I'm a newcomer here but had to chime in because we went through something very similar last year! Our SAI jumped from about 16,000 to 142,000 and I literally thought there was a mistake in the system. Turns out we had cashed out some old mutual funds to pay for unexpected medical bills, and the new FAFSA treated that as regular income even though it was a one-time emergency expense. The good news is we were able to get it mostly resolved through a combination of a FAFSA correction (there was actually a small data entry error on our part) and a special circumstances appeal with the college. The financial aid office was surprisingly understanding once we explained the situation with documentation. Our final aid package wasn't quite as good as the previous year, but it was WAY better than what the initial 142K SAI would have given us. My biggest advice: document EVERYTHING and be persistent but polite. The system is definitely broken this year, but there are ways to fix it if you're willing to fight for it. You've got this!

I'm new to this community but had to jump in because we're dealing with something very similar right now! Our SAI went from around 19,000 last year to 156,000 this year, and like you, we had no major income changes. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I'm starting to think it might be related to some investments we liquidated to cover my daughter's unexpected medical expenses. The advice about contacting FSA through that Claimyr service sounds really promising since I've also been unable to get through their phone system. And knowing that colleges are generally receptive to special circumstances appeals for one-time capital gains gives me so much hope. Thank you for posting this - just knowing we're not alone in dealing with this nightmare makes it feel more manageable. I'm going to follow the same steps everyone has outlined here: get FSA to explain the calculation first, then work with the college's financial aid office on a potential appeal. Keeping my fingers crossed for both of us that this gets resolved quickly!

I'm a newcomer here and just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who shared their solutions! I've been dealing with this exact same blue dot issue for the past 3 days and was getting really stressed about my upcoming deadline. Reading through all these different approaches gives me hope that I'll be able to get through eventually. I'm going to try the combination of signing out of all devices, waiting, then using incognito mode with ad blocker disabled that several people mentioned worked for them. It's really reassuring to know that schools are being flexible with deadlines due to these system issues. This community is so helpful!

I'm new to this community and dealing with the exact same blue dot problem! I've been trying to access my 2025-2026 FAFSA for 4 days now with no luck. Reading through everyone's solutions has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea this was such a widespread issue. I'm planning to try the combination approach that worked for several people: signing out of all devices, waiting an hour, then using incognito mode with my phone's hotspot instead of wifi. Also going to disable my ad blocker for the FSA sites since that seemed to help someone's roommate. It's reassuring to know that schools are being flexible with deadlines due to these technical issues. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community is a lifesaver for stressed students like me!

This thread has been so reassuring! I'm a first-time FAFSA filer and was completely panicked when I didn't see the usual income fields. It's amazing how much simpler this new process is compared to what my older siblings went through. One thing I'm curious about - does anyone know if there are any specific situations where the automatic retrieval might not work? Like if your parents are divorced or if you have complex tax situations? I want to make sure I'm prepared in case anything goes wrong with the data transfer.

As someone who works in financial aid, I can confirm that this new automatic retrieval system is working well for most families! The key thing to remember is that you still need to give explicit consent during the FAFSA process for the Department of Education to access your IRS data. If you skipped that step or didn't complete it properly, that's when you might run into issues. The system pulls data from your 2023 tax return (the "prior-prior year" for 2025-26 FAFSA), and it includes not just your AGI but also other relevant tax information like untaxed portions of IRA distributions, tax-exempt interest, etc. One tip: if you're ever unsure whether the data transferred correctly, most schools can run a preliminary aid estimate for you once they receive your FAFSA data, even before you get your official SAR. Don't hesitate to reach out to your school's financial aid office if you have concerns!

Hi Yara! I'm new to this community but wanted to add my experience since I'm in almost the exact same situation. I'm currently taking 10 credits per semester while working about 30 hours a week at a coffee shop, and I can confirm that you'll absolutely still qualify for federal aid! Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - everyone is spot on about the three-quarter time status meaning you'll get about 75% of your Pell Grant and full loan eligibility. What I found most helpful was actually visiting my financial aid office in person with a list of specific questions written down beforehand. They were able to show me exactly how my aid would be calculated and even helped me estimate costs for the whole academic year. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - some schools have specific scholarships just for part-time students or working students that aren't widely advertised. Mine had a "non-traditional student scholarship" that I only found out about by asking directly. Definitely worth inquiring about! The stress you're feeling is so valid, but you're making such a smart decision choosing sustainability over burnout. I've seen too many friends try to do full-time school with significant work hours and end up struggling in both areas. Taking 10 credits while working shows real maturity and self-awareness. You're going to do great, and this community clearly has your back with amazing advice and support!

Hey Yara! I just wanted to jump in as another newcomer who's been following this thread closely. I'm planning to start part-time enrollment next fall while working, and this entire conversation has been incredibly reassuring and informative! It's amazing to see how many students have successfully navigated the exact situation you're in - working while taking around 10 credits. The detailed explanations about three-quarter time status (75% Pell Grant, full loan eligibility) have really helped me understand how the system works for part-time students. What strikes me most is how supportive and knowledgeable this community is. From financial aid professionals to students who've been through this exact experience, everyone has provided such practical and encouraging advice. The tips about keeping detailed records, asking about hidden scholarships for working students, visiting financial aid offices with prepared questions, and even checking with employers about education benefits are all things I never would have thought of on my own. You're clearly making a smart, sustainable choice by prioritizing a manageable balance between work and school. It sounds like you've got a solid plan and now the knowledge to make it work with financial aid. Thanks for starting this discussion - it's going to help so many working students who are dealing with these same concerns about FAFSA eligibility and part-time enrollment!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my voice to the chorus of people encouraging you to complete the FAFSA! I'm currently a college senior at a private university, and my family was in a very similar situation when I was applying - high income (~$380k) and initially skeptical about the value of completing financial aid forms. What we discovered was eye-opening: my school required FAFSA completion for consideration of ANY institutional scholarships, including their "academic excellence" awards that were supposedly purely merit-based. Without it, I would have been automatically excluded from a $10,000/year scholarship that I received for all four years. But here's something I haven't seen mentioned yet - the FAFSA also opened doors to paid research opportunities and other campus programs that have enhanced my college experience beyond just the financial benefits. Many universities use FAFSA data to determine eligibility for work-study positions, undergraduate research stipends, and even some study abroad funding programs. From a student perspective, having access to federal loans (even if unused) provides incredible peace of mind. Several of my friends from similar high-income families ended up needing emergency funding when parents faced unexpected job changes or health issues during college. The new FAFSA really is much more straightforward than the old version - it took my parents about 30 minutes once they had their documents ready. For the potential benefits and flexibility it provides, it's absolutely worth that small time investment. Trust the community here - they're giving you excellent advice!

As a newcomer to this process, I want to thank everyone for such incredibly detailed and helpful responses! This thread has been a goldmine of practical information that I couldn't find anywhere else. I'm in a similar boat - household income around $290k, daughter applying to several competitive private schools including some of the ones mentioned here. Like many others, I was initially planning to skip the FAFSA because I assumed we'd be automatically disqualified from any meaningful aid. But reading through all these real experiences has been eye-opening! The consistent message about private schools requiring FAFSA for ALL institutional aid - including merit scholarships - is something I had no idea about. And the specific dollar amounts people have shared ($10k, $12k, $15k annually) really put this in perspective. That's potentially $40-60k over four years just for completing one form! The federal loan benefits alone seem worth it. Even if we don't need the money immediately, having access to better interest rates and terms than private loans could be valuable for cash flow management. What really convinced me though are the stories about unexpected life changes - job loss, medical issues, market downturns. Having that FAFSA already on file for potential emergency appeals could be crucial if circumstances change during her college years. I'm definitely going to complete it now. The risk/reward ratio is clearly in favor of just doing the paperwork. Thanks to this amazing community for sharing such valuable real-world insights!