HESAA email update for NJ families - no FAFSA grants info available yet

In the exact same boat!!! My son got into Rutgers and Rowan but the difference in cost is HUGE depending on if he gets the full TAG grant or not. I called HESAA three times and got disconnected each time. This is ridiculous - how are we supposed to make decisions with zero information?

For what it's worth, HESAA is usually pretty good about getting TAG awards processed in time. The problem this year is entirely because of the Federal Student Aid office's FAFSA redesign issues. Since TAG eligibility is partially determined using FAFSA data, HESAA can't finalize anything until they get complete data from the Department of Education. If you need to make decisions before your official TAG amount is determined, you can use last year's TAG table to estimate. Most schools will also work with you if your financial situation hasn't changed significantly from last year. Your SAI (Student Aid Index) should be fairly similar to last year's EFC, so you can ballpark your eligibility.

OMG THE DELAYS ARE KILLING ME!!!! My FAFSA has been "in process" for 2 MONTHS and now this???!!! I literally cant sleep at night worrying about how I'm gonna pay for college. And that email doesn't even make sense - there's a typo where it says "no further action can needs to be taken" which is just perfect for how disorganized this whole thing is. HESAA needs to step it up!!

I used Claimyr last week to finally get through to someone at Federal Student Aid about my delayed FAFSA processing, and it actually worked! Got through in like 15 mins instead of being on hold forever. The agent told me they're sending batches of completed FAFSAs to state agencies weekly now, so HESAA should be getting regular updates. Might be worth using their service (claimyr.com) to speak directly with FSA and check if your application has been sent to HESAA yet. They have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

The reality is that everything is backed up because of the FAFSA fiasco this year. But here's what you should know about TAG specifically: 1. HESAA typically processes awards in batches based on when your FAFSA was completed 2. The NJFAMS system usually updates on Tuesdays and Fridays with new award information 3. Even when you don't have an official TAG amount, most NJ colleges will estimate it for you in your initial aid package 4. If you're stressed about decision deadlines, call your top choice schools and explain the situation - many are offering flexible deposit deadlines this year specifically because of the FAFSA delays Hang in there! I know it's frustrating but the award info will come through eventually.

my brother went thru this last year and hesaa didnt finalize his tag until like mid april. and that was BEFORE all the fafsa chaos lol. so yea dont hold ur breath

I work in financial aid at one of the NJ state colleges, and I can share a bit of insight on what's happening. HESAA is completely at the mercy of the Department of Education right now. The FAFSA redesign has caused delays we've never seen before, and the state agencies can't begin their processing until they receive complete data files from the federal system. Here's what I can tell you: 1. Most NJ colleges understand this situation completely and many are being flexible with deposit deadlines. 2. The TAG award formulas haven't changed significantly, so using the 2023-2024 award table with your current SAI will give you a reasonable estimate. 3. HESAA is currently estimating they'll begin processing TAG awards in larger batches starting next week, with significant progress by mid-April. 4. If you explain your situation to your prospective schools, many financial aid offices can provide an estimated TAG award based on your information. This is an unprecedented year for financial aid delays, but try not to panic. The funding will still be there when the processing catches up.

This whole FAFSA situation is rigged against families!!!! They make everything complicated ON PURPOSE so fewer people get the money they deserve. I had the same issue last year (different reasons but same result - no info before decision deadlines). Called my congressperson's office and suddenly my application got "unstuck" within 48 hours. TRY THAT instead of waiting on these incompetent agencies!!!!

Just saw on the HESAA Twitter that they're planning to host a webinar next week about the delays. Might be worth registering if you want more information directly from them.

As someone who just went through this nightmare process with my older kid two years ago (pre-FAFSA redesign chaos), I feel for all of you! A few tips that might help while you're waiting: 1. Contact the financial aid offices at your top choice schools directly - many are creating "estimated" aid packages that include projected TAG amounts based on your FAFSA info 2. Most schools are being much more flexible with deposit deadlines this year, so don't be afraid to ask for an extension 3. If you're torn between two schools, consider putting down a deposit at your top choice if you can afford to potentially lose it - better than missing out entirely The waiting is absolutely brutal, but remember that TAG funding is allocated by the state and won't "run out" like some other aid programs. Once HESAA gets the data they need from the feds, your award will be processed. Hang in there - you'll have answers soon enough to make informed decisions!

I'm in the exact same situation and it's been such a stressful time! My family's been checking NJFAMS obsessively and calling HESAA with no luck. What's really frustrating is that this delay affects our entire college decision process - we can't compare true costs between schools without knowing our TAG amount. I did find one thing that helped a little: I called the financial aid office at my top choice school (TCNJ) and they were actually really understanding. They created an estimated aid package for me using last year's TAG table and my SAI, and they said they'd honor that estimate even if the final amount is slightly different. Maybe other NJ schools are doing the same? Also, has anyone tried contacting their state legislators about this? I'm wondering if enough pressure from families might get HESAA to provide more specific timelines instead of just saying "soon.