Drowning in FAFSA confusion as a first-time parent - where do I even start?

Deep breath! You're actually ahead of the game if you're starting now for a 2026 graduate. The FAFSA for the 2026-2027 school year won't even open until October 2025. The FSA ID issues are super common though - my daughter had the same problem last year. For the identity verification, he'll probably need to call FSA directly to sort it out. Make sure you have his Social Security card and a photo ID when you call.\n\nAs for where to start, here's my quick checklist:\n1. Get both FSA IDs working (yours and his)\n2. Gather your 2023 tax returns (for 2025-2026 FAFSA) or 2024 returns (for 2026-2027)\n3. Make a list of schools he's interested in - some might require the CSS Profile too\n4. Track scholarship deadlines at potential schools\n5. Learn the basics of SAI (Student Aid Index) since it replaced EFC\n\nYou've got time, but it's smart to start understanding the system now!

Thank you so much! I didn't realize the FAFSA for his first year wouldn't open until Oct 2025 - that takes some pressure off! Do you know if there's any way to resolve the FSA ID issue online? We've tried calling the FSA helpline 3 times but keep getting disconnected after waiting forever. It's so frustrating!

WOW do I feel your pain!! I just went through this whole nightmare with my twins. The new FAFSA system is RIDICULOUS and the website kept crashing when we tried to link our tax info. And don't even get me started on how they calculate the SAI - somehow we make too much for need-based aid but not nearly enough to actually pay for college!!!!! The parent contributor section is especially INFURIATING if you're divorced like me. My ex hasn't contributed a dime to their education but still had to fill out forms?!?! MAKE IT MAKE SENSE.

Same here! The contributor stuff is so confusing. I'm married to someone who isn't my child's biological parent, and it took three attempts to figure out who needed to provide information. Still not sure we did it right.

my son is graduating 2025 and we did FAFSA last fall. biggest thing is to get your tax stuff organized. they want W-2s and lots of info about assets and stuff. some schools also want the CSS profile which asks for more stuff than FAFSA. also make sure you list all the schools hes applying to on the form

Thank you! I've heard about the CSS Profile but wasn't sure what it was. Does every school require that or just some? And does it cost money to submit?

I work in financial aid at a university, and I can assure you that you're not alone in feeling overwhelmed. The FAFSA redesign has created confusion for everyone, even professionals in the field.\n\nRegarding your son's FSA ID issue: This is typically related to a mismatch between the information entered and what's on file with the Social Security Administration. Double-check that his name is entered exactly as it appears on his Social Security card, including any hyphens or suffixes. The most common issues are with hyphenated last names, recently changed names, or middle initials.\n\nIf you continue having problems, you'll need to contact Federal Student Aid directly. Unfortunately, their call volume is extremely high right now due to the system changes. Many parents have found success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent without the long wait times. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ that shows how it works. Several families I've worked with have mentioned it saved them hours of frustration.\n\nRegarding the new SAI calculation: The Student Aid Index replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) system. The major differences are how they treat multiple students in college, certain untaxed income, and small business assets. For most families, the most important factors still remain your adjusted gross income, household size, and number of dependent students in college.\n\nFeel free to ask specific questions as they come up - this community is very supportive!

Thank you so much for this detailed response! I'll double-check the name formatting on the FSA ID - I wonder if we included his middle name on one form but not another. That Claimyr service sounds like a lifesaver, I'll definitely check out that video because we've had zero luck getting through on our own.\n\nOne quick question about the SAI: I've read that they no longer give a \

I went through this last year and honestly the best thing I did was go to the financial aid office at our local community college. They helped us set up both FSA IDs and walked us through the whole application even though my kid wasn't even applying there! They said they do it as a community service. Might be worth checking if any colleges near you offer FAFSA help sessions!

Hey there! So I actually just got through the whole FAFSA process with my daughter (she's starting college this fall), and I want to share what I wish someone had told me a year ago:\n\n1. The FSA ID verification issues can be a NIGHTMARE. We ended up having to mail in physical documentation to prove her identity because the online verification kept failing. Start that process EARLY.\n\n2. Get your tax documents organized NOW - not just federal returns but also W-2s, 1099s, etc. They ask for everything.\n\n3. The parent/contributor stuff is confusing. I'm divorced and it was a mess figuring out who needed to provide info. The rules changed with the new FAFSA.\n\n4. If your income in 2023/2024 is significantly higher than normal or you have unusual circumstances, learn about the financial aid appeal process. We had a one-time capital gain that made our income look much higher than usual.\n\n5. When we were stuck on the FSA ID issues, I was ready to pull my hair out after being on hold for 2+ hours multiple times. Someone in this group recommended using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an FSA agent, and it actually worked! Got connected to a real person who fixed our ID issues in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ\n\nHang in there! The process is frustrating but manageable if you start early.

I wish I'd known about that Claimyr thing!! I spent literally HOURS on hold with FSA and kept getting disconnected. Worst customer service ever!!!

has anyone noticed the new FAFSA asks way fewer questions than the old one? I did it for my older kid 3 years ago and it was like 100+ questions but for my younger one this year it was maybe 30-40 questions total. something to look forward to at least!

Yes! The new

To follow up on your question about multiple students in college: You're correct that the new SAI calculation eliminated the automatic \

That makes sense, thank you for explaining! I'll definitely contact the schools directly about their policies. It's so complicated when these systems change and every school seems to have different approaches.

for the CSS Profile question you asked - only some schools need it, mostly private ones and some competitive public universities. it does cost money like $25 for the first school and $16 for each extra one i think. but they have fee waivers if your income qualifies