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I work at a college financial aid office, and we've been seeing lots of students with similar issues this year. One thing that might help - check if your browser is automatically translating the FAFSA website. Sometimes this can cause submission errors because the translated form fields don't match what the system expects. Try setting the site language to English for the submission process, even if you complete the form in Spanish.
Just a follow-up suggestion - if you do use Claimyr to reach someone, ask specifically for a Spanish-speaking agent when you get connected. They do have bilingual staff available, and explaining your situation will be much easier in your preferred language. Make sure to have your FSA ID, Social Security number, and full legal name ready when you call.
when i submitted our PJ request they asked for: - last 3 pay stubs from old job - last 3 pay stubs from new job - termination letter from old job - offer letter from new job - 2022 and 2023 tax returns - statement explaining the situation basically they wanted anything that proved my income change was real and not just temporary. each school wanted slightly different documentation though.
One more tip I forgot to mention - if you get any pushback from a financial aid office, ask to speak with a financial aid counselor or director, not just the front desk staff. Sometimes the people answering phones aren't familiar with the professional judgment process. Be polite but persistent, and document every conversation (date, name of who you spoke with, what was discussed). This saved me when one school claimed they never received my documentation!
I've been having the same issue with verification and bank statements for my daughter's FAFSA. My husband and I have SEVEN different accounts between us (joint checking, individual accounts, savings accounts, etc.) and they wanted statements for ALL OF THEM!!! It took me hours to download everything and then their upload system kept crashing. The whole FAFSA process is a NIGHTMARE this year!!!!
Oh wow, that sounds even worse than my situation. Did you eventually get everything uploaded successfully?
Yes, finally! But it took THREE ATTEMPTS because their system kept timing out. And then after all that, they came back asking for MORE documentation about a deposit that was just us moving money between our own accounts! I had to write a whole explanation letter with account numbers proving it was just a transfer. So ridiculous.
Update: I tried that Claimyr service that @profile6 recommended and IT WORKED! I got a call back in about an hour when a rep was available. The agent explained that I was selected for random verification (just my luck) and they need 3 months of statements (Oct-Dec 2023) from all accounts. Apparently they're checking for any deposits over $1000 that don't match my reported income. She also said they're extremely backed up with verification reviews right now, so even after I submit everything it could take 3-4 weeks to process. At least I know what I need to submit now instead of just guessing. Thanks everyone for your help!
this happens EVERY SINGLE YEAR with fafsa...they never learn. tried calling the help line? lol good luck with that waste of time
UPDATE: The Federal Student Aid office just posted on Twitter/X that they're aware of the issue and working on a fix. They estimate systems will be fully operational within 24 hours. If you're concerned about deadlines, they recommend documenting your attempts (screenshots of errors) and contacting your school's financial aid office to explain the situation. Most schools will accommodate if the delays are due to documented FAFSA system issues.
KhalilStar
my son got this message too but we ignored it and nothing bad happened lol. his aid stayed the same and everything went through fine. sometimes i think these are just automated messages that don't actually mean anything
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Connor Murphy
•I would strongly advise against ignoring verification requests. While it might not have affected your son's aid this time, verification is a federal requirement, and schools can't disburse federal aid until verification is complete. You got lucky, but others could have their aid delayed or reduced if they ignore these notices.
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Ruby Garcia
UPDATE: I finally spoke with my daughter's financial aid office. They said they're seeing this verification issue with about 20% of their students right now, separate from the reprocessing. The good news is they have a policy that they won't adjust financial aid packages unless the SAI changes by more than $800. The verification process should take about 7-10 business days to complete once the IRS information comes through. They also mentioned they're prioritizing students with upcoming payment deadlines, so that's at least something. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!
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