FAFSA shows 'Cannot compute SAI' error despite being processed - should I panic?

Yes, this is happening to thousands of students right now! My daughter's FAFSA has been showing the same message for almost 3 weeks. The Department of Education is having major issues with the new FAFSA system this year. From what I understand, the 'Cannot compute SAI' error typically means there's some inconsistency in the data that's preventing the system from calculating the Student Aid Index. But here's the thing - it's often NOT something you did wrong. The system is just struggling to process applications correctly.

mine said the same thing last week but then it fixed itself after 4 days randomly. i didnt do anything just kept checking everyday. fafsa is a mess this year with the new system.

This is definitely part of the widespread issues with the new FAFSA rollout. I work in college admissions (not financial aid specifically) but we're seeing this with many of our applicants. The "Cannot compute SAI" message typically appears when: 1. There's missing information (even if you think everything is complete) 2. There's a data mismatch between what you entered and what the IRS data transfer pulled in 3. The system is experiencing technical difficulties processing certain application types The good news is that colleges are VERY aware of these issues and many are extending their financial aid deadlines as a result. Has your son's school specifically said they won't extend their housing deposit deadline? Many institutions are being flexible this year because of the FAFSA disaster.

My daughter had the same error for 2 weeks then suddenly yesterday her SAI appeared!! No explanation, no email, nothing. Just keep checking. The whole rollout has been a DISASTER!! 😡

I've been helping families navigate this mess for months now. The "Cannot compute SAI" error is incredibly common this year. While waiting for it to resolve (which it eventually will), here's what you should do: 1. Contact your son's school financial aid office again and specifically ask about deadline extensions for deposits due to FAFSA delays 2. If the error persists for more than 3 weeks, try to reach a Federal Student Aid agent directly 3. Take screenshots of the error message to document when it occurred 4. Check if your son's school has an emergency aid application process or hardship considerations This is a processing issue on the Department of Education's side, not something you did wrong on the application.

I had this same problem last month with my FAFSA application! I tried calling the Federal Student Aid number for DAYS and couldn't get through. Eventually I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and was able to talk to an actual FSA agent in about 15 minutes. They explained that my application was caught in a verification queue even though I wasn't selected for verification. They pushed it through manually and my SAI showed up the next day. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Might be worth trying rather than waiting for weeks while deadlines approach.

omg fafsa is such a nightmare!!! i had similar probs w my sons app!! took FOREVER and then randomly fixed itself after like 10 days. ur school should def be understanding tho cuz EVERY1 is dealing w this!!!

Just a quick update - I checked with our financial aid director today, and she mentioned that they're seeing most of these "Cannot compute SAI" errors resolve within 2-3 weeks. Apparently, the Department of Education is working through a backlog of these cases. Also, I want to emphasize that most colleges are aware of these issues and ARE making accommodations. Don't be afraid to ask for an extension on your housing deposit - just be sure to document all your communications. When you explain that your FAFSA is showing this specific error, they should be understanding.

UPDATE: After 23 days of showing "Cannot compute SAI," my daughter's FAFSA finally processed completely! The SAI is now visible and her information has been sent to her schools. No explanation for the delay, no notification it was fixed - it just suddenly worked. So hang in there - it seems like they're slowly working through the backlog.

UPDATE FOR ANYONE WITH THE SAME ISSUE: Our "Cannot compute SAI" error finally resolved! It took 19 days total, but the SAI suddenly appeared this morning. I didn't do anything special - it just fixed itself. His school extended the housing deposit deadline by 2 weeks which was enough time thankfully. I wish the Department of Education would communicate better about these issues rather than leaving families in the dark, but at least it's resolved now.