FAFSA account recovery taking forever - need it submitted by March 1 deadline!

I went through something similar last month. The FSA account recovery system is completely overwhelmed this year with the new FAFSA rollout. Here's what worked for me: 1) Try logging in during non-peak hours (like 5am or 11pm) when the system isn't as bogged down 2) Make sure you're using the exact same email address that was on your previous FAFSA 3) Try the 'Forgot Username' option instead of the full account recovery 4) If all else fails, start a brand new FSA ID with a different email address. You can link your tax info during the application process. Paper forms should be absolute last resort - they can take 6-8 weeks to process.

omg the same thing is happening to my mom rn!!! she's been trying for like 3 weeks and keeps getting error messages. did u try using a different browser? my mom was using safari and it kept glitching but chrome worked better

The March 1st deadline isn't as firm as you think. Most schools have priority deadlines but will still accept FAFSAs after that date. Your daughter should talk to her financial aid office directly and explain the situation - they might give her an extension or put a note in her file. I'm a financial aid counselor and we do this all the time, especially with all the FAFSA delays this year.

Have you tried calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at different times? They open at 8am Eastern time and I've found that if you call right when they open, you have a much better chance of getting through. Also, if you're still struggling with the account recovery, I highly recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it's a service that holds your place in the phone queue and calls you when an agent is about to pick up. Saved me hours of hold time last week when I was dealing with SAI calculation issues. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ that shows how it works.

The FAFSA rollout this year has been an absolute disaster. I work in college counseling and I'm seeing these exact issues with dozens of families. A few things to consider: 1. The account recovery is taking 10-14 business days for most people (not the 3-5 they claim) 2. If your daughter is a first-time applicant, creating a new FSA ID is actually your best option 3. Do NOT submit a paper FAFSA unless absolutely necessary - they're taking 8+ weeks to process 4. The March 1 deadline can often be extended given the widespread FAFSA issues this year If you need to create a new FSA ID, be extremely careful about the personal information you enter. Any mismatch with Social Security records will cause further delays.

UGH its the WORST!! I tried for TWO MONTHS to reset my password and nothing worked!!!! ended up haveing to drive 3 hours to my parents house to find my old login info from highschool cuz the stuipd system wouldnt recognize my drivers license for the recovery thing...good luck thats all i can say

Your best option right now is to create a brand new FSA ID for both you and your daughter. Since this is her first time applying, there won't be any old data to worry about. For the parent portion, you'll need to create your own FSA ID as well. The most important things are: 1. Use emails that you have reliable access to (not school emails) 2. Write down all information including challenging questions 3. Use a password manager to save everything 4. Make sure the name, DOB and SSN match EXACTLY what's on your Social Security cards 5. Once created, wait at least 3 days before trying to use the FSA ID to submit a FAFSA If you absolutely must stick with account recovery, file a formal complaint at studentaid.gov/feedback-center/ - that sometimes gets escalated faster than regular support channels.

Anyone saying to create a new FSA ID is giving BAD advice if you've submitted FAFSAs in previous years! The system will flag duplicate accounts and potentially delay your application even more. Keep calling FSA support - if you've already filed a complaint, you should get a response within 15 business days. In the meantime, your daughter should definitely contact her school's financial aid office to explain the situation. Most schools have processes in place for FAFSA delays this year.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! My son is a senior and we've been stuck in FAFSA hell for almost a month. What finally worked for me was creating a completely new FSA ID (I know it sounds scary but hear me out). I called the FSA help line at exactly 8 AM Eastern and got through to someone who explained that if your old FSA ID is more than 2-3 years old, the account recovery process is basically broken because of system changes. She walked me through creating a new one and said as long as I use the exact same SSN and personal info, it won't create duplicates. The whole FAFSA took me about 45 minutes once I had working login credentials. Also, definitely have your daughter contact her financial aid office - they've been super understanding about delays this year. Most schools I've talked to are extending their priority deadlines because of all the FAFSA issues. Don't give up! You're so close to getting this done.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! As someone who just went through the FAFSA process with my youngest, I can share what worked for us. We had similar login issues and after weeks of frustration, we ended up creating brand new FSA IDs for both of us. Since your daughter is a first-time applicant, this is actually the safest route - no risk of duplicate account issues. A few tips: 1) Create the FSA IDs during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening), 2) Use personal email addresses you'll always have access to, 3) Triple-check that names match exactly what's on your Social Security cards, and 4) Wait 3 full days after creating the IDs before attempting to submit the FAFSA. Also, definitely have your daughter contact her school's financial aid office immediately to explain the situation - most schools are being very flexible with deadlines this year due to the widespread FAFSA problems. You've got this!

I feel for you - this FAFSA rollout has been absolutely brutal! I'm a parent who just finished helping my twin daughters through this process last month, and we faced similar issues. Here's what I learned: the FSA account recovery system is completely overwhelmed and unreliable right now. Given that your daughter is a first-time applicant, I'd strongly recommend creating brand new FSA IDs for both of you. I was hesitant at first too, but it's actually the fastest path forward. Just make sure to use current email addresses you'll always have access to, and be extremely careful that names and SSNs match your Social Security cards exactly - even a middle initial difference can cause delays. The 3-day waiting period after creating new IDs is crucial (learned that the hard way!). Also, most financial aid offices are being very understanding about delays this year - have your daughter call them ASAP to explain the situation. Many schools are quietly extending their priority deadlines due to all the FAFSA chaos. You're not alone in this struggle, and you WILL get through it!