Blank family size on processed FAFSA - do we need to correct ASAP?

omg same thing happened to my fafsa too!!! processed last week and the household size is just gone. i called yesterday but was on hold for 40 mins before i had to go to work. if u find out anything plz update

Yes, you definitely need to correct this. Family size directly impacts your SAI calculation and leaving it blank could result in an incorrect financial aid package. The system treats blank household size differently than zeroes - it might process but the calculation will be off. You should submit a correction as soon as the correction window opens, which should be within 1-2 weeks based on the processing date.

This is a known glitch in the 2025-2026 FAFSA system. If your demographic info (family size, number in college) was showing during submission but disappeared after processing, you MUST file a correction when available. The current estimated release for the correction capability is April 7th according to StudentAid.gov's latest update. Family size is critical - each additional family member can reduce your SAI by approximately $3,800-4,700 depending on your income level. With 5 members and 2 in college, that's potentially a $15,000+ difference in your calculated contribution. In the meantime, I recommend emailing your schools' financial aid offices with screenshots of your processed FAFSA showing the blank family size and explain that you'll be filing a correction as soon as possible. Most schools are aware of these glitches and will work with you.

i had this exact same problem!!!! except my fafsa was processed on march 18 and the correction window still hasnt opened for me yet. its been 2 weeks already and nothing.... its so annoying

I had a similar issue with the 2024-2025 FAFSA where my parent contribution section was completely blank. After trying for three weeks to get through to someone at Federal Student Aid, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to reach an agent. They connected me with a live person in about 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent was able to see that it was a system error on their end and manually noted my account. They advised me to submit the correction as soon as possible, but also sent a notification to my schools explaining the delay wasn't my fault. Saved me from potentially losing out on thousands in aid.

Just to add my experience - I had a similar issue with our 2025-2026 FAFSA (processed early March) where both family size AND number in college were blank. I submitted a correction as soon as the window opened (took about 10 days after processing) and it was re-processed correctly within 48 hours. Just keep an eye on your studentaid.gov account daily for the correction option to become available. One tip: screenshot EVERYTHING. I had screenshots of my original application showing I had entered the correct information, which helped when I needed to explain the situation to schools.

This happens ALL THE TIME with the new FAFSA system!! My daughter's FAFSA had our income reported correctly but showed ZERO for family size. Got a crazy high SAI because of it. The whole 2025-2026 FAFSA is a DISASTER. They should have never launched such a broken system!!! Now we're all stressing about college decisions when it's THEIR ERROR not ours!!!

Quick update: FSA just released a statement this morning about these specific demographic field glitches. They're now saying all affected FAFSAs will automatically be flagged for review, and they're opening a special correction window starting April 5th specifically for these issues. You'll receive an email notification when your correction option becomes available. If you don't receive that email by April 10th, you should contact them directly. The recommended method is through their online help center ticket system rather than phone, as they're experiencing extremely high call volumes.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue! My FAFSA was processed on March 25th and the family size field is completely blank even though I clearly remember entering 4 family members during the application. This is so stressful because I have college acceptances waiting and need to compare financial aid packages. Really glad to see Emma's update about the special correction window opening April 5th - that gives me hope we can get this resolved before decision deadlines. Has anyone tried the online help center ticket system Emma mentioned? Wondering if that's faster than trying to call.

I tried the online help center ticket system yesterday and it's definitely faster than calling! I submitted a ticket around 2 PM and got an automated response saying they'd get back to me within 3-5 business days. Haven't heard back yet, but at least I'm not sitting on hold for hours. I also attached screenshots of my blank family size field and my original confirmation email that showed I had completed all required sections. Based on what everyone's saying here, I'm cautiously optimistic about the April 5th correction window - fingers crossed it actually opens on time and works properly this time!

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! My FAFSA was processed on March 24th and shows a completely blank family size field, even though we're a family of 4 with 2 in college. It's really reassuring to see Emma's update about the special correction window opening April 5th - that timing should work well for college decision deadlines. I'm going to submit a ticket through the online help center today like NeonNomad suggested, and I'll make sure to include screenshots of the blank field plus my original confirmation emails. This whole situation has been so stressful, but reading everyone's experiences here makes me feel less alone in dealing with these FAFSA glitches. Thanks to everyone for sharing updates and solutions!