FINALLY conquered my FAFSA after almost taking a gap year - success story!

Congratulations! That's a huge accomplishment, especially with the contributor complications. Dependency overrides are notoriously difficult to get approved, so well done navigating that process! Did your school's financial aid office require specific documentation for the override? This information might help others in similar situations.

congrats!! i'm still stuck in verification hell lol. they keep asking for more docs every time i submit something. did u have to do verification?

It's great to hear success stories like yours! The dependency override process is particularly challenging with the new FAFSA system. For others facing similar issues with uncooperative parents, here's what helps expedite the process: 1. Contact your school's financial aid office EARLY in the process 2. Be specific about your family situation (divorce, estrangement, etc.) 3. Gather documentation before beginning the application 4. Keep copies of ALL communications 5. Follow up regularly Also worth noting: your SAI might be higher than expected, but remember many schools have institutional aid that isn't solely based on your FAFSA results. Be sure to check if your schools require the CSS Profile as well.

OMG THE SYSTEM TIMING OUT IS THE WORST. I swear I tried 12 times to submit my parent contribution section before it finally went through. The 2025-2026 FAFSA system is GARBAGE. Glad you finally got it done!

I was in the same boat last month - divorced parents, one refusing to provide info. Such a nightmare. I actually had to use Claimyr (claimyr.com) to finally get through to a real person at Federal Student Aid. I kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours on the regular line, but Claimyr got me through to an agent in about 10 minutes who explained exactly what documentation I needed for a dependency override. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Between that call and working with my school's financial aid office, I finally got everything sorted out. Definitely worth it to actually speak to a human being who can help navigate the system.

congrats!! i took a gap year because of fafsa problems and regretted it. your smart for pushing through!!!

Your persistence is commendable! For anyone else struggling with the contributor section, particularly with divorced parents, there are specific protocols to follow: 1. The parent you lived with the most during the past 12 months is your custodial parent for FAFSA purposes 2. If time was split equally, the parent who provided more financial support is considered custodial 3. Only the custodial parent (and current spouse if remarried) needs to provide information 4. Non-custodial parents' information is NOT required for the FAFSA (though it may be for the CSS Profile) If you're seeking a dependency override, documentation is critical. Each school handles these differently, but most require: - Personal statement - Professional third-party documentation (counselors, clergy, social workers) - Any relevant court documents - Proof of self-sufficiency The 2025-2026 FAFSA has streamlined some aspects, but these fundamental requirements remain consistent.

I'm still waiting for my SAI score after submission. Been 2 weeks already. How long did yours take to show up? The waiting is driving me CRAZY.

THE NEW FAFSA IS LITERAL TORTURE. I had to submit FOUR TIMES because it kept giving me errors about my parent's W-2 information not matching IRS records or something?? Even though we put in EXACTLY what was on the tax forms. The whole system is designed to make us fail I swear.