FAFSA application disappeared completely after trying to make edits - help!

omg same thing happened to my sister last week!! she tried logging out and back in like 5 times and then it magically reappeared. try that?

This is actually a known issue with the 2025-2026 FAFSA portal. What's happening is the system sometimes puts applications in a temporary holding status when corrections are being processed, but doesn't display this properly to users. Try these steps: 1. Clear your browser cache completely 2. Log in using a different browser than you normally use 3. Check under the "Correspondence" section, not just "Activity" 4. If you still don't see it, check if you received any verification emails recently If none of this works, your application may be stuck in processing. The system should restore it within 72 hours automatically.

SAME EXACT THING JUST HAPPENED TO ME!!!! I was adding my W-2 information because I got a correction notice about my income verification and then POOF - my entire application vanished. Called the helpline and was on hold for 45 MINUTES before getting disconnected. This is SO FRUSTRATING!!!

I work in financial aid at a community college, and we've seen this issue with several students. It's usually related to the session timing out during an edit, which triggers a verification hold that isn't visible to users. Here's what I recommend: 1. First, check if you received any emails from FSA about verification requirements 2. If you haven't received any emails, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center directly 3. When you call, specifically mention "application disappeared after editing" - this helps them route you to the right department In most cases, your application data IS still in the system, it's just not displaying properly in your account view. The phone support can usually restore access within minutes once they identify the issue.

Anyone else notice that the website has been extra glitchy since they made all those changes to the FAFSA for this year? I swear every time I log in something else is broken. Last month it wouldn't let me upload my tax documents and now some of my SAI calculations seem wrong. These technical problems are making me so stressed about getting my kid's college money!

I had this problem and spent DAYS trying to get through to someone at Federal Student Aid. After getting hung up on 4 times and waiting on hold for hours, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an agent in about 15 minutes. They basically wait on hold for you and call when an agent is ready. Saved me so much frustration! They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ and their site is claimyr.com if anyone else is struggling to get through on the phone.

Update for everyone: The Department of Education just posted a technical bulletin about this exact issue. If your application has "disappeared" after editing, they recommend: 1. Wait 24 hours for system refresh 2. If still missing, use the "FAFSA Recovery Tool" under the Help section 3. If that doesn't work, call FSA directly and request a "submission recovery" using your FSA ID They're also extending some priority deadlines by 15 days to accommodate for these technical issues. Check with your specific schools to confirm if they're honoring the extension.

So did you get this resolved? I'm having the same problem right now after trying to update my parent contribution section. Really worried because my college choice said I need to have everything finalized by next Friday or I might miss out on their institutional scholarship.