FAFSA SAI correction processed but school still using old, higher number - what to do?

This happened to my son last year. The schools don't automatically get notified about FAFSA corrections - they have to pull the updated data. Most schools only do this once a week or sometimes even less frequently. You need to specifically notify the financial aid office that you've submitted a correction and ask them to pull your updated FAFSA. Don't just wait for it to happen. Call the financial aid office directly and tell them you submitted a correction that was approved, and you need them to pull the updated SAI. Be prepared to provide the confirmation number from your correction approval email. Most schools will do this within 48 hours if you specifically request it, and then they'll recalculate the aid package.

some schools take FOREVER to update fafsa stuff, my brothers took like 3 weeks and we almost missed a deadline. so annoying!!!

I work in a university financial aid office, and I can offer some insight. When FAFSA corrections are processed, the school doesn't automatically receive the new information. The Department of Education makes it available, but each school's system has to actively download the corrected ISIR (Institutional Student Information Record). Most schools run this process on a schedule - some daily, some weekly. Here's what you should do: 1. Call the financial aid office again and specifically request they download your daughter's corrected ISIR. Use those exact words. 2. Provide them with your confirmation number from the FAFSA correction. 3. Explain that this correction significantly impacts your daughter's aid eligibility and that you have an upcoming enrollment deadline. 4. If they say they can't expedite it, ask to speak with a financial aid counselor or director. While rare, I've seen cases where the correction was processed on studentaid.gov but there was a technical issue preventing it from being available to schools. If your school says they've tried to download it but can't see the update, you may need to contact Federal Student Aid directly.

Yes, if the school can't resolve it, you should contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center. However, calling them directly can involve very long wait times. I recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it's a service that will wait on hold with the FSA helpline for you and call you back when an agent is available. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ When you do speak with FSA, explain that your correction was processed but the school says they cannot access the updated ISIR. Ask them to verify that the corrected ISIR is available in their system for your daughter's school to download. Sometimes they need to manually push it to resolve technical issues.

Not to add more stress but make sure u follow up MULTIPLE times with financial aid office. My daughter's SAI correction got "lost" even after they said they downloaded it. Had to keep checking the portal to make sure they actually updated her package. Some of these financial aid offices are completely overwhelmed this year with all the FAFSA delays.

I think colleges r purposely slow with updating FAFSA info when it means they have to give more aid!!! My kids SAI went DOWN by $4k and it took 3 weeks and 5 PHONE CALLS to get them to update it, but when his SAI went UP last year they had it updated in 2 days!!!!

Quick question - did you submit the correction through studentaid.gov or through your daughter's school? I'm in a similar situation (job loss) and wondering the most efficient approach. Also, did you have to provide specific documentation for the job loss? Thanks!

After you get them to pull the updated SAI, make sure they send you a revised financial aid offer IN WRITING. My daughter's school verbally told us they updated her package after our correction, but when we got the official letter, it still had the old amounts. Had to start the whole process over again. Document everything!

One last piece of advice - if your enrollment deposit deadline is coming up and this isn't resolved, contact the admissions office (not just financial aid) and explain the situation. Many schools will grant you an extension on the deposit deadline if there's a pending financial aid issue. Make sure to request this in writing as well.

As someone who just went through this exact situation last month, I wanted to share what worked for me. My son's SAI was corrected due to a medical expense adjustment, but his school took almost 2 weeks to update it even after multiple calls. What finally worked was emailing the financial aid office instead of just calling. I sent an email with the subject line "URGENT: Request to Download Corrected ISIR - Enrollment Deadline Approaching" and included: - My son's student ID number - The FAFSA correction confirmation number - Screenshots showing the corrected SAI on studentaid.gov - Our enrollment deposit deadline date I got a response within 4 hours saying they would expedite the ISIR download, and the corrected aid package was available the next day. Sometimes having everything in writing gets faster results than phone calls. Good luck!