This thread has been incredibly helpful for a newcomer like me! My son is a junior and we're just starting to think about FAFSA, but I had no idea that name length could cause such serious issues. His last name is 12 characters with a hyphen (Jackson-Martinez), so it sounds like we'll definitely need to be prepared for this problem. I'm really grateful that everyone shared such detailed solutions and workarounds. The fact that @c066aee2f7d9 documented the entire resolution process step-by-step is amazing - I've already saved the Claimyr info and made notes about the SSN search method. It's honestly shocking that in 2025 we're still dealing with these basic technical limitations in such an important government system! Thank you to @fc329fc715f8 for the professional perspective and practical tips about taking confirmation screenshots and checking with schools 2-3 weeks after submission. As someone completely new to this process, that kind of insider knowledge is invaluable. I'll definitely be following the proactive approach that several people mentioned - better to catch this early than scramble at scholarship deadlines!

This thread is absolutely incredible - thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences and solutions! As a complete newcomer to the FAFSA process (my daughter is a junior), I had absolutely no idea that name length and special characters could cause such significant issues with financial aid applications. My daughter has a 15-character hyphenated last name (Rodriguez-Washington), so based on everything I'm reading here, we're definitely going to encounter this problem when we submit next year. I'm already bookmarking this entire thread and saving all the practical advice - the Claimyr service info, the confirmation screenshot tip, the SSN search method, and especially @c066aee2f7d9's complete step-by-step resolution process. It's honestly mind-boggling that in 2025, a federal system handling such critical financial data for millions of families still has these basic character encoding limitations. You'd think modernizing these systems would be a top priority! Thank you especially to @fc329fc715f8 for the professional insights about checking with schools 2-3 weeks after submission rather than waiting until deadlines. That kind of insider knowledge from someone who actually works in financial aid is invaluable for parents like me who are navigating this complex process for the first time. I'll definitely be taking the proactive approach that everyone has recommended - much better to catch these issues early than scramble when scholarship deadlines are looming!

I'm experiencing this exact same issue! Just submitted my FAFSA for my second year of my master's program and was completely thrown off when I didn't see the usual loan eligibility information on the confirmation screen. Last year it clearly showed the $20,500 amount, so I was worried something had gone wrong with my application or that my eligibility had somehow changed. It's such a relief to read through everyone's experiences here and learn that it's just a system display change rather than an actual change to loan availability. I really wish they had communicated this change better - it would have saved a lot of unnecessary stress! Now I'll just wait for my SAI to process and follow up with my financial aid office. Thanks everyone for sharing your insights and for those who took the time to call FSA directly!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue as a first-year PhD student! Just submitted my FAFSA last week and was really confused when I didn't see the loan eligibility amount displayed like I was expecting based on what other grad students had told me. I was starting to worry that maybe I had made an error on my application or that something had changed with my eligibility status. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear that this is just a system display change and not an actual change to loan availability. It's really frustrating that they didn't communicate this change better to students beforehand, especially since so many of us rely on these loans to fund our education. I'll wait for my SAI to process and then check with my school's financial aid office. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and especially to those who took the time to call FSA directly to get official confirmation!

I went through this same situation last year and want to emphasize how important it is to keep good records! Since you mentioned having 60% custody, you're clearly the custodial parent for FAFSA purposes, but some schools do ask for verification especially when it's not obviously one-sided. I actually created a simple spreadsheet tracking overnight stays for the full 12 months before filing - just dates and which parent's house. It ended up being super helpful when the financial aid office had questions. Also, don't stress too much about the exact percentage - as long as it's more than 50% with you, you're good to go. The new FAFSA really did simplify things compared to the old system!

As someone who just went through this process with my daughter, I can confirm everything everyone has said is correct! Since your daughter lives with you 60% of the time, you're definitely the custodial parent for FAFSA purposes. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have your 2023 tax return handy when you start filling it out - the new FAFSA can actually pull a lot of the financial info directly from the IRS now, which makes it much faster than the old version. Also, don't panic if the form seems glitchy at first - there were some technical issues early in the year but they've mostly been resolved. You've got this!

As someone who's just starting to research colleges and financial aid, this thread has been absolutely incredible! I had heard the term SAI thrown around but had no clue what it actually meant or how it would impact my aid eligibility. Reading through everyone's explanations has finally made it click - it's basically the number that determines how much financial need I have, with lower numbers being better for getting aid. The real-world examples have been so valuable, especially hearing how aid packages can vary dramatically between schools even with the same SAI. I never would have thought that a private school could end up being cheaper than a state school after aid, but it makes total sense now with the COA - SAI = Financial Need formula. I'm definitely going to use the Federal Student Aid Estimator tool before submitting my FAFSA, and I had no idea about the CSS Profile requirement for private schools. The tips about mentioning special circumstances and the appeal process are things I never would have known to look for otherwise. Thanks to everyone for sharing your knowledge and experiences so openly. This community has transformed what felt like an impossible process into something I actually feel prepared to tackle. You've given me the confidence to apply broadly and see what happens rather than assuming certain schools are out of reach before I even try!

As someone who's just beginning to dive into the FAFSA world, this entire thread has been such a lifesaver! I was completely intimidated by all the financial aid terminology and honestly had no idea where to even start, but reading through everyone's explanations about SAI has made everything so much more understandable. What really helped me grasp it was learning that SAI essentially represents what the government thinks my family can afford to contribute, and that lower numbers mean better aid opportunities. The real examples people shared - especially hearing how someone's private school ended up costing less than state options after aid - completely shifted my perspective on which schools I should consider applying to. I'm definitely planning to use that Federal Student Aid Estimator tool before submitting my application, and I had absolutely no clue about the CSS Profile being required by some private schools. The advice about including special circumstances in the additional information section is something I never would have thought of on my own. Thank you all for being so welcoming and informative! This community has transformed what felt like an overwhelming maze into something I actually feel equipped to handle. Time to get started on that FAFSA application with much more confidence than I had before finding this discussion!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful for all the detailed information shared in this thread! I'm a current college junior who just learned about FSEOG from a friend, and honestly I had no idea it even existed until now. After reading through everyone's experiences, I'm realizing I might have missed out on potential funding for the past two years just because I didn't know to ask about it. I submitted my FAFSA early each year but never followed up with my financial aid office about campus-based aid programs beyond what automatically appeared in my aid package. This is making me wonder what other programs I might not know about! I'm definitely going to reach out to my school's financial aid office this week to see if I'm eligible for FSEOG for my senior year and ask about any other campus-based aid programs they offer. Thank you all for being so generous with sharing your knowledge - it's clear this community is an amazing resource for navigating the confusing world of financial aid!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm blown away by how comprehensive and helpful all these responses are! I'm a first-year college student who received Pell Grant but had no idea FSEOG even existed until I stumbled across this thread. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly eye-opening - especially learning that it's not automatic like Pell and that funding can vary so much between schools and years. I submitted my FAFSA back in December, so hopefully that early timing works in my favor. I'm definitely going to contact my financial aid office first thing Monday morning to ask about FSEOG eligibility and whether my school requires any supplemental forms. It's kind of frustrating that these programs aren't better publicized - I feel like so many students probably miss out on aid they're entitled to simply because they don't know to ask about it. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences so openly. This community seems like such a valuable resource for navigating the maze of financial aid options!