FAFSA submitted over 3 weeks ago - still no SAI or aid summary, is this normal?
I'm seriously starting to worry. My daughter and I submitted her FAFSA application exactly 24 days ago and we still haven't received the Student Aid Index (SAI) summary or any confirmation beyond the initial submission email. The studentaid.gov account just shows 'Processing' when we log in. With the May 1st college decision deadline approaching, I'm getting anxious that this delay might affect her financial aid packages! Is this processing time normal for the 2025-2026 cycle? Has anyone else experienced long delays? I'm wondering if I should resubmit or if that would just make things worse...
23 comments
Join the conversation
Malik Jackson
Don't panic yet! The FSA processing times are definitely longer this year. My son's FAFSA took almost 30 days to process completely. As long as you got the initial confirmation email and can see it's in 'Processing' status, you should be fine. Whatever you do, DO NOT submit another application - that will definitely cause problems and further delays.
0 coins
Emma Thompson
•Thank you for the reassurance! I was honestly about to submit another application thinking something was wrong with our first one. Do you know if colleges are aware of these delays? I'm worried they'll make financial aid decisions without having her FAFSA information.
0 coins
Isabella Costa
The processing times this year are unusually long due to the FAFSA Simplification Act changes. The Department of Education is taking approximately 21-45 days to process applications, depending on complexity. Some things that can extend processing time: 1. Inconsistencies between reported info and IRS data 2. Multiple contributors (non-parent/spouse) 3. Special circumstances requiring manual review 4. Verification selection Colleges are absolutely aware of these delays and many have adjusted their financial aid timelines accordingly. I recommend contacting your daughter's schools to inform them you've submitted the FAFSA and are awaiting processing. Most schools will work with you if they know you've submitted.
0 coins
StarSurfer
•This is so helpful! we've been waiting 32 days and i was freaking OUT!! do u know if pell grants are also delayed? like once the SAI finally comes will it take another few weeks for grants to be determined?
0 coins
Ravi Malhotra
Omg yes!!!!! Mine took forever too!!! I submitted Jan 15 and didnt get my SAI until Feb 28!! Then my school sent me a verification notice and I had to submit like 5 more documents. Total nightmare.
0 coins
Emma Thompson
•Oh no, that's even longer than we've been waiting! Did the verification notice come from the school or directly from Federal Student Aid? I'm trying to prepare for what might be coming next.
0 coins
Freya Christensen
I'm experiencing the same problem - submitted almost a month ago and still showing as "Processing." I've tried calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center multiple times but can't get through to a human. Just endless hold music and then disconnection. Anyone found a way to actually speak to someone there? I'm worried something might be wrong with our application.
0 coins
Omar Hassan
•I had the same issue trying to reach someone at FSA! After getting disconnected 4 times, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent. They have this service that basically waits on hold for you and calls when an agent is available. They even have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ When I finally got through, the agent told me there was nothing wrong with my app - just normal processing backlog. Saved me from stressing for another week wondering if something was wrong!
0 coins
Chloe Robinson
my daughter got her SAI in 5 days maybe somethings wrong with ur application
0 coins
Isabella Costa
•When did she submit? The processing times have varied significantly throughout the 2025-2026 cycle. Applications submitted in early January were processed more quickly than those submitted from mid-January through March, when volume was highest.
0 coins
StarSurfer
the whole new FASFA is a disaster!!!!!!!! I HATE IT SO MUCH. my son's application has been processing for 38 days!!! THIRTY EIGHT!!!! and his school is saying they need it by next week or he might not get institutional grants. this is so unfair, hes a good student with 3.8 GPA and we might lose thousands in aid because the government cant get their act together!!!
0 coins
Isabella Costa
•I completely understand your frustration, but please contact your son's financial aid office directly. Most schools are implementing extensions specifically because of these FAFSA delays. Explain the situation and they may be able to extend his deadline or make a provisional aid offer pending FAFSA receipt. Document all communications with the school in writing.
0 coins
Malik Jackson
Something that helped me: check if your daughter's colleges have a supplemental financial aid form they accept while waiting for FAFSA processing. Several schools have created temporary forms specifically because of these delays. It won't replace the FAFSA, but it might help them start putting together a preliminary aid package.
0 coins
Emma Thompson
•That's incredibly helpful advice! I'll check with her top choices right away. She got accepted to 4 schools and we really need to compare aid packages before making a decision. This delay is making everything so stressful.
0 coins
Freya Christensen
Update: My daughter's FAFSA finally processed after 31 days! The SAI is now visible in her studentaid.gov account. I didn't do anything special - it just suddenly updated yesterday. So hang in there, it seems to be moving, just very slowly.
0 coins
Emma Thompson
•That's encouraging news! Did you receive an email notification when it was processed or did you just happen to check the account?
0 coins
Freya Christensen
No email notification - I've just been obsessively checking the account every day 😅 One interesting thing: her SAI summary shows a "processed date" that was actually 5 days before it appeared in her account. So it seems there might be a lag between when they finish processing and when it actually shows up in the system.
0 coins
Ravi Malhotra
•sameeee i check like 10 times a day lol. my mom thinks im crazy but with deadlines coming up im so anxious!!
0 coins
Chloe Robinson
just call them and ask why its taking so long its probly a mistake
0 coins
Omar Hassan
•Have you tried calling FSA lately? It's virtually impossible to get through. I spent 2.5 hours on hold last week before being disconnected. Their call volume is insane right now with all the processing delays.
0 coins
Emma Thompson
UPDATE: Our FAFSA finally processed today - exactly 27 days after submission! I received an email notification around 3am and checked the account this morning. The SAI is now visible and I've already notified all her schools. Thank you everyone for your help and reassurance!
0 coins
Isabella Costa
•Excellent news! I'm glad it finally processed. Now make sure to follow up with each school's financial aid office in about a week to confirm they've received the processed FAFSA data. Sometimes there can be delays in the school receiving the information even after it shows as processed in your account.
0 coins
CosmicVoyager
Congratulations on finally getting your FAFSA processed! As someone who went through this exact same stress last year, I wanted to share a few tips for the next steps: 1) Screenshot or save a copy of your SAI summary for your records, 2) Check each college's financial aid portal to see if they show your FAFSA as received (it can take 3-5 business days), and 3) If any schools haven't updated by next week, call their financial aid offices directly with your FAFSA confirmation number. Also, don't be surprised if you get selected for verification - it seems more common this year. The good news is you're well within the timeline to receive aid packages before decision deadlines!
0 coins