So glad to see this thread helped you get it working! For anyone else reading this later - the key tips that seem to work consistently are: 1) Use Chrome or Edge browser, 2) Look for "Link to IRS" button (not the old "Transfer" wording), 3) Enter your address EXACTLY as it appears on your tax return including all abbreviations, and 4) Make sure you filed your taxes at least 3 weeks ago. The DRT really does save tons of time once you get past the initial setup hurdles!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this process with three kids now - the IRS Data Retrieval Tool is absolutely worth the effort to get working! A few additional tips based on my experience: If you're married filing jointly, BOTH parents need to be present with their FSA IDs when you do the transfer. Also, if you have multiple W-2s or complex tax situations, the DRT still works great and will pull everything automatically. One last thing - if you do end up having to enter information manually for any reason, double-check that your Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation looks reasonable. Sometimes manual entry errors can significantly impact your aid eligibility. Good luck to everyone navigating this process!

As someone who just completed my second FAFSA renewal last month, I can confirm it's still a pain but definitely more manageable once you know what to expect! Yes, you absolutely have to re-invite parents each year - it's one of the most frustrating "features" of the new system. Here's what helped me streamline the process this time around: 1) I created a shared Google doc with my mom listing all our login info, important dates, and a checklist of steps 2) We scheduled a specific time to do it together over video call so I could walk her through any confusing parts 3) I set up a separate email folder just for FAFSA notifications so nothing gets lost. The good news is that some of your basic info does carry over, and if you're eligible for the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, that part is actually much faster than manually entering tax info like in the old system. Just be patient with the site - it's still slow and glitchy, but not quite as crash-prone as last year. You've got this!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who works with families on financial aid applications - the invitation process really is required every year, but here's something that might help with timing: Try to start the process early in the morning (around 7-8 AM EST) when the servers are less busy. The system tends to be more stable then compared to evenings when everyone is trying to access it. Also, make sure both you and your daughter clear your browser cache before starting, especially if you used the same computer for last year's FAFSA. Sometimes old cached data can cause weird errors or prevent the invitation emails from being sent properly. I've seen this trip up several families during renewal season. One last thing - if you run into technical issues, try switching to an incognito/private browser window. It sounds simple, but it resolves a surprising number of login and navigation problems with the studentaid.gov portal.

My roomate got her SUNY Oneonta package today!! So they are definitely sending them out now

Hey everyone! First-time poster here but I've been lurking and reading all your comments - you guys have been so helpful! I'm in a similar situation with SUNY schools (applied to Geneseo, Cortland, and Plattsburgh) and submitted my FAFSA in early February. Just wanted to share that I called SUNY Geneseo yesterday using that Claimyr service someone mentioned and actually got through! The financial aid advisor told me they're running about 3-4 weeks behind schedule this year due to the new FAFSA system, but she said my application was "in queue for review" which sounds more promising than just "processing." She also mentioned that they're trying to get all packages out by mid-April at the latest. Hang in there everyone - sounds like we should be hearing something soon! Also @Ellie Lopez - CS is definitely considered a priority major at most SUNY schools so you might hear back sooner than expected!

This is such a common question for community college families! I went through this exact same process with my daughter two years ago and made the mistake of listing her "dream schools" on the initial FAFSA even though she was definitely starting at community college. It just created confusion and we ended up getting financial aid award letters from schools she wasn't even attending. Save yourself the headache and just list the community college for now. When she's ready to transfer, you'll do a fresh FAFSA for that year and can focus on getting the best aid package from her actual transfer options at that time.

This is really helpful to see so many people confirming the same approach! I'm a first-time FAFSA filler and was definitely overthinking this. My son is also planning the community college to 4-year university route, and I kept second-guessing myself about whether we needed to list his potential transfer schools now. Reading everyone's experiences here has given me confidence to just focus on the community college for this year's FAFSA. Thanks for asking this question - it's clearly something a lot of us community college parents stress about!

This whole situation is so frustrating and scary! As a senior in high school who just got accepted to college, reading about all these unexpected aid cuts has me worried about what might happen to my own financial aid package in future years. What really bothers me is how colleges seem to treat these aid packages like they're not real commitments to families. When you accept a student and give them a certain level of aid, that student and their family are making major financial decisions based on that information. Then to just randomly cut it with minimal explanation feels like a breach of trust. I'm definitely saving all the advice in this thread for future reference - the strategies about in-person meetings, written documentation, involving ombudsmen, and exploring departmental funding sources are all things I never would have known to try. It's clear that students and families need to be much more proactive advocates than I realized. Good luck with your Monday meeting! I really hope you're able to get at least a significant portion of your daughter's aid restored. The way you're approaching this with thorough preparation and multiple backup strategies gives me hope that persistence can make a difference in these situations. Please keep us updated on how it goes - your experience is going to help so many other families who find themselves in similar positions!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare! Reading through everyone's experiences here is both heartbreaking and infuriating - it's clear this is a widespread problem affecting families nationwide, not just isolated incidents. As someone who's completely new to navigating financial aid (my daughter is a high school junior), I'm honestly terrified that this could happen to us next year. The lack of transparency from colleges is shocking - families deserve much better explanations than generic "budget constraints" when institutions make decisions that can literally determine whether students can continue their education. What strikes me most is how you've done everything right - maintained the same financial situation, dealt with all those FAFSA technical issues, got everything submitted on time - and you're still getting penalized. It really highlights how much of this process depends on institutional decisions that are completely outside families' control. I'm taking detailed notes on all the advocacy strategies being shared here: the in-person meetings, comprehensive appeal letters, involving student ombudsmen, exploring departmental funding, and pushing for specific written explanations rather than vague responses. It's clear that families need to be prepared to fight much harder for these packages than I ever realized. Really hoping your Monday meeting results in significant aid restoration! Your thorough documentation of this process is invaluable for other families who might face similar situations. We're all rooting for you!