FAFSA parent income error after mailing form - how to correct?

Don't panic! This happens more often than you think. You have a few options to correct the income error: 1. Log into studentaid.gov and see if the paper form has been processed yet. If not, you might be able to submit the correct info online before they process the paper form. 2. If it's already in the system, you can make a correction online through your FSA ID login. Just select 'Make FAFSA Corrections' once you're logged in. 3. If neither of those work, you'll need to contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center to explain the situation. Errors like this won't be considered fraud - they understand people make mistakes. Just make sure you correct it before your son's college's priority deadline for financial aid.

I had a similar issue last year with my daughter's FAFSA. I put the wrong AGI amount and didn't catch it until weeks later. I tried calling too but kept getting disconnected or put on hold for hours. Super frustrating!! What worked for me was contacting her college's financial aid office directly. They were able to make a note in her file and told me exactly what documentation to send them to prove the correct income. Might be worth trying if you know which schools your son is applying to.

Check your mail carefuly for the next few weeks! When my son submitted his FAFSA last year and there were discrepancies between the FAFSA info and our tax returns, they sent a verification request letter. You'll probably get something similar and can explain the error then. They dont automatically assume fraud for one mistake.

If u cant get thru to the FAFSA people try using Claimyr.com - i used it last week when i was stuck on hold forever trying to ask about my daughter's verification issue. They basically hold your place in line and call you when a real person picks up. they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Worth it when ur desperate to get through!

THIS IS WHY THE FAFSA SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! It shouldn't be this complicated to fix a simple typo!! My daughter almost lost her Pell Grant eligibility because of similar issues with the system. They WANT you to make mistakes so they can deny aid! And now with this new FAFSA 24-25 system being even MORE complicated, errors are going to be even more common. But to actually help - call your son's school financial aid office. They have direct access to change things sometimes and can often help more than the main FAFSA people.

What I would recommend doing is documenting everything. Write down when you discovered the error, what the error was, and all attempts you've made to correct it. Take screenshots if possible. This paper trail will be incredibly helpful if you need to appeal or explain the situation later. You should also prepare for the correction process by having all your tax documents ready. You'll need your 2022 tax return information for the 2024-2025 FAFSA. Once your application appears in the system (which takes about 1-3 weeks after mailing), you can submit a correction online. If you're unable to complete the online correction, you can also send a signed written statement explaining the error to: Federal Student Aid Information Center P.O. Box 84 Washington, DC 20044 Include your son's name, Social Security Number, and birthdate on all correspondence.

Quick update/correction to my earlier comment - I just remembered that for the 2024-2025 FAFSA, they've changed the process a bit. You now use the "Start a FAFSA Renewal" option to make corrections rather than the "Make FAFSA Corrections" option they used in previous years. Just wanted to clarify so you don't get confused when you log in!

btw has your son checked with his school counselor? My sons guidance office actually had special FAFSA help sessions and direct contacts at the dept of education they could reach out to for students with application issues. might be worth asking!

I work at a college financial aid office and see this exact situation several times each year. The good news is that a $9,000 income difference, while significant, is definitely correctable and won't be flagged as fraud since you're proactively trying to fix it. Here's what I recommend: 1. Keep trying to call the FSA Information Center, but try calling right when they open (8am EST) - that's usually when wait times are shortest 2. Once your paper FAFSA is processed (usually 7-10 business days), log into studentaid.gov and make the correction online 3. Contact your son's top choice schools directly - we often help families navigate these corrections and can flag his file so we know to expect the change The income increase will likely raise his Student Aid Index (SAI), which could reduce his Pell Grant eligibility, but it's better to be accurate than risk verification issues later. Don't stress too much - we see these mistakes all the time and they're totally fixable!