just wondering - doesnt the student have to report if a parent died within a certain timeframe? i thought there was a question about that somewhere on the fafsa. might affect how much aid they get.

I'm so sorry for your loss. This is definitely a confusing situation, but you're getting good advice here. I went through something similar when my mom became widowed during my FAFSA year. The key thing to remember is that FAFSA wants your current status when you're filling it out, not your history. So you'd answer "No" to remarried since you're currently widowed. One thing I'd add - make sure to keep copies of everything (death certificate, 2022 joint tax return, etc.) because you'll likely need them if you get selected for verification. Also, don't stress too much about getting flagged for verification - it's super common when there are discrepancies between current status and tax filing status, and the financial aid offices are used to handling these situations. They're generally pretty understanding about major life changes.

Final update: It's fixed! My SAI was recalculated with the correct tax jurisdiction and my revised financial aid package came through. The actual fix happened 4 days after my call, so within their estimated timeline. My SAI went down by about $3,200 after fixing this error, which qualified me for additional grant aid. For anyone dealing with this issue, definitely call FSA directly and specifically request the tax jurisdiction correction to be expedited. Thanks again to everyone for your help!

This is such a relief to read! I'm dealing with the exact same Puerto Rico filing error right now and was starting to panic about my aid deadlines. My parents have lived in California their whole lives but somehow FAFSA thinks they filed in Puerto Rico. I've been stuck in correction limbo for 3 weeks now. Going to call FSA first thing tomorrow morning at 8am and ask for the "tax jurisdiction correction" expedited review like you did. Thank you so much for sharing your step-by-step solution and the final update - it gives me hope that this nightmare will actually get resolved!

To summarize the correct process based on the discussion: 1. You (parent) create your FSA ID with your email and phone number 2. You complete the parent section of the FAFSA 3. At the end of your section, you'll provide details for your son 4. Your son creates his own FSA ID using his own email and phone number 5. He'll receive instructions to complete his portion 6. Once both sections are completed, the FAFSA is submitted And if you run into technical issues or have questions about your SAI calculation later, remember you can contact Federal Student Aid directly or use services that help connect you with agents.

As someone who just went through this process last month, I can confirm everything James summarized is correct! One additional tip: when your son creates his FSA ID, make sure he has his Social Security card and driver's license handy for the identity verification process. The system will ask him to verify his identity using information from these documents, and having them ready will make the process much smoother. Also, don't be surprised if the FSA ID creation takes 1-3 business days to fully activate - this is normal and part of the security verification process.

Just wanted to add that if you're feeling overwhelmed by all this financial aid info (which is totally normal!), most colleges have financial aid calculators on their websites where you can get a rough estimate of what aid you might receive. It won't be exact, but it can help you get a sense of which schools might be more affordable before you get your official aid letters. Also, don't forget to look into state grants and local scholarships - with your -1500 SAI, you'll likely qualify for additional need-based aid beyond just federal programs!

As someone who went through this process a few years ago, I want to emphasize something really important that hasn't been mentioned yet - don't forget about work-study! With your -1500 SAI, you'll likely qualify for Federal Work-Study programs at most schools. This can be a great way to earn money for college expenses while gaining work experience on campus. When you get your aid letters, look for work-study as part of your package - it's not "free money" like grants, but it's a guaranteed way to earn funds during the school year. Many work-study jobs are flexible with class schedules and some are even related to your field of study!

UPDATE: Finally got the form! For anyone else dealing with this, I ended up downloading the general IDR application from StudentAid.gov, filling it out with my Nelnet account info, and faxing it to them using an online fax service. I also called (finally got through) and requested the administrative forbearance while it processes. The agent confirmed they're having technical issues with their electronic system for IDR applications but said it should be resolved within 6 weeks. In the meantime, they're processing all applications manually. She also emailed me a receipt confirming they received my application. Thanks everyone for your help!

Just want to add for anyone else dealing with this - if you're having trouble with the online fax services, most UPS Stores and FedEx locations can fax documents for you for a small fee (usually $1-2 per page). I know it seems old-school, but it's faster than mailing and you get a confirmation receipt. Also, make sure to include a cover sheet with your loan account number and clearly write "IDR APPLICATION" at the top - it helps them route it to the right department faster. The whole situation is frustrating but at least there are workarounds while they fix their system.