As someone who went through this exact same panic just a few months ago, I can completely relate to the stress these mysterious "system generated corrections" cause! My son's FAFSA was reprocessed twice this year with those same vague notifications, and both times I was convinced something had gone terribly wrong. What I learned through this process is that the Department of Education has been doing massive cleanup work behind the scenes to fix calculation errors, data import issues, and other technical problems from the new FAFSA rollout. It's basically quality control after the fact, which explains why so many families are seeing these automatic corrections. The most important thing to check is whether your daughter's SAI (Student Aid Index) changed - if it stayed the same, her financial aid eligibility should remain unchanged. And definitely take the advice about calling the school's financial aid office directly. They were incredibly helpful when I called and could explain exactly what was corrected in terms I could actually understand, unlike the cryptic status messages on studentaid.gov. It's frustrating that they don't just send a clear notification explaining what was changed and why, but based on everyone's experiences here, these corrections are usually routine technical fixes rather than anything to worry about. Hang in there!

This thread has been such a lifesaver for our family! We just went through this exact situation last week when my daughter's FAFSA showed that dreaded "system generated correction" status. Like so many others here, I immediately panicked thinking we had done something wrong. After reading through all these experiences, I called our school's financial aid office and they confirmed it was just a minor data correction related to how retirement account contributions were calculated - no impact on her SAI or aid package at all. The financial aid counselor mentioned they've been fielding tons of calls about these automatic corrections and said it's become routine with the new FAFSA system. What really strikes me is how many families are dealing with this same confusing situation, yet the Department of Education provides almost no clear communication about what these corrections actually mean. A simple automated email explaining "we corrected X because of Y, your aid eligibility is/isn't affected" would save so much unnecessary stress for parents already navigating this complicated process. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it's amazing how much peace of mind comes from knowing you're not alone in dealing with these technical hiccups!

Update: Just checked NJFAMS again this morning and it now shows "FAFSA RECEIVED"! Looks like it was just a processing delay. Thanks everyone for the reassurance - you saved me a lot of stress!

That's such a relief to hear your update! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my state aid portal showing delays. For anyone else still waiting - I found it helpful to set up email notifications through my state's financial aid portal so I get alerts as soon as my FAFSA data arrives. Also worth double-checking that you listed your state correctly on the FAFSA if you haven't received confirmation after 3-4 weeks. The processing delays this year have been unprecedented but it sounds like most are eventually getting resolved!

This is exactly why I think the FAFSA dependency rules need serious reform! Your stepson sounds incredibly responsible and self-sufficient. One additional option to consider - if he's working 60+ hours a week, he might qualify for employer tuition assistance programs. Many restaurants and retail chains now offer education benefits, even for part-time college students. It won't solve the FAFSA issue, but could help offset some costs. Also, make sure he's claiming the American Opportunity Tax Credit on his own tax return if eligible - that's up to $2,500 per year that goes directly to him, not based on your income since he files independently. The whole system assumes family financial support that often doesn't exist in reality. Definitely pursue all the suggestions others mentioned, especially the dependency override documentation.

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now with my daughter who's 22! She's been completely independent for 3 years - has her own apartment, car payment, works full time at a medical office while going to nursing school part-time. But because she's not married or a veteran, FAFSA still wants our tax info even though we haven't given her a penny since she moved out. The financial aid counselor at her school told us that dependency overrides are approved in less than 5% of cases, and usually only for truly exceptional circumstances like abuse or abandonment. It's so maddening that the system punishes responsible young adults who are already supporting themselves. We're exploring every scholarship opportunity and she's considering joining the National Guard for the education benefits since that would automatically make her independent for FAFSA purposes.

Hey Kristin! As someone who just went through this entire process last year, I wanted to jump in and say you're absolutely not alone in feeling confused - the FAFSA system is honestly designed to be as unclear as possible sometimes! Reading through all these amazing responses, I think everyone has covered the main points really well. Your SAI of 3500 is fantastic news - you're definitely going to qualify for substantial aid. I had almost the exact same number and ended up with the full Pell Grant plus additional state aid that made college actually affordable. One small thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you save/bookmark the direct links to each school's financial aid portal. When things start moving quickly in the spring, you'll want easy access to check for updates without having to navigate through their main websites every time. Also, some schools send important updates through their portals rather than email, so checking them regularly becomes super important. You're being incredibly smart by asking all these questions upfront instead of just hoping everything works out. The waiting period is definitely stressful, but based on your SAI, you're going to have some really good options. Hang in there - it's all going to come together!

Hey Kristin! Welcome to the financial aid journey! As someone who works as a college counselor and helps first-gen students navigate this process all the time, I can tell you that your confusion is completely normal and you're asking exactly the right questions. Your SAI of 3500 is genuinely excellent news - you'll almost certainly qualify for the maximum Pell Grant (around $7,395 for 2025-26). Here's the simple timeline: FAFSA processes → you get SAI notification → schools create individual aid packages → you receive award letters (usually March-May) → you compare and accept/decline specific aid types. One thing I always tell my students: create a simple tracking system now while you wait. List each school, whether they need CSS Profile, their typical aid timeline, and any special requirements. It makes everything much less overwhelming when things start happening quickly in the spring. Also, don't hesitate to call financial aid offices directly with questions - they're used to helping first-gen families and most are genuinely helpful. You're being incredibly proactive by learning about this process early instead of just hoping it works out. With your SAI, you're going to have some great options! Keep us posted on how things develop!

UPDATE: IT WORKED! I followed the advice about checking account roles and discovered I only had "Student" enabled. After adding the "Parent" role, logging out completely, and using the fresh invitation link my son sent, I was able to access his FAFSA as a contributor! Currently finishing up my section now. Thank you all so much for your help!

Great to see this got resolved! This account role issue is definitely something more families need to know about. For anyone else reading this thread who might encounter the same problem, it's worth noting that if you completed college courses even briefly in the past and created an FSA ID, your account defaults to "Student" role only. The system doesn't automatically recognize when you need parent contributor access too. Austin's solution of manually adding the "Parent" role in Account Settings should be the first troubleshooting step for parents who previously attended college themselves. This could save a lot of frustration for other families dealing with the new FAFSA system!