Got negative SAI (-1500) on FAFSA report - is this normal or an error?

Really? I thought it took days to process! Did yours end up being accurate when you got your financial aid packages?

Thanks for explaining! I was expecting to wait weeks like my cousin did last year. Is -1500 considered very needy or just somewhat needy? I'm trying to figure out if I'll qualify for full Pell Grant.

With a -1500 SAI, you'll likely qualify for a significant Pell Grant, though perhaps not the maximum. For 2025-2026, the full Pell is typically available to students with SAIs around -1800 or lower. But remember, each school will create a different financial aid package based on your SAI, their available institutional aid, and other factors.

Oh no, that's concerning! I just took another look and my SAI is still -1500 but now I'm worried it might change. Did you contact anyone about the fluctuating numbers?

Tried calling FSA for 3 days straight and NEVER got through. Their phone system is a complete joke. Waited 2+ hours each time before getting disconnected. Total waste of time.

I had this issue last month and finally got through to a FAFSA agent using Claimyr.com - it let me skip the phone queue. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent confirmed that some SAI calculations were unstable during system updates but eventually stabilize. They told me to wait 72 hours for the final number. Mine stopped changing after about 36 hours.

Thank you! That's so encouraging to hear! Did she have to submit anything extra to get the full coverage or did it just happen automatically with the negative SAI?

Thank you for the insider perspective! Is there anything I should do now to prepare in case I get selected for verification? I'm really worried about missing deadlines.

Good thinking! You should gather your and your parents' 2023 tax returns, W-2 forms, and any records of untaxed income. If you're selected, you'll typically need to complete a verification worksheet from each school and submit these supporting documents. Also, check your Student Aid account and email regularly - verification notices can come from FSA directly or from individual schools.

That's highly unusual for siblings from the same household to have such different SAIs unless there are specific circumstances. Some potential explanations: significant age difference affecting the family contribution calculation, different dependency status, one of you having substantial personal income/assets, or one application having errors in the income/household information. I'd recommend your brother request a professional judgment review from the financial aid offices at his schools.

Thanks for the insight! He's actually 2 years older than me and worked full-time last year while I only had a summer job. That might explain it. We'll look into the professional judgment review.

That's really reassuring, thank you! I've been checking the College Scorecards for schools I'm interested in to see their average financial aid packages. With my SAI, would you recommend still applying to schools that seem financially out of reach but have good aid programs?

Absolutely! With your negative SAI, you should definitely apply to schools that might seem financially out of reach. Many private colleges have substantial institutional aid that isn't visible on FAFSA calculations. Look for schools that advertise meeting "full demonstrated need" - these institutions often provide packages that make their actual cost competitive with state schools for high-need students. Just be careful with schools that practice "gapping" (offering packages that don't cover your full need).

Oh great... 😩 Do you know what triggered the verification? I'm worried now because my mom works mostly cash jobs cleaning houses and I'm not sure how well we documented everything.

Cash income can definitely complicate verification. If your mother doesn't receive W-2s for her house cleaning work, she should have reported this income on Schedule C as self-employment income on her taxes. During verification, you might need to provide a signed statement explaining her work situation and income. Some schools accept income verification letters from employers or even detailed personal records of cash payments if official documentation isn't available.

She did report it on her taxes but I'm not sure if she kept good records of all the payments. This is stressing me out! Will this affect my eligibility for aid?

Your counselor is correct. The Department of Education has announced that the 2025-2026 FAFSA is undergoing a phased implementation with ongoing updates. While the core functionality is working, they're still refining certain elements of the system. I recommend checking your StudentAid.gov account weekly and ensuring your contact information is current so you receive any important notifications.