'm a new member here and just wanted to say how helpful this entire thread has been! My son is starting college next fall and I had no idea about the 120-day return window or the R2T4 process. This is exactly the kind of information that should be more widely known - it seems like schools don't always explain these options clearly during the financial aid process. I'm bookmarking this discussion and will definitely keep the R2T4 terminology and disbursement date details in mind when we navigate his loans. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise!

This entire thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm currently dealing with my own FAFSA nightmare - my parents divorced last year and I had no idea the residence rule was different from who claims you as a dependent. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been like having a whole team of advisors walk me through the process. @Dananyl - I really hope you were able to get everything sorted out with your dad's tax information! Did the IRS Data Retrieval Tool work once you switched to using his info instead of your mom's? I'm in a similar situation and feeling so much more confident about tackling it now thanks to all the amazing advice in this thread. The checklist idea, the browser cache clearing tip, and knowing about the live chat option are game-changers. This community is absolutely incredible - I've learned more practical FAFSA knowledge from this one discussion than from hours of trying to navigate the official resources on my own!

I just wanted to jump in as someone who went through this exact same situation last year! The divorced parent rules are SO confusing and poorly explained everywhere. I made the same mistake initially - used my mom's info because she claimed me on taxes, when I should have been using my dad's since I lived with him more. A couple additional tips that helped me beyond what everyone else has already mentioned: 1. Make sure you're looking at the RIGHT year's tax return - for 2025-2026 FAFSA you need 2023 taxes, not 2024 2. If your dad filed an extension or amended return, that can sometimes cause issues with the IRS tool too 3. Try logging out completely and logging back in before attempting the IRS Data Retrieval Tool again - sometimes the system gets stuck The fact that you're getting this sorted out now with a week to spare is actually pretty good timing! I submitted mine literally the day before my school's deadline last year and everything worked out fine. With your dad's correct tax info and all the troubleshooting steps people have shared here, you're definitely going to get this done. This community really is the best resource for navigating these FAFSA nightmares!

Welcome to the community! I'm new here and just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their experiences in this thread. I'm 36 and trying to return to school after finishing my degree in 2008, and I got that exact same panic-inducing "SSN already in use" message earlier today. Like literally everyone else here, my immediate reaction was pure terror about identity theft! But reading through all these detailed success stories has completely transformed my anxiety into confidence. It's absolutely incredible how many returning students face this identical challenge - this thread has been like finding a support group I didn't even know I needed! I've already started preparing based on all the fantastic advice shared here: gathering old addresses from my college days, school information, and I even managed to locate some financial aid documents from over 15 years ago. The consistent feedback that Federal Student Aid representatives deal with this situation multiple times daily and that it's typically a straightforward 20-30 minute verification process has given me tremendous peace of mind. I'm planning to call 1-800-433-3243 bright and early tomorrow morning around 8 AM with all my documentation organized and ready. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their stories and practical tips - this community's willingness to help fellow returning students navigate these complex systems is truly amazing. What seemed like an impossible problem this morning now feels like a completely manageable step in my educational journey!

Welcome to the community! I'm new here and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful and reassuring this entire thread has been. I'm 34 and trying to return to school after finishing my degree in 2012, and I got that exact same panic-inducing "SSN already in use" message earlier today. Like literally everyone else who's commented here, my immediate thought was identity theft and I was genuinely terrified! But reading through all these detailed success stories has been such a game-changer - it's amazing how this one post has brought together so many returning students facing the identical challenge. The collective wisdom about calling 1-800-433-3243 early in the morning (around 8-8:30 AM) with all documentation ready is invaluable. I've already started gathering my old information: previous addresses from my college days, school names and dates, and even found some financial aid paperwork from over 12 years ago! The consistent message that Federal Student Aid representatives handle this situation daily and that it's typically a 20-30 minute verification process has given me so much confidence. It's incredible how what felt like an insurmountable problem this afternoon now seems like a completely manageable next step. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and practical tips - this community's support for fellow returning students is truly amazing. Here's to all of us successfully recovering our ancient FAFSA accounts and pursuing our educational goals!