FAFSA for twins starting college - timeline questions and SAI concerns

Welcome to the group! For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, processing is taking longer than usual - about 3-4 weeks for most families. Once your SAI is calculated, it will automatically be sent to all schools listed on your FAFSA application. Your twins should have identical SAI scores since they're from the same household and presumably have the same contributor information. However, their final aid packages will likely differ based on each school's individual financial aid policies and available institutional funds. Check each twin's studentaid.gov account separately to confirm the schools are correctly listed on their applications.

My daughter applied in November and it took almost 5 weeks to get the SAI! So frustrating!!

When I did FAFSA for my twins (2023), even though they had identical household info, there was a $2,000 difference in their SAI calculations! I called FAFSA repeatedly and nobody could explain why. Turns out one twin had a tiny scholarship from a local organization that somehow affected the calculation. Double-check that both applications have EXACTLY the same information. And don't worry too much about the January 15 deadline - schools know FAFSA is running behind and many are extending their priority deadlines.

I've been trying to get through to someone at Federal Student Aid for weeks about a similar issue. After getting disconnected multiple times, I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that holds your place in the FSA phone queue and calls you when an agent is ready. Saved me hours of wait time! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. I was skeptical at first but it actually connected me to a real FAFSA agent who explained that twin applications sometimes get flagged for verification which causes delays. Might be worth checking if that happened in your case.

Don't panic! My daughter's application said "processing" for almost a month and then suddenly switched to complete with no email notification. The schools all got her info on time even though we were freaking out about deadlines. The whole system is frustratingly slow but it does work eventually LOL. Just keep checking the website every few days.

Some important facts that might help you: 1. For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, the Department of Education is experiencing significant processing delays due to the new calculation system. 2. Twins from the same household with identical contributor information will receive identical SAI calculations under the new FAFSA Simplification Act. 3. Most schools are aware of the processing delays and many have adjusted their priority deadlines accordingly. 4. The SAI is automatically sent to all schools listed on the FAFSA application once processing is complete. 5. If you're concerned about missing deadlines, contact each school's financial aid office directly to inform them you've submitted the FAFSA and are awaiting processing. Many schools will place a hold on your application rather than penalize you for FAFSA delays outside your control. I recommend documenting the date you submitted your FAFSA and keeping screenshots of the 'processing' status in case you need to demonstrate that you submitted on time.

my twins got different SAI numbers even tho we have same info for both. total bs system if u ask me

One thing to note - even with identical SAI scores, your twins might get very different financial aid packages. My twins got the same SAI last year but one got offered much more institutional aid at her top choice than my son did at his. Depends totally on each school's financial aid budget and how badly they want your student. Start preparing for that conversation now because it can be really difficult explaining to one twin why their sibling got a better deal!

Just wondering - did u fill out separate FAFSA applications for each twin or try to put them both on the same form? Cuz that might be why its taking longer

Just to confirm for everyone: you absolutely need to complete separate FAFSA applications for each student, even twins or other multiples. Each student needs their own FSA ID and separate application. However, the contributor information (typically parents' financial data) can be entered once using the contributor tool and then transferred to each student's application. This ensures consistency while maintaining separate records for each student. Regarding processing times - the Department of Education has officially acknowledged delays for the current cycle. Their website states: "SAI calculations are currently taking 3-4 weeks due to high volume. We appreciate your patience as we process applications." So unfortunately, the wait time you're experiencing is within the current normal range.

I'm also new to this process and feeling pretty overwhelmed! My twin daughters are applying to college this fall too, and I've been lurking here trying to figure everything out. Reading through all these responses is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time - it sounds like the delays are normal but still so stressful when deadlines are looming! I submitted our FAFSA applications about 2 weeks ago and they're both still showing "Processing" status. At least now I know not to panic if it takes another few weeks. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know other parents are going through the same thing!

Hi there! I'm also navigating the FAFSA process for the first time with my daughter who's applying for fall 2025. Reading through this thread has been incredibly helpful - especially learning that the 3-4 week processing time is normal right now. I submitted our FAFSA about 10 days ago and have been checking the status obsessively! It's reassuring to know that schools are aware of the delays and many are adjusting their deadlines accordingly. One question - for those who have been through this before, do you get an email notification when the SAI calculation is finally complete, or do you just have to keep checking the website? Thanks for creating such a supportive community for stressed parents like us!