FAFSA submitted in February but no response - How to find SAI number?

I had this EXACT problem with my son's application! Turns out the SAI (Student Aid Index) number is on your Student Aid Report (SAR). Log into studentaid.gov with your daughter's FSA ID, then look for the "View SAR" link. The SAI should be right there on the report. If you don't see a complete SAR yet, that means they're still processing your application. February to now without processing is definitely too long though - something might be wrong.

did u make sure u submitted it correctly? sometimes ppl think they finished but they just saved and didnt actually hit the final submit button

Three months is way too long. They're probably missing some information or there's a verification flag on your account. This happened to my FAFSA last year and it was because my mom's tax info didn't match exactly what they had on file (she used her married name on one form and maiden name on another). You need to call them directly at 1-800-4FED-AID but good luck getting through - I spent DAYS trying to reach someone.

When your FAFSA shows as "processing" for more than 3-5 business days, it usually indicates one of these issues: 1. Verification selection (random or due to data discrepancies) 2. Identity verification needs 3. Citizenship verification 4. FAFSA signature problems 5. Parent contribution information issues Did you receive ANY emails from Federal Student Aid after submitting? Check your spam folder too. The system should have at least sent a confirmation email with next steps. As for the SAI (formerly EFC), it only appears once processing is complete. The college needs this number to calculate your daughter's aid package, so this is definitely urgent with fall semester approaching. I recommend taking these steps immediately: 1. Check if any required forms show in your daughter's studentaid.gov account 2. Call the Federal Student Aid Information Center 3. Contact your daughter's college financial aid office - they can sometimes see issues in their system that you can't see

Hey! I work in a college financial aid office, and I see this ALL the time. Here's what's actually happening: The Department of Education is EXTREMELY behind on processing FAFSAs this year because they rolled out the new FAFSA form with the switch from EFC to SAI calculations. Many February applications are still being processed. What you need to do: 1. Call FSA directly, but be prepared for long hold times. The wait is usually 2+ hours if you can even get through. 2. If your daughter's college orientation is next month, CALL THEIR FINANCIAL AID OFFICE IMMEDIATELY. Explain the situation - they have special access and can sometimes see if there are verification flags or processing issues even before your SAI is calculated. 3. If there's a verification flag, you'll need to submit additional documentation like tax transcripts or W-2 forms. One thing that really helps with calling Federal Student Aid is using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that waits on hold for you and calls when a human answers. Saved me hours when resolving my students' FAFSA issues. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

This new FAFSA is a COMPLETE DISASTER!!!! My daughter is also starting college this fall and we are STILL waiting for her aid package because of these ridiculous delays. The government had THREE YEARS to prepare for this rollout and they still messed it up. Now thousands of students don't know if they can afford college with classes starting in like 6 weeks! I've called that stupid 1-800 number like 20 times and either get disconnected or wait for hours. This is unacceptable!!

Just wanted to add that my son's FAFSA from February finally processed last week, so there's hope! It took almost 4 months but we finally got his SAI number. The financial aid office at his school was actually super helpful and processed his aid package really quickly once the SAI came through. They told us they're prioritizing incoming freshmen because they know everyone is stressed about costs. So definitely reach out to your daughter's financial aid office asap!

Update on my earlier comment - I just remembered that my son's application was stuck in processing for weeks because we made a small error. His birth date was entered wrong (we put 2004 instead of 2005). The system doesn't tell you there's an error - it just sits in processing limbo. We only found out by speaking directly with an FSA agent. Once we corrected it, the application processed within 48 hours and we got the SAI.

I just wanted to follow up on my earlier post. After your daughter's SAI is calculated, the college will create her financial aid package, which may include: - Federal Pell Grants (if eligible based on SAI) - Federal Work-Study opportunities - Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans - State grants (varies by state) - Institutional scholarships/grants Even if her FAFSA is still processing, the college's financial aid office can often begin packaging some aid or provide estimates. They may also have emergency procedures for students caught in the FAFSA backlog. Once your daughter receives her aid package, carefully review all offers before accepting, especially loans. Remember that subsidized loans don't accrue interest while she's in school, but unsubsidized loans do.

After I posted earlier I checked with my sister who just went through this - she said if you have a complex tax situation (like self-employment income, foreign income, or amended returns) it could delay processing by months. Did you have any unusual tax situations last year?