As a complete newcomer to both this community and the FAFSA process, I can't thank everyone enough for this incredibly detailed discussion! I'm the parent of a 2026 graduate and was feeling completely overwhelmed about when and how to start the financial aid process until I found this thread. The timeline breakdown from @Kara Yoshida is exactly what I needed - I'm copying it into my planning documents right now. And the real-world experiences from parents like @Mateusius Townsend about missing deadlines really drives home how important it is to file early rather than waiting. I'm especially grateful for the professional insights from @QuantumQuasar and @Selena Bautista about verification processes, CSS Profile requirements, and dependency status - these are things I never would have known to research on my own. My biggest takeaway is that this really is like a part-time job that requires starting the research and organization phase NOW, even though we won't actually file until October 2025. I'm already creating a tracking spreadsheet for school deadlines and starting to research our state aid programs (found two I didn't know existed just from this conversation!). One question for those who've been through this - did you find it beneficial to create FSA IDs for both parent and student well in advance, or is a few weeks before the FAFSA opens sufficient? I want to make sure we don't hit any unexpected delays when the application goes live. Thanks again to everyone for making this complex process feel so much more manageable!

As a newcomer to this community and someone who's completely new to the FAFSA process, I wanted to express my gratitude for this incredibly informative thread! My son is also graduating in 2026, and I was feeling totally lost about the timeline until I found this discussion. The detailed breakdown from @Kara Yoshida has been a lifesaver - I'm already setting up calendar reminders based on that timeline. And hearing about real experiences like @Mateusius Townsend's situation with missing priority deadlines really emphasizes how crucial timing is in this process. I'm particularly appreciative of the professional insights from @QuantumQuasar about the verification process and Net Price Calculators. I had no idea these tools were federally mandated or that verification affects about 1/3 of applicants - that's exactly the kind of insider knowledge that's so hard to find elsewhere. Based on everything I've learned here, I'm starting my preparation now by researching each potential college's specific deadlines, looking into our state aid programs (already found one grant I didn't know existed!), and planning to create FSA IDs well before October 2025. One question for the group - for those dealing with small business income, did you find any particular resources or professionals especially helpful in navigating how that affects FAFSA calculations? This seems like an area where the standard advice might not apply, and I want to make sure we handle it correctly. Thanks again to everyone for creating such a supportive and informative community for parents like me who are figuring this out for the first time!

As someone who works in financial aid, I want to emphasize a few critical points that haven't been fully covered: 1) For Parent Plus loans, make sure your parent understands they are personally liable for the full amount - it's not forgiven if something happens to the student. 2) If you're considering declining work-study now but might want it later, you usually CAN'T add it back mid-year once you decline it. 3) Keep copies of ALL financial aid communications - not just acceptance confirmations but also the original award letter and any correspondence about deadlines. Schools sometimes have system glitches or policy changes, and having your own records can be crucial for resolving disputes. Also, since you mentioned being first-gen, definitely attend any "financial literacy" or "managing college costs" workshops your school offers - they're incredibly valuable for understanding the long-term impact of your borrowing decisions.

Hey Dylan! I went through this exact same confusion last year as a first-gen student. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is to create a checklist of all the steps you need to complete - it really helped me stay organized. Based on what everyone's shared here, your checklist should include: 1) Accept each aid component in the financial aid portal, 2) Have your mom complete the Parent Plus application with credit check, 3) Submit Professional Judgment request with documentation of your dad's job loss, 4) Take screenshots of all acceptances, 5) Check for any institutional deadlines that might be earlier than federal ones, and 6) Contact housing about aid disbursement timing. Don't forget to also complete entrance counseling for any loans you accept - that's a federal requirement that sometimes gets overlooked. You've got this! The fact that you're asking these questions now shows you're on the right track.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this incredibly frustrating situation! I'm new to this community but felt compelled to share something that worked for my family after we struggled with a similar FAFSA technical issue. One approach I haven't seen mentioned yet is reaching out to your U.S. Senator's office (not just your House representative). Senate offices often have more specialized staff for federal agency issues, and they can sometimes get faster responses from the Department of Education. When I contacted our Senator's caseworker, they were able to get a direct contact at FSA who manually reviewed our case within 48 hours. Also, have you tried accessing the site using a mobile hotspot instead of your regular internet? Sometimes ISPs have caching issues with government sites that can cause persistent errors. It sounds silly, but using my phone's hotspot with a tablet got me past an error that had been blocking me for weeks on my home internet. The fact that this has been going on for months with no resolution from their support team is completely unacceptable. Your daughter's education shouldn't be held hostage by their technical failures. Document everything and don't be afraid to escalate this as high as you need to go - you're dealing with a legitimate system failure that's affecting your family's financial future. Hang in there - between all the great suggestions in this thread, something is going to work!

I'm brand new to this community but had to join after reading your post because this exact situation happened to my family last year and it was absolutely infuriating! The "Confirm Your Information" error is a known bug that FAFSA has been ignoring for way too long. What finally worked for us after 6 weeks of the same nightmare was a combination approach I haven't seen mentioned here yet: **The "Nuclear Option" - Complete Fresh Start:** 1. Have your daughter contact her school's financial aid office and request they send a "Parent PLUS Loan Request" directly to you via email (this bypasses the broken confirmation page entirely) 2. When you get that email, use a completely different device you've never used for FAFSA before - like a friend's computer or a library computer in a different town 3. Access it using a VPN set to a different state AND during off-peak hours (I did mine at 2 AM on a Sunday) **The Administrative Pressure Route:** Call FAFSA and specifically say: "I need to file a formal complaint about a persistent technical error that has prevented my Parent PLUS loan application for [X] months." This gets you transferred to a different department that actually has power to override system errors. Also, contact your state's Attorney General's consumer protection division - they can put pressure on federal agencies for unresolved technical issues that affect consumers. This is absolutely unacceptable that you've been dealing with this since May! Your daughter's education shouldn't be held hostage by their broken system. Keep fighting and don't let them brush you off anymore!

As someone who works in financial aid at a university, I can confirm everything everyone has said here! You MUST include your stepfather's information since you live with your mom and she's married to him. This is one of the most common questions we get, and students are often surprised to learn it's not optional. A few additional tips: 1) Make sure both your mom and stepdad have their FSA IDs set up before you start the FAFSA, 2) If your stepdad doesn't have a Social Security number, there's a different process but he still needs to be included, and 3) Don't be surprised if including a stepparent's income affects your aid eligibility - that's just how the formula works. The important thing is you're following the rules correctly, which protects you from any issues down the road. Good luck with your application!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a junior in high school and my parents are going through a messy divorce right now. My mom is planning to remarry her boyfriend next summer (before I start my senior year), and I was completely confused about how this would affect my FAFSA. Reading everyone's explanations about the "parent you live with + their spouse" rule makes so much sense. It's actually a relief to know there are clear guidelines rather than having to guess what to do. I'm definitely saving this thread to reference when I start my FAFSA application next year. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's really reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with complicated family situations when it comes to college financial aid!

As a newcomer to this community and the FAFSA process, I can't thank everyone enough for this incredibly detailed discussion! I'm preparing to file my first FAFSA next year for my oldest child, and I was completely overwhelmed by questions like household size. Reading through all of your real experiences - both the success stories and the verification nightmares - has been so much more helpful than trying to decipher the official FAFSA guidelines alone. The "more than half support" test that keeps coming up seems to be the key principle that cuts through all the confusion. Madison, your situation sounds very straightforward based on what you've shared - if your daughter is working full-time, filing her own taxes, paying you rent, and covering her own expenses, she's clearly supporting herself. The consensus here seems unanimous that you should go with 4 for household size. I'm definitely bookmarking this entire thread for reference! It's amazing how this one question has revealed so many important nuances about the FAFSA process. This community is such a valuable resource for families trying to navigate these complicated financial aid waters. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences so generously!

As someone who's completely new to the FAFSA process and this community, this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm planning to file my first FAFSA next year for my son, and I had no idea that household size could be such a nuanced issue. Reading through everyone's experiences here has really highlighted how important it is to understand the "more than half support" test rather than just focusing on who lives at your address. Madison, your situation seems very clear-cut based on all the expert advice shared - if your daughter is working full-time, filing her own taxes, paying rent, and covering her personal expenses, she's definitely providing more than half of her own support. The verification horror stories shared here are honestly eye-opening! It really drives home how crucial it is to get these details right from the beginning rather than dealing with months of paperwork and potential aid delays later. Thank you for asking this question - it's probably helping so many families who are in similar situations but weren't sure where to turn for guidance. This community is such an amazing resource for navigating these complex financial aid waters!