That makes me feel so much better! Knowing it's fixable takes a huge weight off. I'll definitely stay on the line while creating the new ID too - great advice!

Yes! Finally got it resolved yesterday. Used that Claimyr service someone mentioned to avoid the hold time, and the FSA agent had to completely delete the old partial record and then helped us create a brand new FSA ID for my husband. Took about 20 minutes once we got an agent. Our daughter's FAFSA is now fully submitted! Such a relief!

Congrats!!! We're still fighting with my wife's account lol. Might try that callback service too.

Update: I got through using that Claimyr service and the agent confirmed my application is in the system but flagged for "additional verification" - that's why it disappeared from my dashboard. They said I should receive an email in 3-5 business days with instructions on what additional documents they need. The agent also put a note in my file to expedite the review since my deadline is approaching. So relieved it's not completely lost!

Too little too late! This rollout has been a complete disaster. My daughter might lose thousands in aid because of their technical problems. Is the DOE going to compensate students who miss out on aid because of THEIR errors?

I understand your frustration. While I can't speak for the DOE, most colleges are being extremely flexible this year with deadlines and requirements because we all recognize the challenges with the new system. I strongly encourage everyone affected to document everything and communicate directly with their school's financial aid office. Many schools have set up special exception processes specifically for these FAFSA technical issues.

That's a really good point I hadn't thought about. TCNJ is already asking for a housing deposit by May 1st, which is before we'll have loans in place. I guess we'll need to pay that out of pocket and then use the loans for the main tuition bill.

You raise a valid point. For borrowers with excellent credit, private loans sometimes offer lower interest rates than Parent PLUS loans. However, there's more to consider than just the rate. Parent PLUS loans offer income-contingent repayment options, potential loan forgiveness paths, deferment/forbearance options during hardship, and death/disability discharge protections that most private loans don't provide. That said, if you've found a private loan with significantly better terms and are confident in your ability to make the payments regardless of future circumstances, it can be the better financial choice for some families.

Thank you for the validation! It feels like we're caught in this bureaucratic nightmare with no control. My daughter needs to know if she can afford to continue at UW Parkside or if we need to look at cheaper options. The uncertainty is so stressful.

Mid-June?! That's so late! Thanks for sharing though - at least gives us some idea what to expect. I'll be following up with Parkside directly to see if their timeline is similar.

This timeline is consistent with what many state university systems are communicating. The UW System likely has a coordinated approach to implementing these changes, so mid-June is probably a reasonable estimate for Parkside as well. For planning purposes, if your daughter's financial circumstances haven't changed dramatically from last year, her aid package will likely be similar to what she received previously. The new FAFSA formula has some changes, but returning students generally see consistency in their aid from year to year unless there's been a major change in family finances.

Yes, corrections are definitely open now for the 2025-26 FAFSA cycle, but the system is still having intermittent issues. Some users report being able to make corrections only during certain hours (typically early morning seems to work better). If you're getting an error, try logging in between 6-8am Eastern time when server traffic is lower. Also, make sure you're using the correct pathway - you need to select "Make FAFSA Correction" from the main dashboard, not through the original application link.

That's great news! Thanks for updating us. I'm still waiting on my son's correction to process, but your timeline gives me hope it should be any day now.

Excellent! This is exactly why I always recommend contacting the schools directly. Most financial aid offices truly want to help students get maximum aid eligibility and will work with you through these system issues. Glad it worked out for your daughter!