FAFSA asset sections grayed out - can I update after submission or start over?

The new streamlined FAFSA doesn't require asset information from most families with adjusted gross incomes under $60,000. If your AGI is above that threshold and the system isn't prompting you for asset information, it's likely that your tax return information is being used to determine your Student Aid Index (SAI). If you want to be 100% sure, I'd recommend completing and submitting the current application rather than starting over. After submission, if you discover any errors, you'll have the option to make corrections. The Department of Education allows amendments to submitted applications throughout the aid year.

DONT START OVER!!1! I did that twice already and it just made everything worse. The first time it glitched and the second time it locked me out for 3 days for "suspicious activity" or something.

Same thing happened to me with my daughter's application. I was so confused by the grayed-out sections! What I eventually figured out is that the new FAFSA is using the data from your tax return to calculate certain things automatically without making you enter it manually. Since you selected the tax data transfer option, the system is probably using your reported investments from your tax documents. They're trying to streamline the process but honestly it just creates more confusion when they don't explain what's happening behind the scenes.

I had this EXACT problem!!! I was freaking out because I couldn't enter our 529 plan values anywhere. I called the Federal Student Aid line to ask about it and got nowhere - was on hold for 2.5 hours before getting disconnected. So frustrating! I ended up just submitting it anyway and my son's university financial aid office told me later they would contact me if they needed additional asset information. They did end up asking for it later through their own financial aid portal, so it worked out, but the whole process was incredibly stressful.

Financial aid counselor here. This is actually normal with the redesigned FAFSA. The system implements what's called a "simplified formula" for many families, and it's automatically determining whether you need to report assets based on your tax information. The grayed-out sections indicate that the system has determined those sections aren't required for your application. My recommendation: 1. Complete and submit the application as is 2. Print or save a copy of your confirmation page 3. If you're concerned, contact your son's college financial aid office directly after submission - they can request additional information if needed Starting over would just delay processing, and with priority deadlines approaching, you want to get your application in the queue as soon as possible.

I wonder if this is because of the new FAFSA Simplification Act? I've heard they changed a bunch of stuff about how assets are calculated for the SAI (which replaced the old EFC). Maybe they're just not asking certain families about assets anymore?

The updated FAFSA has been a disaster tbh. Half the functions don't work properly, and they keep changing things without clear communication. My son almost missed his school's priority deadline because of all the glitches and system outages. My advice - take screenshots of EVERYTHING as you go through the process. Document what sections you can and can't access. If there are problems later, at least you'll have proof that the system wasn't letting you enter certain information.

just submit it man, my cousin works in financial aid and she says they're used to dealing with weird FAFSA issues this year. the schools can usually fix stuff on their end if something's missing

I'm going through the exact same thing right now with my daughter's FAFSA! The grayed-out asset sections had me second-guessing everything. After reading through all these responses, I think I'm going to follow the financial aid counselor's advice and just submit it as is. One thing I did was check our state's financial aid website to see if they had any additional guidance about the new FAFSA changes. Some states have been putting out clarifications about what to expect with the simplified process. It might be worth checking your state's higher education department website too - they sometimes have FAQs that address these specific technical issues. Good luck with the submission! Sounds like we're all navigating this new system together.