One more crucial thing to understand: PSLF requires 120 *qualifying* monthly payments, which means you need to: 1. Work full-time (30+ hours/week) for a qualifying employer 2. Make payments while on an income-driven repayment plan 3. Make payments on time If you expect to continue federal employment for at least 2 more years (to reach the 10-year requirement), then consolidating Parent PLUS loans makes sense. Also, consider timing: Since your oldest is a senior, their loans will enter repayment soon. Your middle child's loans won't enter repayment for 5+ years. If you consolidate separately, you could potentially have some loans forgiven earlier than others. One strategy some federal employees use is to minimize Parent PLUS loans by having the student maximize their direct subsidized/unsubsidized loans first, then only use Parent PLUS for the remaining amount needed.

As someone who's navigating federal employment and student loans, I want to add a timing consideration that might help with your planning. Since you have 8 years of federal service already, you only need 2 more years to hit the 10-year PSLF requirement. Given your kids' ages, here's what I'd consider: - Your oldest (senior year) - any Parent PLUS loans you take now could potentially be forgiven in just 2 years if you consolidate immediately - Your middle child (starting college next year) - these loans would be forgiven after 3 years of payments - Your youngest (still in middle school) - you have time to reassess the program and rates when they're ready for college The key is getting that consolidation done ASAP after taking out each Parent PLUS loan and making sure your employment certification is filed every year. Don't wait until you have all the loans - start the PSLF clock ticking on each one as soon as possible. Also double-check that your current federal position qualifies for PSLF. Most do, but it's worth confirming with HR or using the PSLF Help Tool on studentaid.gov.

This entire thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As a college financial aid advisor, I see these SSN conflict issues way too often, and it's so frustrating how difficult it can be for families to get proper help from the FSA support system. What really stands out to me is how many different solutions people have shared here - from the FSA-40 form to getting college financial aid offices involved to using services like Claimyr to actually reach competent agents. The fact that GalaxyGlider's issue turned out to be a database error on FSA's end (transposed SSN) is unfortunately more common than families realize. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread to share with students and families who run into similar issues. The step-by-step advice about asking specifically for Tier 2 specialists and SSN investigations, calling at 8 AM Eastern, and keeping detailed documentation of every interaction is gold. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and solutions. This kind of community support and knowledge sharing is exactly what families need when dealing with these technical nightmares!

This thread is absolutely incredible - thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences and solutions! I'm currently helping my nephew with his FAFSA and we've been hitting roadblocks, but this gives me so much hope and a clear action plan. What really resonates with me is how many people mentioned that persistence is key and that you often need to call multiple times to reach someone who can actually help. The distinction between front-line agents and Tier 2 specialists is something I never knew about but makes total sense given everyone's experiences here. I'm particularly grateful for the specific terminology to use ("SSN investigation" and "FSA ID SSN conflict resolution") and the tip about calling right at 8 AM Eastern. These kinds of insider tips are exactly what families need but rarely get from official sources. It's both frustrating and validating to learn that so many of these issues are system errors on FSA's end rather than user mistakes. Makes you realize how many families probably give up thinking they did something wrong when it's actually a technical problem that needs proper escalation to resolve. Bookmarking this entire thread - it's like a masterclass in FAFSA troubleshooting that should be required reading for all parents entering this process!

One more important thing - after you correct the application, make sure to save a PDF copy of the confirmation page and the SAI results. If there are any issues later, you'll want documentation showing you properly classified her as dependent with you as guardians serving in the parent role. Also, be aware that her college's financial aid office might request additional documentation of your guardianship, so have those court documents ready.

As someone new to this community, I just wanted to say how helpful this thread has been! My sister is going through a similar situation with her foster daughter who she's now the legal guardian of. Reading through all these responses has given us a roadmap for fixing the FAFSA dependency status issue. It's so reassuring to see a community where people actually help each other navigate these confusing financial aid processes. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions!

Welcome to the FAFSA community! As someone who just went through this process with my oldest, I wanted to add a few practical tips that helped us navigate the timeline smoothly: 1. **Set up your FSA ID early** - Like Mei mentioned, both parent and student need separate FSA IDs. Do this NOW rather than waiting until December. 2. **Gather your tax documents ahead of time** - The 2025-2026 FAFSA will use your 2023 tax return. Have it ready along with bank statements and investment records. 3. **Create a "FAFSA folder"** - Keep all financial documents in one place. Trust me, you'll reference them multiple times throughout the process. 4. **Mark your calendar for October** - Start preparing documents in October so you're ready to submit the FAFSA the moment it opens on December 1st. The summer session question is really important - definitely call the school's financial aid office ASAP as policies vary widely between institutions. Some treat summer as part of the previous academic year, others as part of the upcoming year. You're asking all the right questions early, which puts you ahead of many families. Your daughter is lucky to have such a proactive parent! Congratulations again on her acceptance!

Welcome to the financial aid journey! I just went through this exact process with my daughter who started last fall, so I completely understand the overwhelming feeling. Everyone here has given you fantastic advice, but I wanted to add one thing that really helped us stay organized - create a shared Google Doc or spreadsheet with all your important dates and deadlines. Include columns for: FAFSA deadline (Dec 1), school-specific scholarship deadlines, state aid deadlines (these vary by state!), and any school financial aid priority dates. Some schools have priority FAFSA deadlines as early as February 1st for maximum aid consideration, even though the federal deadline is later. Also, don't forget to check your state's financial aid programs! Many states have their own grants and scholarships with separate applications and earlier deadlines. Your state's higher education website should have all this info. One last tip: if your daughter is considering multiple schools, you'll need to list them all on the FAFSA (you can list up to 10). Each school will receive the results and create their own financial aid package, which can vary significantly between institutions. You're doing great by starting early - that's honestly half the battle! The first year is definitely the most confusing, but it becomes much more routine after that.

Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me - when you're documenting custody for FAFSA purposes, keep records like school enrollment forms, medical insurance coverage, and tax returns where you claimed your son as a dependent. These can all serve as proof that he lived with you more than 50% of the time if anyone ever questions it. Also, if your son has a school counselor or someone neutral who knows your family situation, having them aware of the custody arrangement can be helpful for potential waiver documentation later if needed for any CSS Profile schools. Good luck with everything!

As someone who just went through this process with my daughter, I want to echo what others have said about the FAFSA only needing the custodial parent's info - that's absolutely correct. But I'd also suggest reaching out to the financial aid offices at your son's target schools directly to ask about their specific policies. Some schools are really understanding about difficult co-parent situations and may have additional resources or flexibility you're not aware of. Also, if your ex continues to be uncooperative and you end up needing CSS Profile waivers, start that process early - it can take weeks to get approval and you don't want to miss deadlines. The whole system isn't perfect, but there are people at these schools whose job it is to help families navigate exactly these kinds of situations.