UPDATE: Has your son tried logging into studentaid.gov in incognito/private browsing mode? This fixed the SSN issue for my younger brother! Apparently the site stores some verification data in browser cookies, and when they conflict with new information, it can cause these bizarre errors. Worth a try!

I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare! My daughter's FAFSA has been stuck in SSN verification limbo for over a month now. What's really frustrating is that we can see her SSN is correct in our tax documents and everywhere else, but the FAFSA system just won't accept it. We've tried everything - different browsers, clearing cache, even having her create a completely new FSA ID. Nothing works. The phone lines are absolutely useless - either busy signals or 3+ hour hold times that end in disconnections. I feel like we're being punished for their broken system. At least it's somewhat reassuring to know we're not alone in this mess, but it doesn't help with the anxiety of potentially missing financial aid deadlines while their system sorts itself out.

I had something kinda similiar happen but with my daughter's SSN instead. I had to leave it blank too. Our application has been "processing" for almost a month now with no updates. Calling tomorrow because this is ridiculous.

Just wanted to add another success story to help ease your worry! I had the exact same SSN error with my husband's information about 6 weeks ago. Used the "no SSN" workaround after multiple failed attempts. Got my SAI within 10 days and everything processed smoothly - no verification required. I think the key difference from some of the horror stories is that our tax return was already processed by the IRS, so they could easily match our information. If your taxes are filed and processed, you should be in good shape. The system really is just buggy with SSN validation, but the backend processing seems to handle these cases well now.

This is INCREDIBLY helpful - thank you so much! I'm printing this out as our action plan. Really appreciate everyone's advice and guidance with this unexpected situation. You've all saved us a lot of confusion and potential problems!

As someone who went through a similar mid-year transfer situation, I'd also recommend having your son check if the new school requires any additional forms beyond the FAFSA. Some schools have their own institutional aid forms or verification documents that transfer students need to complete, especially for mid-year transfers. Also, ask about their refund policy in case he needs to withdraw from any classes - transfer students sometimes have different deadlines and policies than continuing students. The earlier he can get all this sorted out, the smoother his transition will be!

Update: I wanted to follow up and let everyone know what worked for us. I called the financial aid offices at all four schools my daughter was considering. Each had different "preferred" deadlines but confirmed we wouldn't lose eligibility for Parent Plus loans if we waited until she made her final decision. We decided to wait until all aid packages came in before applying. Once she chose her school, we completed the Parent Plus application through studentaid.gov - it took about 15 minutes and the credit approval was instant. Thanks to everyone who helped calm my nerves during this stressful process!

Congratulations on getting through this process successfully! Your experience is really valuable for other parents who might be facing the same stress. I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with my son - we have financial aid packages from two schools but still waiting on his top choice. Your approach of calling each school directly to understand their specific policies sounds like the smart way to handle it. It's reassuring to know that the "preferred" deadlines aren't actually hard cutoffs for Parent Plus eligibility. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone with how it all worked out!

I just wanted to add - make sure you're using the CORRECT FSA ID. If you're a dependent student and you're accidentally using your parent's FSA ID (or vice versa), the system might be redirecting you to the form that account was previously working on. It's a simple mistake that happens more often than you'd think, especially if you have multiple FSA IDs saved in your browser.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue! Been trying for days and it's so frustrating. I followed @Camila Jordan's detailed steps from earlier - completely logged out, cleared ALL browser data including cookies, restarted browser, went directly to studentaid.gov and logged in fresh. That actually worked for me! I was finally able to access the 2025-2026 form instead of getting redirected to last year's. Definitely worth trying those specific steps before calling - saved me hours of waiting on hold. Good luck everyone!