UPDATE: You guys have been amazing with all these suggestions! I tried a combination of approaches: 1. Cleared all browser data completely 2. Waited 24 hours before trying again 3. Used Edge browser on desktop only (no phone) 4. Started early morning (5:30am) when server load was low 5. Removed all special characters from entries 6. Completed the entire parent section in one sitting without saving drafts AND IT FINALLY WORKED! Application status now shows "Processing" instead of errors. Can't believe how complicated this was, but so relieved it's finally submitted correctly. For anyone else stuck in this nightmare - don't give up! Try these technical fixes and if all else fails, definitely look into getting direct help by phone using the suggestion above.

Wow, what a journey! As someone who's just starting the FAFSA process for my daughter, this thread is both terrifying and incredibly helpful. I'm bookmarking all these troubleshooting steps before I even begin - especially the part about using only desktop, avoiding special characters, and completing everything in one session. It's ridiculous that we need a technical manual just to fill out a financial aid form, but I'm so grateful you all shared your solutions. McKenzie, congrats on finally getting through the system! Your persistence paid off and helped so many others in the process.

If you don't hear back within a week, I recommend escalating to the Director of Financial Aid. You can usually find their contact information on the school's directory. Also, be sure to document all communications (dates, names of who you spoke with, what was promised). If multiple follow-ups don't resolve it, contacting your state's higher education agency can sometimes help put pressure on the institution to address the issue promptly.

I'm dealing with something similar at my daughter's school! While you're waiting for CSU Fullerton to fix their system issue, you might want to also reach out to your federal congressperson's office. They often have staff who specialize in helping constituents navigate federal aid issues, and they can sometimes get faster responses from Department of Education offices than individual families can. My friend had success with this approach when her son's school was taking too long to resolve a FAFSA verification issue. It's worth a shot while you're waiting on the school's timeline!

Hi everyone! I'm completely new to this community and just joined because I'm dealing with this exact same "Unable To Complete This Action" error that so many of you have described. I've been trying to add my partner as a parent contributor for over a week now and I'm at my wit's end! Every single suggestion I've found online (clearing cache, different browsers, incognito mode, trying at off-peak hours) has failed. Reading through this entire thread has been both comforting and eye-opening - it's clear this is a massive system-wide issue affecting thousands of families. I'm definitely going to try @Aisha Abdullah's workaround of completing the entire application first before adding the parent contributor - that seems like the most logical approach based on everyone's success stories. If that fails, I'll look into the Claimyr service @Mateo Lopez mentioned since having someone fix it on the backend sounds like the most reliable solution. It's absolutely unacceptable that we're all having to become FAFSA troubleshooting experts just to apply for financial aid, especially with these tight deadlines looming! Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community has been a lifeline. I'll definitely update everyone once I try these methods. Fingers crossed we can all get through this broken system soon!

Hi everyone! I'm brand new to this community and just joined because I'm dealing with this exact same "Unable To Complete This Action" error when trying to add my husband as a parent contributor. I've been stuck on this for almost a week now and was starting to think I was the only one having this issue until I found this thread! It's both frustrating and reassuring to see so many others experiencing the same problem. I've tried all the usual troubleshooting steps - different browsers, clearing cache, incognito mode, trying at different times of day - but nothing works. The error always appears at the exact same spot when adding the second parent. Reading through everyone's suggestions has been incredibly helpful! I'm definitely going to try @Aisha Abdullah's workaround of completing the entire application first before going back to add the parent contributor - that approach seems to have worked for several people here. If that doesn't pan out, I'll look into the Claimyr service @Mateo Lopez mentioned since getting someone to fix this on the backend sounds like the most reliable solution. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become tech troubleshooters just to apply for financial aid, especially with these critical deadlines approaching! Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community has been such a lifesaver. I'll definitely update everyone on what works for me. Hoping we can all get through this broken system soon!

As a parent who went through this exact situation two years ago, I want to echo everyone's advice about completing the FAFSA! My daughter received about $2,200 in Pell Grant funding for her student teaching semester, which was a lifesaver since she couldn't maintain her part-time job. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned - check if your son's university offers any work-study positions specifically designed for student teachers, like tutoring or grading assistant roles that can work around the teaching schedule. Some schools have these flexible positions that can provide a small income stream during that challenging semester. Also, start the FAFSA process early when it opens in December! We waited until February thinking we had plenty of time for "just one semester," but some of the institutional grants had already been distributed by then. The earlier you apply, the better chance you have at additional school-specific aid beyond just federal grants. Good luck to your son - student teaching is tough financially but such a rewarding experience!

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share what I learned from my cousin's experience last year! She was in the same boat with just student teaching left, and completing the FAFSA was absolutely worth it. She received around $2,400 in Pell Grant funding for that one semester. What really helped her was creating a budget specifically for the student teaching semester since the income situation is so different. She had to account for things like professional clothes, gas money for commuting to the school, and classroom supplies that weren't covered. The financial aid definitely helped bridge that gap. Also, her university's education department had a small emergency fund for student teachers facing financial hardship - only about $500, but every bit helped! It wasn't well publicized, so definitely worth asking about when your son meets with his advisor. The consensus here seems clear - definitely do the FAFSA! Even if it feels like "just one semester," that semester can be expensive in ways you don't expect.

One more thing I just thought of!!! Make sure u get your FSA ID set up ahead of time too. Me and my ex BOTH had to get one even tho i was the only one filling it out, and it takes like 3 days to get approved sometimes. Just another thing to think about!!!

I'm in a very similar situation! Divorced with shared custody and my ex and I alternate tax years too. What I learned from going through this with my daughter last year is that you really need to focus on who provides more financial support rather than the tax claiming. Since you mentioned you're on SSDI and your ex might have higher income, it could actually benefit your son if your ex files the FAFSA since lower income typically means more aid eligibility. But here's the catch - make sure you understand how your SSDI gets reported because it does count as income on the FAFSA. I'd definitely recommend calling the financial aid offices at the colleges your son is interested in to ask about their specific policies for divorced parents. Some schools have been more flexible than others in my experience. Good luck!