FAFSA mistake while application in process - how soon can I make corrections?
I just realized I made a pretty significant mistake on my 2025-2026 FAFSA application. I accidentally reported my summer job income twice (both under employment income AND under additional income). This probably inflated my reported income by about $6,800 which could seriously affect my SAI score. My application currently shows as "in process" when I log into studentaid.gov. Does anyone know if I can fix this now or do I need to wait until they finish processing? I'm really worried this will mess up my financial aid package and I can't afford to lose any grant money. Will I need to submit a formal correction or is there a way to call someone and get it fixed while it's still processing?
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Diego Fernández
You'll need to wait until your FAFSA is fully processed before you can make corrections. Once your SAI is calculated and you receive your confirmation, you can log back in and submit corrections. Don't panic - this happens a lot and is completely fixable! The processing typically takes 3-5 days, then you can make your correction.
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Chloe Martin
•Thanks for responding! 3-5 days isn't too bad I guess. Do you know if colleges will see the incorrect version before I get a chance to fix it? I'm worried they'll make award decisions based on wrong information.
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Anastasia Kuznetsov
i made a mistake on mine last yr and had to wait for the stupid processing to finish b4 fixing it. took like a week for mine to process tho. such a pain lol
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Chloe Martin
•A whole week?? Now I'm getting nervous again. Did your colleges see the wrong info or did you manage to fix it before they started making decisions?
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Sean Fitzgerald
The exact timeline can vary depending on processing volumes, but here's what you need to know: 1. You MUST wait until processing completes before submitting corrections 2. Colleges don't immediately download your FAFSA data - there's usually a lag 3. Once processed, corrections typically take 3-7 days to process themselves 4. If you're concerned about timing, contact your financial aid offices directly and let them know a correction is coming This is a very common issue, so don't stress too much. The correction process is straightforward once your initial application processes.
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Chloe Martin
•This is really helpful, thank you! I'll definitely contact my schools to give them a heads up about the correction.
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Zara Khan
My daughter put the wrong SSN on her FAFSA last year (transposed two numbers) and we didn't realize until after it processed! Talk about panic! We fixed it and everything worked out fine. Your income mistake is WAY easier to fix than that nightmare scenario was.
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Chloe Martin
•Oh wow, that's definitely worse than my situation! Glad to hear it worked out okay in the end.
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MoonlightSonata
I've been trying to call the Federal Student Aid helpline about a similar issue for DAYS and keep getting disconnected or waiting for hours! Anyone found a better way to reach an actual human being there?
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Mateo Gonzalez
•I was having the same problem last week - constantly disconnected after waiting forever. A friend told me about Claimyr.com which got me through to an FSA agent in under 20 minutes. They have a demo video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. Totally worth it when you're desperate to talk to someone about time-sensitive FAFSA issues.
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MoonlightSonata
•Thanks! I'll check that out. At this point I'd try anything to get some answers.
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Nia Williams
U ALL R OVERTHINKING THIS!!!! fafsa lets u make corrections whenever. not a big deal. ive changed mine like 3 times already lol
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Sean Fitzgerald
•While it's true you can make corrections, there IS a specific process and timeline. You cannot make corrections while the application is still processing - you must wait until it completes. And schools can potentially download data before corrections are processed, which is why communication with financial aid offices is important.
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Chloe Martin
UPDATE: My application finally processed! It took 4 days. I was able to log in and submit the correction to my income information. The correction is now processing and the site says it should take another 3-5 days. I also emailed all my schools to let them know about the correction so they don't download the wrong information. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Anastasia Kuznetsov
•glad it worked out! the waiting is so annoying but at least u caught it fast
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Diego Fernández
•This is great news! The fact that you've already notified your schools shows you're on top of things. They deal with corrections all the time, so this shouldn't impact your aid package as long as they have the correct information before they prepare your offer.
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