Can't reach FAFSA by phone - hung up on 7 times due to 'high call volume'

same problem here!! been calling for WEEKS trying to understand why my sons expected family contribution is $16,000 when we make under $70k. the college financial aid office keeps saying "thats what FAFSA calculated" but wont explain HOW they got that number. ive been hung up on 5 times this week alone. so frustrating.

I work in a college financial aid office, and unfortunately this is a common problem, especially during peak seasons (January-March and August-September). The Federal Student Aid phone lines are overwhelmed. A few tips that might help: 1. Call at exactly 8:00am Eastern Time when they first open 2. Try calling on Wednesday or Thursday (typically lower volume days) 3. If you're getting disconnected at the same point in the menu tree, try a different option initially, then ask to be transferred 4. Make sure your FAFSA ID is working properly - you might be able to see the SAI calculation breakdown on the website 5. Request a professional judgment review from your daughter's financial aid office instead - they can override FAFSA calculations with proper documentation The calculation issues usually come down to either unreported assets, unusual income from the base tax year, or retirement contributions that were counted as available income.

i had similiar issue last month!!!! try this: call the general help number then press 0 zero zero zero repeatedly during the automated menu. sometimes this will force u to operator. worked for me after like 5 tries

I had EXACTLY this problem trying to fix an error on my son's verification documents. Spent literally 3 weeks trying to reach someone. What finally worked for me was using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it's a service that basically waits on hold for you and calls you back when a real person answers. I was skeptical but got through to an actual FSA agent in about 45 minutes after spending weeks of trying on my own. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Once I got through, the agent was actually super helpful and could see exactly where the SAI calculation issue was happening. Definitely worth it for the time saved and stress reduction.

The whole system is DESIGNED to be impossible to reach anyone!!! They don't WANT to explain why the calculations are unfair. My daughter got almost no aid despite us struggling financially because my ex-husband's income counts even though he contributes NOTHING to her education. When I finally got through after TWELVE CALLS, they basically said "tough luck, that's the formula." The entire system is rigged against middle-class families.

Financial aid counselor here. The disconnection issue is unfortunately common, but there are specific strategies to get through: 1. Try the Federal Student Aid Information Center: 1-800-433-3243 (different than the general FAFSA number) 2. Call during off-peak hours: Tuesday-Thursday between 10am-2pm Eastern 3. If attempting verification or corrections: use the "I need to make corrections to my FAFSA" option rather than "general questions" 4. For SAI calculation concerns: ask your school's financial aid office for a "Professional Judgment Review" - they can override the FAFSA calculation with documented special circumstances 5. Use the FAFSA Feedback Center for complaints: feedback.studentaid.ed.gov - these are tracked and must be responded to within 15 days For your specific concern about the SAI calculation seeming wrong, this is often related to one-time income, retirement distributions, business losses, or non-custodial parent income. Your daughter's school has the authority to adjust these factors with proper documentation.

has anyone tried just showing up at there local office in person? i might just drive to the nearest dept of education building and refuse to leave until someone explains whats happening with my sons aid!

I had a similar issue last year and eventually got through by calling at EXACTLY 8:00am Eastern Time when their system opens. Had to try 3 days in a row, but finally connected with someone who was actually quite helpful. They walked me through the entire SAI calculation line by line and identified where the discrepancy was happening. In my case, they were counting my daughter's small college savings account twice because we had entered it in two different sections by mistake. The agent also explained that if you're questioning the SAI calculation specifically, sometimes it's faster to have your daughter request an appointment through her school's financial aid office for a "verification explanation" rather than trying to reach FAFSA directly. The schools have direct access to trained federal aid advisors through a separate channel.

As someone who went through this exact nightmare last year, I feel your pain! The phone system is absolutely broken. What finally worked for me was a combination of strategies: I called the Federal Student Aid Information Center (1-800-433-3243) at exactly 8:00am Eastern on a Wednesday, AND I simultaneously filed a complaint through the FAFSA Feedback Center that NebulaNinja mentioned. The feedback center complaint got me a callback within 5 days, which was faster than I ever got through the phone lines. For your specific situation with the SAI looking wrong, definitely pursue the Professional Judgment Review at your daughter's school. They can override federal calculations for things like one-time income, unusual circumstances, or calculation errors. I brought documentation showing our 2023 income was artificially high due to a job change bonus, and they were able to adjust our aid package significantly. Don't give up - there are people who will help once you find the right pathway to reach them!