I'm dealing with this exact same issue as a first-time parent! My daughter's FAFSA was processed about 3 weeks ago with an SAI around 10k, and like everyone else here, there's absolutely nothing showing in NJFAMS for 2025-2026 yet. I was getting really worried that we'd somehow missed a crucial step or made an error in our application. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear that these processing delays are completely normal, even though HESAA does a terrible job communicating this to families. The lack of a simple notice on their website explaining the 4-6 week processing lag is really frustrating when we're all trying to make important financial decisions with incomplete information. Based on what others have shared about SAI thresholds, it sounds like with our SAI of 10k we might actually have a decent shot at qualifying for some TAG funding, which gives me hope. I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice and stop the obsessive daily checking routine - will just wait patiently until May before getting concerned. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines, this community support makes navigating this confusing process so much more manageable!

As a fellow parent going through this for the first time, I can totally relate to the stress and confusion! My daughter's FAFSA was processed about 5 weeks ago with an SAI around 9k, and like everyone else here, absolutely nothing is showing in NJFAMS for 2025-2026 yet. I was starting to think we'd made some critical error in our application process. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief - it's clear this is just the unfortunate reality of how slowly and poorly the HESAA system works. The fact that they can't put a simple notice on their website explaining these processing delays is really frustrating when families are trying to make important financial decisions. Based on what others have shared about SAI thresholds, it sounds like we might have a decent chance at TAG funding, which gives me hope. I'm definitely going to stop the daily NJFAMS checking obsession and just wait until May like everyone suggests. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community support makes navigating this confusing process so much more bearable!

Hey everyone! As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while, this thread finally convinced me to create an account and jump in. I'm dealing with the exact same FAFSA confusion right now - submitted mine last week and then immediately started second-guessing whether I needed to do it again for spring. Reading through all your responses has been such a relief! It's crazy how something as basic as "how often do you apply" isn't clearly explained anywhere official. Like @Amina mentioned, you'd think after all the FAFSA redesigns they'd make this stuff crystal clear. I'm especially grateful for the tips about summer aid potentially needing separate forms - definitely going to check my school's website this weekend before I forget. And @Natasha, thanks for sharing that Claimyr resource! I've been putting off calling FSA because I know it'll be a 3-hour wait, but that sounds like it could actually make it manageable. This community is awesome - already feeling way less stressed about navigating all this financial aid stuff! 🙌

Hi everyone! Just joined this community after finding this thread through a frantic Google search about FAFSA deadlines. I'm a transfer student and this is my first time dealing with FAFSA at my new school, so I was completely panicking thinking I needed to resubmit everything for each semester. This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your experiences! It's such a relief to know that one application really does cover the whole academic year. As a transfer student, I'm especially curious about the mention of adding new schools to your FAFSA if you change mid-year. Does anyone know if there's a deadline for adding schools, or can you do that anytime during the academic year? Also wanted to echo what others have said about the system being unnecessarily confusing, especially for first-gen and transfer students. It's threads like this that make navigating college finances feel a little less overwhelming. Really grateful for communities like this where people actually help each other out instead of just complaining! Looking forward to hopefully helping other confused students as I learn more about the process. 😊

This thread has been absolutely amazing! I'm brand new to the federal workforce and was completely panicking about how to handle my TSP on my son's FAFSA application. I kept going back and forth on whether it needed to be reported as an asset, and the official FAFSA instructions were so confusing about federal retirement plans specifically. Reading through everyone's responses here - especially getting that definitive confirmation from Alana who works at the Department of Education - has been such a huge relief! The consistent message that TSP is treated exactly like any other retirement account (401k, IRA, etc.) and therefore NOT reported as an asset makes total sense once explained properly. I really appreciate all the real-world examples from other fed employees who've successfully gone through verification without any issues. It's incredible how this community breaks down these complex government processes into understandable terms for newcomers like me. Thank you all for sharing your expertise and experiences - this is exactly the kind of guidance people need when navigating FAFSA for the first time!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! As someone who just started working for the federal government and is completely new to the FAFSA process, I was really stressed about how to properly report my TSP for my daughter's application. The clear consensus from everyone here - especially that official confirmation from Alana at the Department of Education - that TSP accounts are NOT reported as assets because they're considered retirement plans has given me so much peace of mind! I was definitely overthinking this and worried about making a mistake that could hurt her financial aid eligibility. It's amazing how this community breaks down these complex government processes into understandable terms. The simple distinction that retirement accounts (including TSP) are excluded while regular investments and savings must be reported is exactly the clarity I needed as a newcomer. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and expertise - this is such a valuable resource for federal employees navigating FAFSA for the first time!

I went through this exact situation two years ago when my child support ended. Here's what I learned: definitely start the process NOW, don't wait until December. I made the mistake of waiting and it created unnecessary stress. Most schools have a "Special Circumstances" or "Professional Judgment" form - ask specifically for this, not just general financial aid forms. One thing that really helped my case was creating a simple before/after budget showing exactly how the $14,000 loss would impact our ability to pay college costs. I included things like "Previous monthly income: $X, New monthly income: $Y, Gap: $Z per month." The financial aid counselor told me this made it much easier for them to see the real impact. Also, keep copies of EVERYTHING and follow up regularly. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with financial aid offices. Good luck - this is definitely something they can and should help with!

I'm in a similar situation - my child support ends next year when my son turns 18, and I've been dreading having to navigate this process. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful! It sounds like the key takeaways are: start early (don't wait for the actual change), ask specifically for the Special Circumstances/Professional Judgment form, document everything thoroughly, and be persistent about getting to speak with an actual counselor rather than just front desk staff. The before/after budget idea from Dana is genius - I'm definitely going to use that approach when my time comes. Thank you all for sharing your experiences, this gives me so much more confidence about handling this situation!

This is such an important thread for anyone dealing with FAFSA issues! As someone who's been through this process multiple times with different kids, I can confirm that the retirement account mistake is probably the #1 error I see families make. The way the questions are worded makes it seem like you should include everything, when really retirement accounts are specifically protected. What's really helpful about your post is showing the actual numbers - $145k income with a $60k+ SAI should immediately raise red flags for anyone familiar with the calculations. For comparison, families making $200k+ typically see SAIs in that range, not middle-income families like your brother's. One additional tip for anyone reading this: after you get your corrected SAI, make sure to check if you qualify for any institutional grants directly from the college. Many schools have their own need-based aid programs that kick in at different income/SAI levels, and a corrected SAI could open up opportunities you didn't know existed. Great job catching this error and sharing the solution with everyone!

This thread is a lifesaver! I'm just starting to research FAFSA for my daughter who's a junior in high school, and I had no idea about the retirement account exclusion. Reading everyone's experiences here is making me realize how many hidden pitfalls there are in this process. The fact that one misunderstood question can create a $30k+ swing in your SAI is honestly terrifying - and it sounds like the form wording practically sets families up to make this mistake. I'm definitely going to use the Federal Student Aid Estimator before submitting anything, and I'm bookmarking all the tips about what NOT to include as assets. It's frustrating that families have to become experts in financial aid terminology just to access education funding, but threads like this make it so much more manageable. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you're probably saving thousands of families from making the same costly errors!