Great decision, Eli! You've got a solid plan. Just to add one more tip - when you do reach out to the financial aid offices, try to contact them during their slower periods (usually mid-morning on weekdays) rather than right after aid offers come out when they're swamped. Also, some schools have specific deadlines for special circumstances appeals, so check those early. The documentation approach that Alice and others mentioned really does make a difference - schools want to help but they need clear evidence of the additional costs. Good luck with everything!

As someone who just went through this process last year, I can confirm that marking "married" is absolutely the right call! My parents had a similar situation - dad relocated for work but they maintained their marriage and filed jointly. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given: when you do submit your special circumstances appeals, make sure to be consistent across all your schools with the documentation and explanation. I created a standard packet with all the supporting documents (lease agreements, utility bills, employment verification letter) and a clear cover letter explaining the situation. This made it much easier to submit to multiple schools. Also, don't get discouraged if some schools can't help - it really varies by institution and their available funds. I had two schools that were able to make adjustments and two that couldn't, but it was still worth trying at all of them. The process isn't as scary as it sounds, and financial aid officers are generally very understanding about these kinds of legitimate circumstances.

Just wanted to add one more tip that helped us - when your husband creates his FSA ID, make sure he writes down his username and password somewhere safe! My spouse forgot his login info halfway through the process and had to go through account recovery, which added another 2 days to our timeline. Also, if he runs into any technical issues during the identity verification step, don't waste hours on hold with the regular FAFSA helpline. The third-party services mentioned earlier can really save time getting connected to someone who can actually help resolve account issues quickly.

I went through this exact same situation last year with my twins' FAFSA applications! Yes, both married parents absolutely need their own FSA IDs now - it's one of the most frustrating changes from the old system. What helped us was setting up a "FAFSA session" where I sat with my husband and walked him through creating his FSA ID step by step. It took about 30 minutes total, and once it was set up, his actual contributor section only took him about 15 minutes to complete since most of the tax info gets pulled automatically. Pro tip: have him use a simple, memorable password and write it down immediately - we learned this the hard way when he got locked out trying to remember what he'd chosen!

One more tip - if you decide to create a new application, take screenshots of all your current data first. That way you have a reference to make sure everything matches exactly. The FAFSA system can flag applications for verification if it sees discrepancies between multiple submissions from the same student.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue! My daughter's FAFSA has been locked since we started it in early December. The gender and ethnicity fields are completely frozen, and we can't add any schools to her list. I've called the FSA helpline four times now and keep getting the same "be patient with the new system" response. Reading through all these responses is so helpful - I had no idea this was such a widespread problem with applications started before the December update. I'm going to try calling tomorrow morning and specifically ask for a "data field unlock" like Malik suggested. If that doesn't work within a few days, I think we'll just bite the bullet and start a new application with screenshots of all our current data. The stress is real though - we've already missed one priority deadline and I'm terrified about missing more. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

UPDATE: I just wanted to thank everyone for their help! I logged in and made the correction to remove our retirement accounts from the investment section. The system accepted the change without any issues. I also called my daughter's financial aid office to let them know about the correction, and they made a note in her file. The advisor said they see this mistake frequently and it shouldn't cause any problems with her aid package. What a relief! I'm still nervously checking for the updated SAI calculation, but I feel much better now.

So glad you got it sorted out! This is exactly why I always recommend double-checking the FAFSA before submitting - those investment vs. retirement account distinctions can be really tricky. Your proactive approach of calling the financial aid office was smart too. Most schools are understanding about these common mistakes, especially when families communicate early. Hope your daughter's aid package works out well!

***UPDATE***. It was processed and then we went in and made the change. It was SOOOO easy to fix!!! Just wanted to update everyone who replied. Our SAI dropped by over 11,000 points after removing the retirement accounts. HUGE difference in our aid eligibility. Thanks to everyone who helped!!!

Wow, what a relief that you were able to fix it so easily! That 11,000 point SAI drop is absolutely massive - it really shows how important it is to get the asset reporting right. This whole thread has been super educational for someone like me who's new to the FAFSA process. I had no idea retirement accounts weren't supposed to be included, and honestly the way the questions are worded it's no wonder so many people make this mistake. Thanks to everyone who shared the step-by-step correction process - I'm bookmarking this thread in case I run into similar issues when I fill out my FAFSA next year!