Missing SAI after FAFSA was processed - normal or problem?
My husband submitted his FAFSA back in January (for 2025-2026) and got the email in March saying it was processed, but we can't find an SAI number anywhere. We've checked his studentaid.gov account multiple times and there's nothing there showing an SAI calculation. Isn't everyone supposed to get one? We're trying to figure out what colleges might offer us but have no idea where we stand without this number. Has anyone else had this issue? Should we be concerned that something's wrong with his application?
16 comments
Join the conversation
Vera Visnjic
Not everyone gets an SAI right away. There might be verification issues. Has he checked if there are any items pending in his To-Do list on the studentaid.gov account? When my daughter applied, they needed additional documentation before calculating her SAI.
0 coins
Mason Lopez
•Thanks for responding! Just checked and there's nothing showing in the to-do list. It just says "processed" with the date from March. No requests for verification or anything else. It's strange because he received Pell Grants before (he's going back to finish his degree) and always had an SAI before.
0 coins
Jake Sinclair
did u check the emails too? sometimes the SAI is hiding in there but not on the site lol i thoght mine was missing but it was just buried in the confirmation email they sent
0 coins
Mason Lopez
•We went through ALL his emails multiple times and nothing with the SAI. Just the confirmation that it was received and then another one that it was processed. But no actual number anywhere.
0 coins
Brielle Johnson
This is actually a common issue with the 2025-2026 FAFSA. The Department of Education has been having significant delays with their new system. Everyone should receive an SAI calculation, but processing times have been inconsistent. I recommend checking the SAR (Student Aid Report) for any comments about pending verification or processing issues. The SAR is available in the "My Documents" section of studentaid.gov.
0 coins
Mason Lopez
•Thank you! I'll look at the SAR right now. This is actually helpful. I didn't realize I should be looking in the Documents section - we've only been checking the dashboard and the profile information.
0 coins
Mason Lopez
Update: Found the SAR in the Documents section, but it doesn't show an SAI either! It just says "Your FAFSA form has been processed" but no calculation. There's no mention of verification or any other issues either. This is so frustrating!
0 coins
Honorah King
•Welcome to the wonderful world of FAFSA!! where nothing works as it should and nobody can tell you why 🙃 Had the same issue last year and spent WEEKS trying to figure it out
0 coins
Honorah King
Mine eventually showed up after I called FSA like 20 times. Turns out there was a discrepancy with my tax info they never bothered to tell me about. But good luck getting through on the phone - I spent HOURS on hold and kept getting disconnected.
0 coins
Oliver Brown
•I had the same problem getting through on the phone! Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual FSA agent after weeks of trying. They have this service where they wait on hold for you and call when an agent is ready. Saved me tons of time and I finally got my SAI issue resolved. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ
0 coins
Mary Bates
There are a few technical reasons why an SAI might not appear immediately: 1. Certain data elements that affect the SAI calculation might be flagged for review 2. There could be a mismatch between tax information and what was reported 3. Some 2025-2026 applications are being held for batch processing due to system overload 4. If your husband has unusual circumstances (e.g., significant changes in income from the base year), the system might flag for manual review Definitely call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243. Be prepared with your husband's FSA ID, the confirmation number from his FAFSA submission, and any reference numbers from emails he's received.
0 coins
Mason Lopez
•Thank you for the detailed explanation! That makes sense. His income did change significantly in the past couple years, so maybe that's why it's flagged. We'll definitely call with all that information handy.
0 coins
Clay blendedgen
Has your husband checked with the financial aid office at the school he's applying to? Sometimes they can see more information than we can on our accounts. My daughter's SAI wasn't showing online but when she called her school, they could see it in their system already!
0 coins
Mason Lopez
•That's a great idea! He's planning to go back to the same state university he attended before, so I'll have him contact their financial aid office tomorrow. Maybe they can see something we can't.
0 coins
Mason Lopez
UPDATE: Problem solved! I wanted to post our solution in case anyone else runs into this. We called the university financial aid office and they said they could see his SAI in their system. Apparently there's a glitch with some accounts where the SAI is being calculated but not displayed to students on studentaid.gov. The financial aid officer gave us the number and said this has been happening to quite a few people. Thanks everyone for your help!
0 coins
Brielle Johnson
•Thanks for posting the update! This is really valuable information. The 2025-2026 FAFSA rollout has had numerous technical issues, and this display glitch is unfortunately affecting many applicants. I'm glad you were able to get your husband's SAI through the school. For anyone else experiencing this issue, contacting your school's financial aid office is often the fastest solution.
0 coins