I'm dealing with a similar account lockout issue right now too! It's so frustrating when you're up against deadlines. One thing that helped me get closer to resolving it was checking with my internet provider - apparently some ISPs have been having intermittent connectivity issues with government websites that can trigger security lockouts. Also, if you haven't already, try logging in using your phone's cellular data instead of wifi - sometimes that bypasses whatever network issue might be causing the lockout. And definitely keep calling FSA even though it's a pain - I've heard that call volume is typically lower on weekday mornings before 10am EST. Hang in there! The system is definitely having more issues than usual this year, but most people do eventually get through. Your school's financial aid office will definitely work with you if you can show you've been trying to resolve this.

I went through this exact same frustration last year! Here are a few additional things that helped me get my account unlocked: 1. Try calling FSA at exactly 8:00 AM EST when they open - I found the hold times were much shorter first thing in the morning 2. When you do get through, ask the agent to completely reset your account rather than just unlocking it - sometimes there are backend issues that only a full reset fixes 3. Make sure you're not using any password managers or autofill when logging in - I discovered mine was slightly modifying my password which triggered the lockouts Also, reach out to your school's financial aid office via email TODAY with screenshots of the error messages. Most schools have emergency procedures for FAFSA technical issues and can work with you on deadline extensions. I know it feels hopeless right now, but you WILL get this resolved! The key is being persistent and documenting everything for your school. Good luck - you've got this! 🍀

After reading through all the responses, I want to emphasize something important: document EVERY communication with the financial aid office. Save emails, note the names of who you speak with by phone, and follow up verbal conversations with summary emails. If your appeal is denied initially, you have the right to escalate to university leadership. The death of a parent is one of the most clearly defined special circumstances in financial aid guidelines.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the additional stress this is causing during an already difficult time. Based on what everyone has shared, it sounds like you have a really solid plan now. I wanted to add one more resource that might help: if your school continues to delay or deny your appeal, you can also contact your state's higher education agency or the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman (studentaid.gov/feedback-ombudsman). They can sometimes intervene when schools aren't following proper procedures for special circumstances reviews. The death of a parent is absolutely a qualifying event for immediate Professional Judgment review, and mid-May is completely unreasonable given enrollment deadlines. You've got this - stay persistent and don't let them brush you off!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Made the same retirement account mistake and have been stressing about it for days. Reading everyone's experiences here is such a relief - I had no idea this was such a common error. The advice about contacting the school's financial aid office directly is gold, and I love the tip about checking for special FAFSA error forms on their website. I'm also bookmarking that list of what counts vs. doesn't count as investments - wish they made this clearer on the actual application! Going to call my son's school tomorrow to see if they can put a hold on his file until I can get the correction submitted. Thank you all for sharing your stories and solutions - this community is amazing for navigating these stressful financial aid waters!

I just went through this exact situation with my daughter's FAFSA last month! The retirement account mistake is SO common - you're definitely not alone. Here's what worked for me: while waiting for the "in review" status to change, I immediately called her college's financial aid office and explained the error. They were super understanding (apparently they see this mistake constantly) and put a temporary note on her file. They also sent me a "FAFSA correction notification form" to fill out, which basically documented what I was planning to fix and provided an estimated corrected SAI. This way, they could start preliminary aid calculations with the correct numbers while waiting for the official correction to process. The whole correction process ended up taking about 2 weeks total, but because I'd communicated with the school early, it didn't affect her aid package at all. Don't wait - call the financial aid office TODAY and explain the situation. Most schools are being very flexible this year because of all the FAFSA system issues!

Update: My Student Aid Report came through! My SAI is 4,289 - is that considered high or low? What kind of aid might I qualify for with this number?

That's awesome that your SAR came through so quickly! An SAI of 4,289 is definitely on the lower side, which means you should qualify for decent financial aid. For reference, the maximum Pell Grant eligibility usually goes up to an SAI around 7,000-7,500 (depending on the year), so you're well within that range. You'll probably get some Pell Grant money, subsidized loans where the government pays interest while you're in school, and potentially work-study opportunities. The exact amount will depend on each school's cost of attendance, but you're in a good position! Make sure to keep an eye out for your financial aid award letters from the schools you applied to - they should start coming in soon.

What a relief to read through this entire thread! I'm a high school guidance counselor and I see this exact FAFSA SSN issue come up with students every year - usually around this time when deadlines are approaching. The detailed solution you all worked through here is spot-on. I'm definitely going to reference this thread when helping families navigate similar problems. The key points about asking for "manual SSN correction," requesting tier 2 support, and contacting the college for deadline extensions are all excellent advice. Thanks for documenting the entire process so thoroughly - this will help countless families who run into the same frustrating situation!

Wow, thank you all for this incredibly detailed thread! I'm a parent of a high school junior and we're just starting to think about FAFSA preparation for next year. Reading through this entire conversation has been like getting a masterclass in FAFSA troubleshooting. The specific terminology to use when calling FSA ("manual SSN correction," requesting tier 2 support) and the advice about contacting the college directly for deadline extensions are golden nuggets of information. I'm saving this whole thread as a reference guide. It's amazing how one small data entry error can create such a cascade of technical issues, but it's equally amazing to see how this community came together to help solve the problem step by step. This is exactly why I joined this forum - real people with real solutions sharing their experiences to help others navigate these complex systems!