I'm running into this exact same problem! Been trying for 4 days straight and keep getting kicked out right when I'm entering my parent's W-2 information. It's so frustrating because I can see other parts of my application are saving but then I get the "system temporarily unavailable" message. My school's priority deadline is next Friday so I'm getting really stressed. Going to try the 5:30am approach tomorrow - fingers crossed! Has anyone had luck with the mobile app specifically, or is desktop still the way to go once you can actually get connected?

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact nightmare last month! The early morning strategy definitely works - I had success around 4:45am EST when the servers weren't overloaded. One additional tip that helped me: make sure to log out completely and clear your browser cache before your early morning attempt, then log back in fresh. I also kept a separate document with all my information typed out so I could copy/paste quickly once I got in, minimizing the time spent on each page. The system seems to time out faster during these technical issues, so speed is key. Also seconding what others said about documenting everything - I took screenshots of every error message with timestamps, and my financial aid office was super understanding when I showed them the proof of my attempts. Hang in there everyone, it's frustrating but you'll get through it!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share my thoughts after reading through all these incredibly helpful responses. The consensus here is pretty clear - filing FAFSA is worth it even for higher-income families. What really resonates with me is the risk-reward analysis that several people have mentioned. The time investment is relatively small (1-2 hours), but the potential benefits could be substantial. I hadn't realized how many merit scholarships require FAFSA submission regardless of financial need, or that some colleges use it as a measure of demonstrated interest. The point about keeping options open in case of unexpected financial changes is also really important. Life can throw curveballs, and having that foundation already in place could be crucial if circumstances change during the college years. I'm also struck by how the financial aid landscape seems to have evolved. It sounds like FAFSA has become almost a prerequisite for accessing the full range of opportunities at many institutions, not just for need-based aid but for merit aid and other programs as well. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this discussion has been incredibly valuable for families navigating these decisions!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful for this thorough discussion! I'm in almost the exact same situation as the original poster - similar income and assets - and was leaning toward skipping the FAFSA entirely. Reading through everyone's experiences has completely changed my perspective. The recurring theme about merit scholarships requiring FAFSA submission regardless of need is eye-opening. I had no idea this was so common across different types of institutions. What really sealed the deal for me was the demonstrated interest angle that several people mentioned. If colleges are viewing FAFSA completion as a signal of serious intent to enroll, that could actually impact admissions decisions at competitive schools. For families like ours where every advantage matters in the admissions process, that's a compelling reason to file even beyond the financial aid considerations. The risk-reward analysis everyone's discussing makes perfect sense too. A few hours of paperwork to potentially unlock opportunities we don't even know exist seems like a no-brainer when you frame it that way. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this thread has been incredibly valuable for helping families navigate this decision!

I'm so sorry for your loss, Diego. I can't imagine how difficult this must be while you're still processing your grief and trying to take care of your daughter's future. I'm a financial aid administrator at a community college, and I see this situation more often than you might think. Everyone here has given you absolutely correct advice - answer "No" to the "parents married to each other" question, then you'll be able to select "widowed" when asked about your specific marital status later in the form. One thing I'd add that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet: if you received any Social Security survivor benefits for yourself or your daughter in 2023, make sure to report those correctly. Survivor benefits for your daughter typically don't count as your income, but survivor benefits paid to you as the widow would need to be reported in the untaxed income section. Also, don't worry if the form seems to ask some questions that don't quite fit your situation - the FAFSA wasn't really designed with widowed parents in mind, unfortunately. If you get stuck on any question, you can always call your daughter's school's financial aid office. We deal with these situations regularly and are used to walking parents through the confusing parts. You're doing such a good job looking out for your daughter during this incredibly difficult time. Take it one section at a time, and don't hesitate to take breaks when you need them.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Diego. I can see from reading through all these responses that you've received excellent guidance from this community. As someone who went through a similar situation when my spouse passed away three years ago, I just wanted to add my voice to reinforce what everyone has said - you're absolutely on the right track. The hardest part for me was realizing that even though it feels wrong to answer "No" when asked if parents are married to each other (because you WERE married), that's the correct answer for your current situation. The FAFSA is asking about your status at the time you're filling it out, not your historical status. One small tip I wish someone had given me: consider filling out the FAFSA during a time of day when you feel most emotionally stable. I made the mistake of trying to complete it late at night when I was tired and more vulnerable to getting overwhelmed by memories. You're being an incredible parent by working through this complex process for your daughter's benefit. The fact that you asked for help here shows real wisdom - none of us should have to figure this out alone.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this incredibly frustrating situation! I went through something very similar with my daughter's FAFSA just a few weeks ago, and I know how overwhelming it can feel when you're worried about missing deadlines. Based on all the fantastic advice shared here, it sounds like you have a comprehensive strategy to work through this systematically. I wanted to add one more tip that made a huge difference for us: try completing the application on a completely different device if possible. We struggled for days on our home laptop, but when we borrowed my sister's desktop computer, everything worked perfectly on the first try. Also, when we finally got through to someone at Federal Student Aid, they mentioned that the college selection page specifically has been having issues when people try to save while multiple browser tabs are open. They recommended having only the FAFSA tab open and closing everything else, including email, social media, etc. The most important thing I learned is that this is absolutely a system problem, not anything you're doing wrong. Your daughter shouldn't feel discouraged at all - thousands of families are dealing with this exact same issue right now. With all the amazing solutions this community has provided, I'm confident you'll get through it soon. Keep us updated on how it goes!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this incredibly frustrating situation! As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by all the helpful advice that's been shared here. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear this is a widespread technical issue affecting thousands of families right now. Based on all the solutions people have shared, here's what I'd recommend trying in this order: 1. Wait the full 3+ days for your daughter's FSA ID to completely process (even though you can log in, there seems to be background processing that needs time) 2. Try the Microsoft Edge + early morning approach (5:30-6:00 AM when servers are least busy) 3. Add colleges in small batches of 2-3 instead of all at once 4. Wait 30-60 seconds after each "Save" before moving to the next step 5. Keep only the FAFSA tab open - close all other browser tabs and applications If those don't work, the mobile hotspot suggestion seems brilliant for bypassing potential ISP routing issues. It's so reassuring to see this supportive community helping each other through what's clearly a system-wide problem. Your daughter definitely shouldn't feel discouraged - this isn't anything you're doing wrong! I hope one of these community-tested solutions helps you get through it soon. Please keep us posted on your progress!

Quick update on verification timing - most schools process verification documents within 2-3 weeks, but it can take longer during peak periods (which we're in right now). Call your school's financial aid office and explain your situation with the tuition deadline. Most schools have a process to place a temporary hold on your account while verification is being processed. They don't want to lose students over processing delays, so they're usually willing to work with you on this.

So glad to hear you got it sorted out with your school! This is exactly why communication is key during the verification process. For anyone else reading this thread who might face similar issues - don't wait until the last minute to contact your school's financial aid office. Most schools are very understanding about verification delays, especially during peak processing times, and they have procedures in place to help students avoid losing their enrollment or going to collections. Keep copies of all your submitted documents and follow up regularly until you get confirmation that everything has been processed. The stress is real, but there are usually solutions available if you advocate for yourself!