I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been stuck on SSA verification for 16 days after submitting on July 8th. The whole "3 business days" thing is clearly not accurate at all. What's been driving me nuts is that I keep seeing conflicting advice online - some people say to call every day, others say that just clogs up the system. I've been trying to be patient but it's hard when you see posts about people waiting 5+ weeks! One thing that's been somewhat helpful is keeping a log of when I call and what each agent tells me. So far I've gotten three different explanations for the delay, which makes me think they honestly don't know what's causing it either. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been more informative than any of my phone calls to FSA. Really hoping that system update @Alberto Souchard mentioned comes through soon - crossing my fingers we're all part of that batch that gets cleared in the next week or two!

I'm going through the exact same thing and it's such a relief to find this thread! I submitted my FAFSA on June 30th and have been stuck on SSA verification for 17 days now. Like everyone else, I was told "3 business days" but clearly that's not happening. What's been most frustrating for me is that my college's financial aid office keeps asking for updates, but I literally have nothing new to tell them - the status just never changes! I've called the FSA helpline 6 times so far and gotten the usual "just wait longer" response each time. One agent did mention that they're seeing "higher than normal volume" for SSA verifications this year, which at least explains why it's taking so long. Reading through everyone's experiences here gives me hope that it will eventually go through, even if it takes another week or two. @Alberto Souchard - really hoping that system update you mentioned comes through soon! And @Hailey O'Leary - I might look into that Claimyr service if I'm still stuck after the 7-10 day window Alberto mentioned. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories - makes me feel way less alone in this mess!

Just want to add another tip for anyone else dealing with this - if you're still having trouble finding the specific errors after checking the SAI worksheet, try accessing your FAFSA from a computer instead of mobile. The mobile interface sometimes doesn't display all the error flags properly. Also, clear your browser cache before logging in - I've seen cases where old cached data interferes with the correction interface. The FAFSA system has definitely had more glitches this year than usual, but most issues can be resolved once you know where to look!

I'm so glad you found the SAI worksheet - that's exactly where those hidden errors usually lurk! For future reference, if anyone else runs into this issue, you can also try logging out completely and logging back in. Sometimes the system needs a fresh session to display all the correction flags properly. Also, if you're still having trouble after making corrections, don't wait until the last day of your deadline to follow up. The processing can take 3-5 business days even for simple corrections, and you don't want to miss your deadline because of system delays. Good luck with your corrections!

I just want to echo what others have said about the dependency override - it's definitely your best path forward! I work with college students and have seen this exact situation multiple times. The key is being persistent but polite with the financial aid office. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if your son's college has a student ombudsman or student advocate office, they can sometimes help navigate these complex financial aid situations too. They're usually separate from financial aid but work closely with them and can be great allies when you're dealing with unusual circumstances. Also, don't be afraid to escalate if the first person you talk to doesn't seem knowledgeable about dependency overrides for incarcerated parents. This isn't an everyday situation, but it's not uncommon either, and any experienced financial aid office should have a clear process for it. You're being such a great advocate for your son - hang in there! This will get resolved.

I'm new to this community but have been following this thread because I'm facing a similar situation with my nephew's FAFSA. Reading through everyone's advice has been incredibly educational - I had no idea about dependency overrides or the difference between that and special circumstances reviews. @Luca Esposito and @PixelPioneer, thank you so much for explaining the dependency override process in detail. It sounds like this is really the best solution for situations involving incarcerated parents. I'm curious though - does the dependency override affect the student's aid eligibility in any way, or do they receive the same amount they would have as a dependent student? Also, for anyone who's been through this process, how long did it typically take from submitting the documentation to actually receiving the aid disbursement? I'm trying to help my nephew plan for tuition payments and want to set realistic expectations. This thread has been so helpful for understanding these complex FAFSA situations that aren't covered in the standard guides!

It doesn't matter which parent is listed as Parent 1 or Parent 2 for PSLF purposes. The FAFSA information doesn't affect your loan forgiveness eligibility - it only affects your dependent student's aid package. Just be consistent each year with which parent is listed as which number to avoid confusion when comparing aid packages year to year. The most important thing for your PSLF is maintaining your income-driven repayment plan and filing your Employment Certification Form annually.

As someone who just went through this process last month, I can confirm what others have said - both parents definitely need separate FSA IDs! One thing I'd add is to make sure you have all your financial documents organized before you start. We made the mistake of beginning the FAFSA without having our investment statements handy, and it was frustrating having to stop mid-process to hunt down account balances. Also, if you're doing PSLF, you probably already know this, but double-check that your loan servicer has your correct employment info on file. The FAFSA process reminded me to submit my annual Employment Certification Form, which I'd been putting off. Good luck with everything!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! My daughter's FAFSA was processed but her college is asking for high school info that just isn't visible on the online form. This is so frustrating - how did they launch a system with such obvious bugs? Reading through all these responses, it sounds like the manual SAR approach might be our best bet. @Omar Fawaz thanks for the update on what worked for you! Going to try printing the SAR and filling it in by hand like you did. Hopefully we can get this sorted before her aid package gets delayed any further. Has anyone had luck with the FAFSA correction method that @Chloe Martin mentioned earlier? I'm wondering if that might be faster than waiting for the manual documentation to be processed.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been helping families navigate FAFSA issues for a while now. This high school information bug is unfortunately becoming really common with the 2025-26 form. A few additional tips that might help others dealing with this: 1. If you're going the manual SAR route (which seems to work best), make sure to write clearly and include the date you're submitting it. Some financial aid offices are getting swamped with these manual corrections. 2. Keep a copy of everything you submit - both digital and physical. I've seen cases where documentation gets lost in the shuffle. 3. If your student attended multiple high schools or has a complicated education history (homeschool, GED, etc.), include a brief note explaining the situation along with your documentation. The good news is that most financial aid offices are aware of this issue now and have processes in place to handle it. Don't panic if you're hitting this bug - your aid won't be denied because of a system glitch, it just might take a few extra steps to resolve. Hopefully the Department of Education gets this fixed soon, but in the meantime the workarounds mentioned in this thread definitely work!