FAFSA accuracy matters - do errors on application delay processing?

Omggg YESS!! I made a stupid typo in my middle name (put Ann instead of Anne) on my FAFSA last cycle and it took FOREVER to fix. SAI calculation was delayed by 5 weeks and I almost lost my housing because financial aid wasn't processed in time. Double-check EVERYTHING especially: - Social security numbers - Legal name spelling - Date of birth - Citizenship status The worst part was that I couldn't even reach anyone at FSA to fix it for like 3 weeks. Kept getting disconnected or put on eternal hold.

ppl need to chill about this lol. i put the wrong address on mine (parents moved) and they just sent me an email to correct it. fixed in 2 days no drama

As a financial aid counselor, I can clarify what errors truly cause processing delays: 1. Identity verification errors (name/DOB/SSN) almost always trigger manual verification 2. Citizenship status discrepancies require documentation 3. Dependency status errors significantly impact your SAI calculation 4. Tax filing status inconsistencies with IRS records Minor errors like address, phone number, or email can be corrected with minimal delays. If you do discover an error, log in immediately to make corrections. If the application is already processed, contact your school's financial aid office first - they can often make adjustments faster than going through FSA directly.

I submitted my fafsa with my nickname (Beth) instead of legal name (Elizabeth) and they flagged it for verification. Had to send in my birth certificate AND social security card. Then waited another 3 weeks for processing while my friends all got their aid packages. So frustrating!

Just went through this nightmare with my daughter's application. We had to correct her birth date (I accidentally put the wrong year - parent brain!). The correction itself was easy to submit online, but then her application got selected for verification, which added another 4 weeks to processing. Here's what worked for us: We couldn't wait any longer because housing deposits were due, so we used Claimyr to get through to a Federal Student Aid agent directly. Found them at claimyr.com and they helped us bypass the 2+ hour wait times. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent was able to expedite our verification once we got through. Definitely worth it considering what was at stake with housing and scholarship deadlines.

DOUBLE CHECK YOUR PARENT CONTRIBUTION INFO TOO!!! My dad put the wrong asset value for their house (entered $580,000 instead of $380,000) and it DESTROYED my expected family contribution calculation. I got way less grant money than I should have. By the time we caught it, the school said it was too late to adjust my financial aid package. Still bitter about that one.

Another tip - after you submit, SCREENSHOT EVERYTHING!! I learned this the hard way when FSA claimed they never received documentation I uploaded. Had no proof and had to resubmit which cost me another 2 weeks.

If your FAFSA does get flagged because of errors, don't panic! I had mine flagged for verification last year (apparently my dad's SSN was entered incorrectly). I submitted the correction online, then contacted my school's financial aid office directly. They were able to push my application through their system once the correction was processed. The key is being proactive and not just waiting for automated emails.