No update since January 2 on FAFSA - SAI can't be calculated with $55K income?

The same thing happened to my son! We submitted on Jan 4 and got the "SAI can't be calculated" message on Jan 5. I think the 2025-2026 FAFSA rollout is a total mess this year. We've been waiting almost 3 weeks with no updates...

This is definitely not normal for previous years, but unfortunately very common with this year's FAFSA rollout. The "SAI can't be calculated" message usually means there's some inconsistency in the financial information you provided. Check if your 2022 income reported matches exactly what's on your tax return. Also, there might be a mismatch between what the IRS has on file and what you entered. The system is supposed to tell you specifically what's wrong, but the new FAFSA system has been plagued with technical issues.

with how many ppl having the same problems u probly just gotta wait it out... my cousins kid had same issue and it fixed itself after like 18 days with no explanation 👍

I work in a college financial aid office, and I can tell you this is unfortunately very common with the 2025-2026 FAFSA. The Department of Education made significant changes to the FAFSA form and calculation process this year, and the rollout has been extremely problematic. A few important points: 1. The "SAI can't be calculated" error happens even when everything is correct on your end - it's often a system issue 2. The $55,000 income level should generally qualify for some form of aid, especially if your daughter is your only dependent 3. Many schools are aware of these delays and are extending their financial aid deadlines I'd recommend contacting both the Federal Student Aid office and reaching out to the financial aid offices at the schools your daughter is considering. Many schools are making accommodations due to these widespread FAFSA issues.

The FAFSA system this year is GARBAGE!!! I spent 6 HOURS trying to do my son's application and then got the same stupid 'SAI can't be calculated' message. Called the number a million times and either got disconnected or was on hold for 2+ hours only to have them tell me 'we're experiencing technical difficulties.' NO KIDDING!!! Why did they have to change the whole system THIS YEAR when so many of us need financial aid?!?!

After dealing with the same issue for 2 weeks, I FINALLY got through to someone at Federal Student Aid who explained what was going on! I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) after seeing someone recommend it on another thread. Instead of waiting on hold for hours, they got me a callback from an FSA agent in about 25 minutes. The agent told me the "SAI can't be calculated" message is often triggered by small discrepancies that the system should fix automatically but isn't because of bugs in the new system. She manually reviewed my application and fixed the issue right on the call. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

They just needed basic verification info - my daughter's name, DOB, SSN, and FSA ID. I also had our 2022 tax returns handy just in case, but they didn't actually need to see those. The agent explained that there's a huge backlog of applications with this error, and many are just sitting in the system waiting for manual review. Getting someone on the phone basically pushed ours to the front of the line.

Just to add some context about the SAI calculation - this is the first year they're using the new Student Aid Index formula instead of the old Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The system is supposed to be more generous for families making under $60,000, so your income of $55,000 should definitely qualify for some assistance. The Department of Education has acknowledged there are widespread calculation issues affecting many applications. They released a statement last week saying they're working through a backlog, but didn't provide any timeline for resolution.

The statement was on the Federal Student Aid website under announcements, though it wasn't very detailed. They've also updated their FAQs to address the "SAI can't be calculated" error specifically. The new formula eliminates some of the factors that previously reduced aid eligibility for middle-income families, particularly if you have only one child in college. It's a positive change in theory, but the implementation has been problematic to say the least.

guys my daughter had the same problem but for some reason her SAI suddenly showed up yesterday after 3 weeks of nothing?? no email or anything it just appeared. might be worth checking the dashboard again even if you havent gotten an email

Quick update: The Department of Education just announced they're adding more staff to process the backlog of FAFSA applications with calculation errors. They're prioritizing applications for students with upcoming enrollment decision deadlines. Make sure your daughter's colleges know she's waiting on FAFSA results - many schools are being flexible with financial aid deadlines because of these widespread issues.

I want to emphasize what was said earlier - please contact the financial aid offices directly at each school your daughter is considering. As someone working in financial aid, I can tell you we're maintaining lists of students affected by FAFSA delays and working with them individually. Many schools are creating contingency plans for students caught in this situation, including offering preliminary aid packages based on the information you can provide directly to the school while waiting for the official FAFSA results.

Yes, sending your 2022 tax documents directly to the schools could definitely help them create a preliminary aid estimate. Some schools also have their own institutional aid application forms they can use as alternatives. Each school handles this differently, so when you call, ask specifically what documentation they need to create a preliminary aid package while waiting for the official FAFSA results. This approach won't work for federal aid directly, but it can give you a good idea of what to expect and help with your decision-making process.