this is y i did everything online even tho the website is garbage. at least u get confirmation right away

Hey Amara! I'm in a similar boat - mailed my verification docs to Kentucky about 10 days ago and the waiting is killing me too! Based on what everyone's saying here, it sounds like we're looking at 3-4 weeks minimum which is so stressful with deadlines coming up. I'm really glad to hear your school gave you that extension though - that takes some pressure off! One thing that might help while we wait: I've been screenshotting my studentaid.gov account daily so I have proof of when my status changes (or doesn't change lol). My financial aid counselor suggested doing this in case there are any disputes later about processing times. Also keeping my fingers crossed that maybe we'll get lucky and they'll process ours faster than expected! Keep us posted on when yours comes through - I'll do the same. We got this! 💪

I had the exact same issue last month! The "unable right now" error drove me crazy for days. What finally worked for me was trying at really off-peak hours - like 2-3 AM on weekdays. I know it sounds crazy, but I think their servers are just completely overwhelmed during normal hours. Also, try using an incognito/private browser window - sometimes cached data can interfere with the login process. The mobile app suggestion from others is solid too. Don't panic about your deadline - most schools are being flexible with FAFSA deadlines this year given all the system issues. You've got this!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! It's so frustrating because I keep hearing mixed advice - some people say try early morning, others say late at night, and I've even seen people recommend specific browsers. What's really stressing me out is that my school's financial aid office keeps telling me to "just keep trying" but they haven't given me any concrete workarounds. Has anyone found a pattern to when the site actually works? Like are there specific days of the week or times that seem more reliable? I'm willing to set multiple alarms if it means I can finally get past this error message!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who works in higher ed administration (not financial aid, but I see these cases). The "insufficient evidence" denial is almost always code for "we need more comprehensive documentation to justify the adjustment to our auditors." Schools have to be able to defend every Professional Judgment decision if the Department of Education reviews their files. A few things that might help your case: - Get a letter from your dad's doctor if the job loss was health-related (adds weight to the appeal) - Include copies of job applications or unemployment job search requirements to show active efforts to find new employment - If your family had to make any major changes (moved to cheaper housing, cancelled insurance, etc.), document those too Also, ask specifically about their "Special Circumstances Committee" - some schools have a separate review process for complex cases that goes beyond the initial counselor review. This can be especially helpful if your first denial came from a newer staff member. The timing is actually in your favor since you're appealing for the current academic year. Schools are usually more flexible with current students than incoming ones because they don't want to lose enrolled students to financial hardship. Don't give up - I've seen families succeed on their third or fourth attempt when they finally provided the right combination of documentation!

I'm going through something very similar right now! My family's income dropped significantly when my mom had to leave her job to care for my grandmother, but our first Professional Judgment appeal was also denied for "insufficient evidence." Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - especially the advice about creating that detailed monthly budget comparison and getting specific about the percentage of income loss. I had no idea that first appeals are commonly denied just to weed out people who aren't serious about pursuing it. @Libby Hassan - your point about using the exact HEA Section 479A phrasing is brilliant! I'm definitely going to include that legal reference in my resubmission. And @Zane Gray, thank you for sharing those specific numbers about your income reduction calculation - that approach makes so much sense. Has anyone had experience with schools that have particularly strict Professional Judgment policies? My school seems to have a reputation for being really difficult with appeals, but I'm hoping persistence will pay off like it did for so many of you. Going to gather all this additional documentation and schedule that in-person meeting. This thread has given me so much hope that I can turn this around!

One thing nobody mentioned - some employers now offer student loan repayment assistance as a benefit. My company pays $150/month toward my loans. But most require the loans to be in YOUR name, not your parent's. That was actually my motivation to refinance my mom's Parent PLUS loans into my name - to qualify for this benefit. Just something else to consider in your decision!

Just wanted to add - if you do decide to refinance, shop around with multiple lenders! I got quotes from SoFi, Earnest, CommonBond, and a few others before choosing. The rates and terms can vary quite a bit between lenders even with the same credit profile. Some also have different requirements for employment history. I ended up going with a lender that wasn't my first choice because they had the most flexible employment verification requirements for recent grads. Also, most lenders will do a soft credit pull for the initial quote which won't hurt your credit score, so there's no harm in getting multiple quotes to compare.

Just wanted to add that work study positions often come with some unexpected perks! When I had work study in college, my campus library job let me study during quiet periods, and the IT help desk position actually helped me build skills for my major. Plus, supervisors are usually understanding about exam schedules and academic commitments in ways that off-campus employers might not be. So even though the $1000 federal subsidy seems small, the overall experience can be really valuable beyond just the paycheck!

As someone who just went through this process with my own kid, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - that $1000 is just the federal government's contribution, not a cap on earnings! My son had a $1200 work study award and ended up making about $3800 total working in the campus rec center. One thing I'd add is that work study jobs often have better job security than regular student employment. Even when budget cuts happen, departments are more likely to keep work study students because they're getting that federal subsidy. Also, having work study on your FAFSA can sometimes make you eligible for certain campus positions that are reserved specifically for work study recipients. Your daughter should definitely take advantage of this opportunity!