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One important detail that hasn't been mentioned yet: your daughter should also check if any of her schools require the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA. Many private colleges use both forms to determine aid. The CSS Profile goes through College Board (not studentaid.gov) and asks for more detailed financial information. If she hasn't completed that for schools that require it, her financial aid packages could be delayed or incomplete.
Yes, schools typically notify students if they require the CSS Profile, but these notifications can sometimes end up in spam folders or get overlooked in the flood of college emails. The good news is that many schools have late CSS Profile deadlines for exactly this reason. You can check which schools require it by visiting the College Board website. And don't worry too much - if it is required and she missed the deadline, contact the financial aid office immediately. Many schools are understanding and will still work with you, especially for incoming freshmen who are navigating this process for the first time.
I made it through to a FAFSA agent yesterday using Claimyr and asked specifically about this issue - they said it's happening to a lot of people. The agent told me they can fix the SSN/birthday over the phone but you'll need: 1. The FSA ID of the student 2. The incorrect FSA ID of the parent (your husband) 3. Documentation proving the correct information The agent also confirmed the financial corrections often DO process correctly even when the confirmation page shows different fields. They suggested asking the agent to review all the financial data during the same call to confirm everything is correct.
Just an update for anyone finding this thread later - I had the same issue in January and finally got it resolved. The key is getting a case number when you call FSA. Don't hang up without getting one! Then if you get disconnected or need to call back, you can reference that case number and won't have to start over explaining everything. Also, the "under review" status is actually good in this situation - it means a human is looking at it rather than just the automated system.
i herd some people just put "divorced" on FAFSA even if technically still married. NOT saying u should do that but ppl do. might be considered fraud tho so probably not worth risk
This is absolutely NOT recommended. Providing false information on the FAFSA is considered fraud and can result in serious consequences including fines up to $20,000, prison time, having to repay all aid received, and being barred from receiving future federal student aid. The professional judgment route is the proper legal channel for addressing this situation.
Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm going to: 1. Complete the FAFSA with both incomes as required 2. Immediately start the professional judgment process with each college 3. Gather documentation showing our 16-year separation and that I'm the primary caregiver 4. Use Claimyr to reach FSA for official documentation of their policy It's frustrating that the system doesn't account for long-term separations without formal documentation, but at least there's a pathway to get it addressed. I'll update this thread after we go through the process in case it helps others in similar situations.
my neice had something similarr with fafsa and she just went to the finacial aid office in person and they fixed everything right there!! maybe try that?
The financial aid office can help with many things, but they can't directly fix FAFSA account verification issues - that has to be resolved through Federal Student Aid directly. However, going to the financial aid office is still a good idea because they can note the account issue in your file and may extend institutional deadlines while you get it resolved.
Just wanted to update everyone! My daughter was finally able to get through to someone at FSA after using Claimyr (thanks for that recommendation!). The agent confirmed that her original submission date was still preserved, and they were able to expedite the verification process. Her account is now showing the SAI score, and she's already contacted her schools to let them know about the situation. They were all very understanding and said it wouldn't affect her aid consideration. So relieved this is finally resolved!
That's great news! Glad it worked out for you. It's such a relief when you can finally get through to someone who can actually help.
Excellent! This is exactly how it should work. Now that her SAI is showing, the schools can access her information and proceed with her financial aid package. Make sure she checks her school portals regularly for any additional documentation requests.
Liam Sullivan
has anyone else noticed that the work study amounts are getting ridiculously low?? $675 a year is like what, 2 hours of work per week?? how is that even helpful
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Amara Okafor
•You're right about the amounts getting smaller. Many schools are spreading their federal work-study allocation among more students, resulting in those tiny awards. The $675 award likely means about 2 hours per week at minimum wage. The strategy is that once a student is in the work-study program, departments can often increase their hours beyond the initial award if funds are available later in the year. It's basically getting a foot in the door for campus employment.
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Jamal Harris
Update: We called Crestview's financial aid office this morning. They explained that their institutional policy is to only offer subsidized loans to students with SAIs below 12,000, and since ours is 13,245, we didn't qualify. They said their work-study funds had already been allocated to students with greater financial need. So mystery solved! We're now weighing whether the interest savings at Westlake (about $4,500 over 4 years) is worth choosing it over Crestview, which my daughter preferred academically. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Mei Chen
•Thanks for updating us! This confirms what many of us suspected - different institutional policies for the same federal programs. For your decision, consider asking Crestview if they offer any merit scholarships your daughter might qualify for. Sometimes those can offset the difference in loan types. Also, remember that a student can accept partial loan amounts - she doesn't have to take the full unsubsidized loan offered if you can cover some costs another way.
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Dylan Cooper
•Typical bureaucratic nonsense. "Sorry, you missed our arbitrary cutoff by $1,245 so no interest-free loans for you!" I'd still push back and see if they'll make an exception. Sometimes they have discretionary funds they don't tell you about unless you specifically ask. Good luck!
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