When I was doing my FAFSA last month, I ran into weird login issues too. You might want to check if you have any browser extensions or VPN running - those caused problems for me. Also, try accessing the site during off-peak hours like really early morning. The system seems to have fewer glitches when traffic is lower. Also, my community college financial aid advisor told me they're not strictly enforcing the internal deadlines because of all the FAFSA technical issues this year. Might be worth checking if your school has a similar policy?

Hey Vince! I just went through this exact nightmare a few weeks ago. Here's what finally worked for me after days of being locked out: 1. Contact your school's financial aid office IMMEDIATELY and explain the situation - they can put a note on your file about the technical difficulties 2. Try accessing the FAFSA site using a completely different device (like your phone vs computer) - sometimes the lockout is device-specific 3. If you have a parent or family member who can help, you might be able to start fresh with their email for a new FSA ID as a last resort The most important thing is documenting everything - take screenshots of error messages, keep records of when you called, etc. Schools are way more understanding when you can show you've been actively trying to resolve it. Also, many schools are quietly extending their internal deadlines this year because of all the FAFSA issues. Don't give up! 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!

Quick update on processing times - I just helped another family with FAFSA corrections last week and their correction went through in about 5 days, much faster than the initial submission. So once you're able to submit the correction, it shouldn't take too long to get the updated SAI calculation.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Made the same retirement account mistake on my son's FAFSA and have been waiting 10 days for it to move out of "in review" status. One thing I learned from calling the financial aid office directly - they said that even if the correction takes a while to process, they can often work with estimated numbers if you explain the situation and provide documentation of what the corrected SAI should be. Don't give up hope on the need-based aid! Also, some schools have extended their priority deadlines this year specifically because of all the FAFSA issues, so it might be worth asking about that too.

UPDATE: We got it fixed! For anyone who might have this issue in the future: We called FSA this morning, waited about an hour, and finally got through to someone. The first person couldn't help much but transferred us to a technical specialist. She confirmed it was indeed an SSN validation conflict as @helpful_advisor suggested. They had to fill out a manual correction form on their end, verify my son's identity (asked for his home address, date of birth, and some other info from his existing account), and she said it would take 3-5 business days to process. But here's the good part - she also put a note on his account about the college deadline and said she'd expedite the request! Also called the college financial aid office and they were super understanding. They granted a 2-week extension for his FAFSA submission due to the technical difficulties. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

So glad to hear you got this resolved! This is such a valuable thread for anyone dealing with FAFSA SSN issues. I had a similar problem last year with my daughter's account where we entered her middle initial incorrectly, and it created the same validation nightmare. Your step-by-step breakdown of the solution will definitely help other parents who find themselves in this frustrating situation. The key takeaway seems to be asking specifically for "manual SSN correction" and requesting tier 2 technical support if needed. Thanks for taking the time to update us all!

Thank you everyone for your help! I've learned so much from this thread. We're going to fill out the FAFSA accurately with her as a dependent student and then reach out to the financial aid offices at each school to explain our situation. I'll also have her apply for as many scholarships as possible. Sounds like our low income will actually help her qualify for substantial aid if we do everything correctly.

You're absolutely making the right decision by filing accurately as a dependent! I wanted to add one more resource that might help - many colleges have emergency aid funds or special circumstances appeals processes that can provide additional assistance beyond what the FAFSA shows. Once you receive her initial aid packages, don't hesitate to schedule a meeting with each school's financial aid office to discuss your family's situation in detail. They often have institutional grants or work-study opportunities that aren't automatically awarded but can make a huge difference. Also, encourage your daughter to maintain good grades once enrolled - many schools offer retention scholarships for students who perform well academically. Best of luck with the process!