As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my voice to this incredibly helpful discussion! I'm currently dealing with the exact same situation - divorced with primary custody of my son, remarried, and feeling completely lost about the FAFSA requirements. This thread has been an absolute lifesaver! The consistent message from everyone here that only the custodial parent (me) and current spouse need to be involved, while excluding the biological father entirely, has eliminated so much anxiety I was carrying about this process. I was actually planning to reach out to my ex-husband to start gathering his financial information, which would have been both unnecessary and probably contentious. The practical advice about setting up FSA IDs well in advance and having all tax documents organized beforehand is also incredibly valuable - I'll definitely be doing both this week. It's amazing how this community has taken what feels like an overwhelming federal bureaucracy and broken it down into clear, manageable steps. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and expertise with those of us just beginning this journey!

As someone brand new to this community and facing my first FAFSA application as a divorced and remarried parent, this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! I was completely overwhelmed trying to figure out whether I needed to involve my ex-husband, my current husband, or both in this process. The clear consensus here that only the custodial parent (me) and current spouse need FSA IDs, while the non-custodial biological parent is completely excluded, has been such a relief. I was actually dreading having to coordinate with my ex and potentially deal with delays if he was unresponsive. Now I understand it's much simpler - just me and my current husband, even though we file taxes separately. The advice about getting FSA IDs created and verified well ahead of time is also incredibly helpful, as is the tip about gathering all tax documents before starting. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise - you've transformed what felt like an impossible bureaucratic maze into a clear, manageable process for those of us just starting this journey!

Just wanted to add to this helpful thread! I made this exact same mistake about a month ago and can confirm what everyone is saying - just close your browser and your original FAFSA will process normally. I was terrified I'd messed everything up, but my SAI came through right on schedule and my school received all the data without any issues. The abandoned correction is still sitting in my activity log but it literally had zero impact. It's honestly crazy how many of us have accidentally done this - the FAFSA really needs a "Cancel Correction" button or at least clearer labeling on those buttons. Don't stress about it, you'll be fine!

Just wanted to chime in as another person who made this exact mistake! I accidentally started a correction about 6 weeks ago when I was just trying to check my processing status - clicked the wrong button and immediately panicked thinking I'd broken everything. After finding threads like this one, I decided to just close my browser and leave it alone. Happy to report that my original FAFSA processed completely normally - got my SAI on time, schools received all the data they needed, and my aid packages came through without any delays. The abandoned correction is still there in my activity log but it had absolutely zero impact on anything. For anyone else who stumbles into this thread in a panic - you really can just walk away and everything will be fine! The FAFSA interface definitely needs better design, but at least this common mistake doesn't actually hurt anything.

As someone who went through this exact confusion my freshman year, I can totally relate to the stress of not knowing when you'll actually see that refund money! One thing that really helped me was creating a "financial aid checklist" to make sure I didn't miss any steps that could delay the process. Make sure you've completed all your verification requirements if your FAFSA was selected - sometimes schools put holds on disbursement until you submit tax transcripts or other documents. I didn't realize I had outstanding verification items until 2 weeks before classes started, which almost messed up my whole timeline. Also, when you call financial aid on Monday, ask them to walk you through your specific student account so you can see exactly what steps are left and what the status is of each requirement. Sometimes there are little things like missing signatures or incomplete forms that can hold everything up. The waiting and uncertainty is definitely the worst part, but you're being super proactive by asking these questions now instead of just hoping it all works out. That's going to save you so much stress down the line!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's going through this process for the first time, I had no idea there were so many factors that could affect timing. The verification requirements mentioned are something I definitely need to check on - I got an email a while back about providing some additional documents but I wasn't sure how urgent it was. Sounds like I should make sure that's all cleared up before I worry about disbursement timing! One question for everyone - when you call the financial aid office, do you find it's better to call right when they open or is there a better time to avoid long wait times? I'm planning to call Monday morning but I'm wondering if I should expect to be on hold forever or if there are better times to get through quickly. Thanks again to everyone who's shared their experiences - this has been way more helpful than any of the official financial aid websites I've looked at!

This thread has been absolutely incredible! As someone who's completely new to the student loan process, I had no idea there were so many variables to consider with excess funds. The distinction between refunds vs credit balance returns, the importance of checking which parent receives Parent PLUS refunds, the 120-day return window to avoid interest - all of this is information I never would have known to ask about. I'm especially grateful for the warnings about schools trying to keep funds as "credits" or pushing those branded debit cards with hidden fees. It's clear that being informed and asking very specific questions is crucial to avoiding getting taken advantage of. I'm definitely going to create that tracking spreadsheet and make sure I understand our school's exact processes before any disbursements happen. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that makes all the difference!

This thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm dealing with a similar situation where we borrowed more than needed for this semester. Reading through everyone's experiences has made me realize I need to be much more organized about tracking everything. I'm definitely going to start that spreadsheet system someone mentioned - it sounds like having detailed records is crucial not just for tax purposes but also for keeping track of return deadlines and servicer contacts. One question I haven't seen addressed - does anyone know if there are any restrictions on HOW you can use excess loan funds while you have them? I mean, obviously the smart move is to return what you don't need within 120 days, but if we do temporarily hold onto some excess funds for potential unexpected expenses, are there any rules about what counts as legitimate education expenses? I want to make sure we don't accidentally violate any terms if we end up using some of the money for things like transportation to campus or a laptop for coursework.

Hi Chloe! I just completed my FAFSA last week and had the exact same confusion about the Medicaid checkbox. Everyone here has given you fantastic advice, and I wanted to add my fresh perspective since I literally just went through this! With your mom making $29k and having Medicaid, you're in an amazing position! You should definitely qualify for both the Simplified Needs Test (skipping those confusing asset questions) AND the Auto-Zero EFC calculation, which means maximum Pell Grant eligibility. Here's what actually happened when I filled mine out: The FAFSA clearly showed me on screen when sections were being skipped due to my qualifications, which was super reassuring. I still needed my mom's 2022 tax return and W-2 info, but the whole asset section just disappeared after I answered the Medicaid question. One thing that really helped me: I used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when it was available - it automatically pulled in our tax info and saved so much time! Also, don't forget to look into your state's financial aid programs too, as many offer additional grants for students in your income bracket. You're asking all the right questions and being so smart about preparing ahead of time. I ended up qualifying for the full Pell Grant with a similar situation, so you should be in excellent shape! The process was way less scary than I thought it would be once I actually started. You've totally got this!

Hi Chloe! I just went through this exact same situation with my younger sister's FAFSA application a couple months ago, so I totally understand your confusion about the Medicaid checkbox! The great news is that with your mom's income at $29k and having Medicaid, you're in an excellent position for financial aid! You should definitely qualify for both the Simplified Needs Test (which skips all those complicated asset questions about savings and investments) AND the Auto-Zero EFC calculation - which basically puts you in the best possible category for maximum aid. You'll still need your mom's 2022 tax return ready though (that's the tax year the 2024-2025 FAFSA uses for income verification). The Medicaid checkbox is super helpful, but it's more like a "skip the really complicated financial stuff" button rather than eliminating all financial questions entirely. My sister ended up getting the full Pell Grant with almost identical circumstances to yours - $28k family income and Medicaid. One practical tip: gather all your documents before you even start the application and create your FSA ID first. The FAFSA website can be slow and sometimes glitchy, so having everything organized ahead of time makes the whole process much smoother. You're being really smart by asking these questions upfront instead of just guessing your way through it. With your family's financial situation, you should qualify for substantial federal aid. Don't stress too much - you're positioned really well for this! Good luck with your application!