I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Been getting that same "Unable to complete this action" error for weeks and it's driving me insane. Reading through all these responses gives me so much hope though - I had no idea this was such a widespread issue with the new FAFSA system. I'm definitely going to try the 3am submission trick tonight with all my browser extensions disabled, and I'll also reach out to my school's financial aid office tomorrow morning to explain the situation. It's such a relief to know that schools are being understanding about these technical problems and that there are workarounds that actually work. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community is a lifesaver!

I'm just starting my FAFSA journey as an incoming freshman and this thread is both terrifying and reassuring at the same time! It's scary to see how widespread these technical issues are, but it's also comforting to know that schools are being understanding about the situation and there are actual solutions that work. I'm definitely bookmarking all these tips - the 3am submission trick, disabling browser extensions, trying the mobile app, and most importantly documenting everything with screenshots. It sounds like having that paper trail is crucial when working with financial aid offices. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially Sofia for coming back with the successful update! This gives me a game plan if (when) I run into similar issues. One question - for those who had success with the mobile app, did you find it worked better than the website even during normal hours, or was it mainly helpful as an alternative when the website was completely broken?

anybody know how long it takes to get the sai score thing now? my son submitted 3 weeks ago and still nothing

As someone who also just went through this process, I can confirm what others have said - the new FAFSA really is designed this way! I was initially panicked when it skipped over all the detailed financial questions I was expecting based on what older parents had told me about previous years. But it turns out that if you qualify for the simplified needs test (which sounds like you do with your income level and Medicaid coverage), the system automatically assumes you'll get maximum aid and doesn't need all those extra details. My daughter's application processed smoothly and she received a great aid package. The key thing is just making sure your basic information is accurate since that's what really matters for verification purposes. Don't stress - you did everything right!

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!

UPDATE: We finally got it fixed! Combination of approaches worked for us: 1. Had my husband use his own phone (not our shared computer) 2. Logged in at 6:30am on a Tuesday (great tip about off-peak hours) 3. Went through the "My Documents" section as suggested 4. Re-authorized the IRS data transfer 5. Left everything completely alone for 3 days When we checked again, the status showed "Processing" and all sections were marked complete! Thanks everyone for your help. For anyone else stuck in this situation, patience and trying different devices seems to be key.

So glad to see this got resolved! This thread is going to be incredibly helpful for other families dealing with the same nightmare. I'm bookmarking it for future reference. The FAFSA redesign has been such a disaster this year - I've heard similar horror stories from so many parents in our community. Your persistence really paid off, and the combination approach you described gives hope to others stuck in the same loop. Thanks for taking the time to update with the solution that worked!