I just wanted to add my experience as another parent who went through this same panic! I was literally 10 days from closing when my son dropped FAFSA on me. I called my mortgage lender in a complete panic, and they actually walked me through why FAFSA is different from loan applications. The key thing they explained: FAFSA doesn't involve any credit checks or financial commitments - it's purely data collection to see what federal aid programs your daughter qualifies for. Think of it like applying for a library card - you're just proving who you are and providing basic info, but you're not committing to check out any books yet! The "checking out books" part (actually accepting loans) comes much later when you review aid offers. I completed our FAFSA a week before closing and everything went perfectly. Your mortgage is 100% safe, and honestly getting this done now will probably help your daughter's aid timeline anyway. Don't let her last-minute timing stress you out - this is totally normal and won't affect your home purchase at all!

I'm coming to this conversation a bit late, but I wanted to share my perspective as someone who recently navigated both FAFSA and a mortgage process simultaneously. Reading through everyone's responses here has been incredibly helpful - it's clear that many families face this exact timing stress! What struck me most is how common this confusion is between FAFSA (information gathering) and actual loan applications (financial commitments). I think part of the confusion comes from the term "financial aid" which sounds like you're immediately applying for money, when really you're just starting a process to see what options might be available later. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation: the consensus from mortgage professionals, financial aid officers, and parents who've been through this process is crystal clear - FAFSA completion is completely separate from credit processes and won't affect mortgage approval. It's essentially a government form collecting your tax and asset information to calculate aid eligibility. The real decision points come months later when aid offers arrive, and even then you maintain full control over what to accept or decline. Federal student loans would be in your daughter's name only unless you specifically choose to apply for Parent PLUS loans (which would be a separate application with its own credit check). Jayden, I hope you were able to complete the FAFSA and move forward with confidence in your mortgage closing!

I'm also starting college in Fall 2025 and this thread has been such a lifesaver! I was getting so much conflicting information - my mom insisted I needed to fill out the 2024-2025 FAFSA because "that's the current school year," but something didn't feel right about that. Reading through everyone's experiences has finally cleared everything up for me. The timeline breakdown has been incredibly helpful: 2025-2026 FAFSA for Fall 2025 enrollment, opens in December 2024, use 2023 tax info, and submit as early as possible once it's available. I had no idea about the state aid being first-come-first-served - that's such crucial information that could save thousands of dollars! I'm definitely going to get my FSA ID set up this weekend and start organizing our 2023 tax documents now. It's so reassuring to know that I'm not actually behind since the form isn't even available yet. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and mistakes - it's turned what felt like an overwhelming process into a manageable action plan. This community is amazing for breaking down these confusing financial aid processes!

I'm also starting college in Fall 2025 and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was so confused about which FAFSA year to fill out - my older brother told me to do 2024-2025 since "that's what he did last year," but I kept seeing references to 2025-2026 online and wasn't sure which was right. Reading through everyone's experiences has made everything crystal clear. The key takeaway for me is: 2025-2026 FAFSA for Fall 2025 enrollment, it opens in December 2024, use 2023 tax information, and submit as early as possible for state aid opportunities. I had no clue that some state grants work on a first-come-first-served basis - that's such important information! I'm going to get my FSA ID created this week and help my parents set theirs up too. I'll also start gathering our 2023 tax documents and research my state's specific aid programs so I'm ready to submit right when the form becomes available in December. It's such a relief to finally have a clear timeline instead of just feeling overwhelmed by all the conflicting advice. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge - you've saved me from potentially filing the wrong form!

A quick update on the most recent FAFSA rules - if you haven't received an SAI email within 7-10 days of submission, there might be an issue with your application. The most common reasons are: 1. Signature problems (both student and parent need to sign) 2. Mismatched information that triggered a verification flag 3. Technical processing delays (which have been happening a lot this application cycle) You can check application status on studentaid.gov - even from your parent account, you should see if there's a "More Information Needed" status or if it still shows as "Processing.

I just went through this exact same situation with my daughter's FAFSA last month! The SAI visibility issue is so frustrating, especially when you're the one handling all the financial aspects. Here's what worked for me: I called the financial aid office at her college and explained that she was studying abroad with limited internet access. They were actually really understanding and said this happens more often than you'd think. They allowed me to provide other FAFSA information (like our EFC from the Student Aid Report summary) as temporary documentation while we waited for the official SAI. Some schools will accept the FAFSA submission confirmation number and work with you on deadlines if you explain the circumstances. It's worth calling each financial aid office directly rather than trying to navigate the federal system - they tend to be much more flexible and helpful!

As someone new to this community, I wanted to share something that might help streamline the documentation process. When I was helping a family friend navigate this exact situation, we discovered that creating a "housing history timeline" document was incredibly valuable. We listed every place he stayed over the past year with approximate dates, including friends' couches, shelters, even nights spent in his car. This timeline became the foundation for all our other documentation - we could reference specific dates when reaching out to people for letters, and it helped the financial aid offices understand the scope of his housing instability. We also included any times he had to change his mailing address or couldn't receive mail consistently. Another tip: if he has any medical records, school transcripts, or employment records that show address changes or lack of permanent address, those can be really helpful supporting documents. Even something like a gym membership application where he couldn't provide a permanent address can help establish the pattern. The process is definitely bureaucratic and frustrating, but having everything organized upfront made each school conversation much smoother. You're doing an amazing thing helping him through this - having a stable advocate really does make all the difference in successfully navigating these systems!

As someone new to this community, I wanted to share a resource that might be helpful - many community colleges have dedicated homeless student liaisons or coordinators who specialize in exactly these situations. Even if he's not planning to attend that specific community college, these coordinators are often willing to provide guidance and sometimes even documentation assistance since they work with homeless youth regularly. I'd also suggest checking with local 211 services (dial 2-1-1) - they maintain databases of homeless services in your area and can often connect you with organizations that have experience helping with FAFSA documentation. Sometimes these organizations have relationships with school districts or can provide the official letters that qualify under the FAFSA requirements. One thing I learned when helping someone through this process is to keep copies of EVERYTHING - not just the final documents, but also notes from phone calls, email confirmations, and even unsuccessful attempts to get documentation. Sometimes showing that you've made good faith efforts to obtain certain documents can be helpful if you need to explain why you don't have them. It's really heartwarming to see how this community has come together to help you navigate this. The young man is so fortunate to have someone advocating for him during such a challenging transition!

As a newcomer to this community and the FAFSA process, I want to express my sincere gratitude for this incredibly detailed and reassuring discussion! I was honestly paralyzed with anxiety about the financial information section because I assumed it would require sharing actual bank account numbers and giving the government direct access to my personal banking details. Reading through everyone's experiences has completely transformed my understanding - learning that FAFSA only needs balance totals without any account numbers, and that even during verification we can protect sensitive information by redacting account numbers, has been an enormous relief. The universal advice about taking screenshots of account balances on submission day is such practical wisdom that I never would have considered on my own. Having Myles provide professional insight from working in financial aid really validates that this process is much more privacy-conscious and reasonable than it initially appears. This thread has taken what felt like an impossible privacy dilemma and made it feel completely manageable. Thank you all for creating such a supportive environment where newcomers can learn from real experiences and gain the confidence needed to navigate this process successfully!

As a newcomer to both this community and the FAFSA process, I can't thank everyone enough for this incredibly helpful and reassuring discussion! I was really stressed about the financial information section because I thought I'd need to provide actual bank account numbers and give the government access to all my financial details. Learning that FAFSA only requires balance totals without account numbers, and that even during verification I can redact sensitive information, has completely eased my concerns. The screenshot tip for documenting balances on submission day is such smart advice that I never would have thought of myself. Having Myles share professional insights from working in financial aid really helps confirm that our privacy is much better protected than I initially feared. This thread has transformed what seemed like an overwhelming privacy nightmare into something that actually feels manageable and reasonable. Thank you all for creating such a welcoming space where newcomers can learn from real experiences and get the clarity we need to move forward with confidence!