I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's absolutely terrifying when your expected aid gets yanked away like that! I'm a junior and went through something similar last year when the new FAFSA changes first started hitting. My SAI didn't jump quite as dramatically as yours, but it was still a huge shock. One thing that really helped me was creating a timeline of all our family's financial changes to include with my appeal. Since your dad lost his job 6 months ago, make sure to document not just the unemployment itself, but any other ripple effects - reduced family spending, delayed medical care, cancelled plans, etc. The financial aid officers need to see the full picture of how different your current reality is from what those 2023 tax forms show. Also, while you're waiting for the appeal to process, definitely look into your school's emergency aid funds. Most schools have small grants (usually $500-2000) specifically for students facing unexpected financial hardships. They're often separate from the main financial aid process and can be processed much faster. The whole new FAFSA system is honestly a mess, but don't lose hope - I've seen so many students successfully get their aid restored through appeals, especially when there's clear documentation of job loss like in your situation. Stay on top of the process and don't be afraid to be the squeaky wheel that gets the grease!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly stressful when your financial aid gets turned upside down like that! As a newcomer to this community, I'm shocked to see how many students are experiencing these massive SAI increases with the new FAFSA system. Reading through all the experiences shared here, it's clear that your dad's unemployment absolutely qualifies you for a professional judgment review. The fact that the FAFSA is using 2023 tax data when he was still employed, but your current reality is completely different, is exactly what these appeals are designed to address. I really appreciate everyone sharing their strategies and success stories - it's giving me hope as I'm potentially facing similar issues with my own FAFSA. The advice about documenting everything, calling FSA directly for calculation breakdowns, and not waiting for aid packages before starting appeals seems crucial. @William Rivera - it sounds like you're on the right track with gathering all the unemployment documentation. Based on what others have shared, being proactive and persistent with follow-ups seems to be key to getting these appeals processed in a reasonable timeframe. Wishing you the best of luck with your appeal!

Hey Liam! I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - wrong school code AND enrollment status on my TAP application. I was absolutely panicking about deadlines too, but it turned out to be way less stressful than I thought! Definitely don't submit a new application - that creates duplicate records in their system and can cause major processing delays. The online correction method everyone's describing here is absolutely the way to go. I followed similar steps to what others have outlined: logged into my HESC account on my laptop (mobile site is terrible), found "View Current Application," then scrolled way down to find that tiny "Request Correction" link. The whole correction process took maybe 10 minutes, and my changes were processed within a week. The key thing is having your correct Federal School Code ready before you start. I actually called my new school's financial aid office to confirm the code before making the correction, which gave me extra peace of mind that I was putting in the right information. One thing I wish someone had told me - after you submit the correction, it might take 24-48 hours before you see the changes reflected in your account view, even though the correction gets processed right away. Don't panic if you check the next day and still see the old info! You're definitely not cutting it close on timing - March submissions for Fall 2025 are actually pretty early. You'll get this sorted out with plenty of time to spare. Good luck!

Hey Liam! I just went through this exact situation last semester and wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease some of your stress! I made the same mistakes - wrong school code (put my old community college instead of my current university) and had the enrollment status wrong too. I was completely panicking about missing deadlines, but it turned out to be much more manageable than I expected. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about NOT submitting a new application - that would definitely cause problems with duplicate records. The online correction process through your HESC account is absolutely the way to go. Here's what worked for me: Log in on a desktop computer (the mobile site is pretty much useless for this), click "View Current Application," then scroll ALL the way to the bottom to find the "Request Correction" link. It's super easy to miss because it's just a small link, not a prominent button. Make sure you have your correct Federal School Code ready before you start - you can verify this matches what you used on your FAFSA by checking your Student Aid Report. The whole correction process took me about 8 minutes, and it was processed within 5 business days. One heads up - don't freak out if you don't see the changes immediately in your account. Mine took about 36 hours to show the updated information even though it was processed right away. You submitted in March for Fall 2025, which is actually really good timing! The June 30th deadline gives you tons of breathing room. I submitted my corrections in late April last year and still got my full TAP award with no issues. Save that confirmation email with the tracking number - it's super helpful if you need to follow up later. You've got this!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so thankful for finding this incredibly detailed discussion! I'm currently helping my younger brother who's facing almost the exact same situation - he's 19, lives with our mom who receives SSI benefits and doesn't file taxes, but our older sister claimed him as a dependent on her taxes last year. I was completely stressed about whether we needed our sister's financial information for his FAFSA or if mom's non-filing status would be enough. Reading through everyone's responses has been such a relief - the key insight that FAFSA dependency is based on actual living situation rather than tax claiming status has cleared up all my confusion. I'm especially grateful for the comprehensive verification preparation checklist that multiple people have shared. We're already starting to gather school enrollment records with mom's address, SSI benefit documentation, and preparing for the possibility of needing a non-filing verification letter. It's both concerning and reassuring to see how common these non-traditional family situations are - concerning that so many families face these challenges, but reassuring that there are established processes and such a knowledgeable community to help navigate them. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences and practical advice - this is exactly the kind of guidance that makes all the difference for families like ours!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to express my sincere gratitude for this incredibly comprehensive and helpful discussion! I'm currently assisting my nephew who's in a nearly identical situation - he's 17, lives with his grandmother who receives Social Security benefits and doesn't file taxes, but his adult cousin claimed him as a dependent for tax purposes last year. Before discovering this thread, I was completely overwhelmed and confused about whose financial information we needed to use for his FAFSA application. The crystal-clear explanation that FAFSA dependency is determined by WHERE the student actually lives and receives support (not who claims them for tax benefits) has been absolutely game-changing for our understanding. I'm particularly grateful for all the detailed verification preparation advice shared throughout this discussion - we're already proactively gathering school enrollment records showing grandmother's address, Social Security benefit documentation, and preparing for the non-filing verification process. It's both eye-opening and reassuring to see how widespread these complex, non-traditional family situations are. Eye-opening because it highlights how inadequately the standard FAFSA materials address these common scenarios, but reassuring because there are clearly established processes and such a knowledgeable, supportive community to help navigate them. Thank you everyone for sharing your real-world experiences, practical solutions, and creating such an invaluable resource for families dealing with these challenging situations that don't fit the typical nuclear family mold!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to follow! I'm currently stuck with this exact same "unknown error occurred" message and honestly thought I was losing my mind trying to figure out what was wrong. It's both frustrating and comforting to see so many other students dealing with this - clearly the FAFSA system has some serious issues this year. Based on all the amazing troubleshooting advice shared here, I'm planning to try the comprehensive approach that seems to work for most people: Microsoft Edge in incognito mode at around 5-6am, with all browser extensions disabled, VPN disconnected, and I'll definitely check with my parents about potential duplicate FSA IDs (they helped my older brother with his FAFSA about 3 years ago, so this could totally be the issue). What I find most valuable about this discussion is how everyone's sharing not just what worked, but also the technical details like waiting 10-15 minutes after clearing cache, session management issues, and even making sure the actual student does all the clicking. These insights are way more helpful than any official support I've been able to find. I'm also going to start documenting everything with screenshots just in case I need to prove to my school that I've been trying to submit before the deadline. It's honestly ridiculous that applying for financial aid requires becoming a tech troubleshooting expert, but I'm so grateful for this community support. Will definitely report back after my early morning attempt - fingers crossed!

Just wanted to add my success story to this amazing thread! I was stuck with the same "unknown error occurred" message for over a week and tried everything - different browsers, clearing cache, different devices, you name it. Nothing worked until I found this discussion and tried the comprehensive approach everyone recommended. What finally worked for me: Microsoft Edge in incognito mode at 5:30am on a Sunday, all browser extensions disabled, VPN disconnected, and most importantly - we discovered my mom had THREE different FSA IDs from helping my two older siblings over the years! Once we consolidated those accounts and I tried during the off-peak hours, everything worked perfectly. The duplicate parent account issue is so real and way more common than I expected. Parents often forget they created accounts years ago or sometimes create new ones thinking they lost access to old ones. Definitely check this first! Also want to emphasize the importance of documenting everything with screenshots. Even though I got mine working, I kept all my error screenshots just in case, and actually ended up helping a friend prove to their financial aid office that they'd been trying to submit on time. Thank you to everyone in this thread for not giving up and sharing such detailed solutions. This community troubleshooting has been infinitely more helpful than any official support. For anyone still struggling - don't lose hope, these solutions really do work!

Hey Paolo! I completely understand your frustration with unreliable internet - been there! Just wanted to share another angle that might help: if you decide to go the library route (which I'd also recommend), consider bringing a USB drive or having your email ready to save copies of everything. Some libraries have time limits on computer use, so having your documents organized and maybe even pre-typed in a Word doc can speed things up. Also, I noticed you mentioned state grant deadlines - make sure to check if your state has its own FAFSA deadline that's earlier than the federal one. Some states have priority deadlines in February or March for their grant programs. The mobile app suggestion from Rita is solid too - I used it to double-check my info after submitting. You've got this!

Hey Paolo! Just wanted to chime in as someone who recently went through FAFSA hell myself. Since you're worried about your internet cutting out, here's what saved me: I actually started filling out the FAFSA on my phone using mobile data while sitting in my car outside a Starbucks with free wifi as backup 😅 That way if my data got spotty, I could quickly connect to their wifi without losing progress. The mobile app really is solid like Rita mentioned. Also, pro tip - screenshot each page after you fill it out, just in case something goes wrong. I know it sounds paranoid but it gave me peace of mind! And definitely check your state's specific deadline - mine was a full month earlier than the federal deadline and I almost missed it. You've got tons of good options here, don't stress too much about the mailing delays!