Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble finding the second disclosure statement, you can also call your daughter's college financial aid office directly and ask them to clarify exactly which document they need. Sometimes they'll accept a screenshot of the SAI from your studentaid.gov dashboard if you can't locate the actual PDF. Also, keep in mind that with all the FAFSA changes this year, processing times have been longer than usual - some families are seeing 7-10 days instead of the typical 3-5 days for the second disclosure statement to arrive.

For anyone still confused about the terminology - I work at a college financial aid office and can confirm that what schools call the "second disclosure statement" is indeed the Student Aid Report (SAR) that contains your official Student Aid Index (SAI). This document is generated after your FAFSA is fully processed and verified. You should receive it via email at the address you provided on your FAFSA, typically 3-7 business days after submission (longer this year due to system changes). If you can't find it in your email, log into studentaid.gov and look for "View and Print Student Aid Report" in your dashboard. Schools need this because it contains the official processed data they use to calculate your financial aid package. Hope this helps clear up the confusion!

UPDATE: I wanted to share what worked for me in case it helps anyone else. I called MOHELA this morning, asked specifically for a PSLF specialist, and requested to be switched from SAVE to PAYE. The first rep tried to tell me it wasn't possible, but I asked for a supervisor and mentioned the FSA guidance. The supervisor confirmed I could switch plans and processed my application! My payment will increase from $45 to about $75 per month - not ideal but MUCH better than the $550 standard plan. Most importantly, I'll continue making qualifying PSLF payments. For those still struggling, be persistent and specifically reference your right to change IDR plans despite the SAVE litigation. Thank you all for your help and support through this nightmare!

This is such a relief to read! I'm a social worker at a nonprofit and got hit with the same SAVE suspension nightmare last month. My servicer (FedLoan) initially told me I had to go into forbearance and lose my PSLF progress, but after reading this thread I called back three times until I got someone who understood the situation. I'm now on IBR and my payments only went up about $20/month from what I was paying under SAVE. The key was being super specific about wanting to switch IDR plans due to the litigation, not just asking for "options." I also want to mention that if anyone is having trouble with their servicer, filing a complaint through the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) can sometimes get faster results than the FSA feedback system. They take student loan complaints seriously and servicers have to respond within 15 days. Hang in there everyone - this political mess isn't our fault and we shouldn't have to suffer for it!

I went through a similar situation with my daughter last year when my ex-husband lost his job mid-year. One thing I learned is that you can actually update your FAFSA information if there's been a significant change in circumstances since the tax year being used. The 2025-2026 FAFSA uses 2023 tax data, but since your ex-husband's disability started in 2024, you may be able to get what's called a "data change" to reflect his current lower income. Contact the financial aid office at your daughter's university - they can often make adjustments for situations like long-term disability that happened after the base tax year. This could potentially give you even better aid than just choosing which parent to report!

Just wanted to add another perspective on this - I work at a university financial aid office and see these situations frequently. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that if your daughter's father is receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), this information should definitely be included in any Professional Judgment appeal. Disability benefits are treated differently in the aid calculation and can significantly impact the final determination. Also, make sure to keep detailed records of all medical expenses related to the disability, as these can sometimes be factored into the appeal process as well. The key is comprehensive documentation when you approach the financial aid office - the more complete picture you can provide of the changed circumstances, the better they can assist you.

One more critical piece of advice: While you're waiting for the FSA resolution, contact each school where your daughter is applying and explain the situation. Ask them for an extension on their financial aid deadline due to a documented FAFSA technical issue. Many schools have institutional authority to grant extensions in cases like this. Request that they note in her file that there's an active FSA case regarding a birthdate correction. Provide them with any case numbers you have. Most financial aid offices are understanding about these technical issues, especially with all the problems in the new FAFSA system rollout this year. This creates a paper trail showing you've been proactive, which can help if you need to appeal any late penalties later.

As someone who just went through this nightmare with my own kid, I want to add one more potential solution that worked for us when everything else failed. If you have access to your daughter's high school guidance counselor, they often have direct contacts at Federal Student Aid for exactly these kinds of emergency situations. Our counselor was able to reach someone in FSA's Educational Partner Relations department who handles escalations from schools. They got our profile issue resolved in 3 business days when we'd been stuck for over a month going through regular channels. Also, make sure when you're documenting everything that you're noting the exact error message text - sometimes the IT team needs that specific language to identify what's blocking the save function. Screenshot the entire error page if possible, not just the message. Hang in there - this system is broken but there ARE people who can fix it once you reach the right department!

Just wanted to follow up - recently the Department of Education announced a special process for name/SSN mismatches for the 2025-2026 FAFSA. Your daughter's college financial aid office can now process a "provisional SAI" while name corrections are pending. Make sure to specifically request this when you contact them, as not all schools are automatically implementing this flexibility. The technical term they need to hear is "provisional processing exemption under the April 2025 guidance.

Wow, so glad to see this got resolved! I'm actually dealing with a similar issue right now where my son's middle name got swapped with his last name on the FAFSA. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful - I had no idea about the FC-023 form or the provisional processing exemption. Going to try that Claimyr service tomorrow morning to get through to FSA faster. It's crazy how many people are having name entry problems with this year's FAFSA! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions.