As a newcomer here, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! My family is just starting the college search process and I had never even heard of SAI before stumbling across this discussion. Reading everyone's real experiences and practical advice has taught me more about financial aid than any official website or guidance counselor session. The tips about asset reporting mistakes, merit vs need-based aid, and the possibility of appealing or negotiating with schools are all things I never would have known to look for. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and come back to it when we start our own FAFSA journey. @Ally Tailer - I hope your corrections and appeals work out well! It sounds like you have a solid plan now based on all the great advice you've received. And thank you for starting this conversation - it's clearly helping so many families navigate this confusing process!

As someone who works with families on college financial planning, I wanted to add a few points that might help clarify some confusion I'm seeing in this thread. First, regarding the SAI of 17,500 - this puts you in what we call the "middle ground" where you likely won't qualify for federal Pell Grants but may still be eligible for substantial institutional aid, especially at well-endowed private colleges. The key is applying strategically to schools that meet a high percentage of demonstrated need. A few additional considerations: - Look into your state's 529 college savings plan tax benefits if you haven't already - even contributions made now can provide tax advantages - Consider having your son take community college courses during high school (dual enrollment) to potentially reduce overall college costs - Research schools that offer guaranteed merit aid based on GPA/test scores - these can provide predictable funding regardless of your SAI The asset reporting corrections several people mentioned are crucial. Beyond the rental property issue, also double-check that you didn't accidentally include your primary residence value or retirement accounts (401k/403b/IRA). Don't get discouraged by that SAI number - I've seen families with similar SAIs end up with very manageable college costs through strategic school selection and thorough scholarship research. The key is casting a wide net and comparing final aid packages before making decisions.

I went through a similar situation at 48 when my factory closed down. Don't let anyone discourage you - there's definitely no age limit on FAFSA! I actually found that being an older student worked in my favor in some ways. A few things that really helped me: - I qualified for more aid than I expected because my income dropped to unemployment benefits - Many schools have emergency aid funds specifically for students facing unexpected financial hardships like job loss - Look into your state's Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program if your layoff was due to foreign competition or trade - they can cover tuition, books, AND provide income support while you're in school - Community colleges often have the best support services for adult learners and cost way less Healthcare administration is a smart choice - stable field with good growth prospects. I ended up going into medical coding and it completely changed my financial situation for the better. You've got this! The hardest part is just getting started with that FAFSA application.

I'm 52 and just completed my first semester back in school for medical billing and coding after 25 years in construction. You're absolutely eligible for FAFSA at any age! Here's what worked for me: First, the timing of your layoff might actually help - I was unemployed when I filled out my FAFSA and qualified for the maximum Pell Grant ($7,395). Even though my previous year's income looked decent, my current situation of zero income made all the difference. Some practical steps that saved me money: - Started at community college first - way cheaper and credits transfer to 4-year schools - Applied for every single scholarship the school offered, even small ones ($250-500 adds up!) - Used my unemployment period to knock out prerequisites at the lowest cost possible Healthcare administration is booming right now with all the aging baby boomers. My advisor told me it's one of the fastest-growing fields. Don't worry about paying loans until you're 80 - at our age, we typically finish programs faster because we're more focused and motivated than 18-year-olds! The FAFSA was way less scary than I thought. Just gather your tax info and bank statements and go for it. Worst case scenario, you get loans with decent rates. Best case, you get grants you never have to pay back. You've got nothing to lose by applying!

For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, remember they've completely changed the formula from EFC to SAI (Student Aid Index). Make sure once you get past the FSA ID issue that you're looking at updated guidance for the new FAFSA. The changes are significant and affect how income and assets are calculated.

As a newcomer to this process, I'm finding this thread incredibly helpful! It's reassuring to know that not getting a confirmation email is normal - I was starting to panic thinking we'd done something wrong. The advice about trying to log in immediately makes sense, and I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences. I'm definitely going to write down all our credentials like Katherine suggested, and it's good to know about the SSA verification delay. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge with those of us navigating this for the first time!

Update: I used the Claimyr service and got through to a FAFSA agent who was super helpful. They confirmed the issue was on their end - mom's birthdate was entered incorrectly in their system decades ago. We have to visit the Social Security office with her birth certificate to get it corrected. The agent put a note on my file about the situation and told me to request a deadline extension from my school's financial aid office. Thank you everyone for your help! I'll post another update once everything is resolved.

Great to hear you got through to someone who could actually help! Just wanted to add - when you go to the Social Security office, bring multiple forms of ID beyond just the birth certificate if you have them (passport, driver's license, etc.). Sometimes they want extra verification for these types of corrections, especially if the error has been in their system for a long time. Also, if your mom is naturalized, bringing her naturalization certificate can speed things up since immigration-related records sometimes have these kinds of discrepancies. Good luck with getting everything sorted before your deadline!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so relieved to find this discussion! My son's FAFSA has been stuck "In Review" for nearly 3 weeks now, and I was starting to think we'd done something terribly wrong. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both reassuring and informative - it's clear this is a widespread issue with the new system rather than individual application problems. The advice about documenting correction attempts via email is something I hadn't thought of but makes perfect sense. I'm also grateful to learn about the distinction between work-study and regular student income, as my son had both types of earnings last year and I wasn't sure how they'd be treated differently. The tip about contacting schools directly about deadline flexibility is also really valuable - I hadn't considered that they might be accommodating the FAFSA delays. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space for parents dealing with this frustrating but apparently normal situation!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this thread! My daughter's FAFSA has been stuck "In Review" for about 2.5 weeks now, and I was starting to panic thinking we'd made some critical error. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so reassuring - it's clear this is a widespread issue with the new system changes rather than problems with individual applications. The practical advice here is invaluable: documenting correction attempts via email, understanding that work-study income is treated more favorably than regular student income, and knowing that schools may be flexible with deadlines due to these processing delays. I particularly appreciate learning about the Claimyr service for getting through to FSA - those hold times have been absolutely brutal! It's also comforting to know that even when applications are "In Review," there are still options for making corrections afterward. Thank you all for creating such a supportive environment for parents navigating what feels like the most complicated FAFSA rollout ever. This community is truly a lifesaver!