FAFSA application stuck on spouse info page - urgent help for college sophomore plus income change concerns

My son's FAFSA got stuck on the exact same spouse page! So frustrating. What finally worked for us was clearing browser cache/history, then using a completely different browser (we switched from Chrome to Firefox). For some reason that fixed it. Also try turning off any ad blockers or browser extensions - those can mess with the FAFSA site sometimes.

For your FAFSA technical issue, I'd recommend trying the browser solution mentioned above, but also try completing the application during non-peak hours (very early morning or late evening). The system tends to have fewer glitches when traffic is lower. Regarding your income change situation, here's what you should do: 1. For your sophomore: Once you complete her FAFSA, immediately file for a "Professional Judgment" review (sometimes called a "Special Circumstances" appeal) with her financial aid office. Provide documentation of the upcoming layoff. 2. For your high school senior: Yes, contact her school's financial aid office now. Even though you don't have a package yet, getting the information in their system early helps. Again, you'll need to file for a Professional Judgment review. Don't wait for the actual layoff to occur - being proactive is key with financial aid offices.

idk why ur even filling out fafsa for a sophomore rn?? isnt the 25-26 one for next fall?? my brother's in college and he doesnt do his till like january lol

When I had FAFSA tech issues last semester trying to get my Parent Plus loan sorted, I spent DAYS trying to get through to someone. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual FSA agent in like 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Might be worth it just to get someone to manually fix that glitch in your application. The agent I got was actually super helpful once I finally reached a human being.

Regarding the income change situation - I've been through this exact scenario. Here's what you need to know: 1. Documentation is everything. Have your husband get a formal letter from his employer stating the layoff date, expected duration, and that it's not for cause. 2. For your sophomore, you need to complete the current FAFSA based on the current income information (before layoff). After it's processed, immediately contact her financial aid office to file a Special Circumstances form (each school calls it something different). 3. For your high school senior with the $54k SAI, definitely contact her school now. Many schools have a "Pre-enrollment income adjustment" process specifically for situations like yours where circumstances change before enrollment. 4. When you submit the special circumstances forms, include a detailed month-by-month projected budget showing income before and after the layoff, unemployment benefits estimates, and any emergency savings you'll be using. In my experience, schools can reduce your SAI by 30-40% with proper documentation of a temporary job loss. But you MUST be proactive - don't wait until the financial strain hits.

that sucks so bad!!! i had a glitch too on my fafsa but it was the parent contribution page. i ended up having to make a whole new FSA ID for my dad and restart. took forever 😫 have u tried making new FSA IDs? sometimes the accounts get corrupted or something

The entire FAFSA system is a JOKE this year!!!! I've been working in college counseling for 15 years and I've NEVER seen such a broken system. The December launch was a disaster, the calculations are different, and SO MANY parents are having these exact technical issues. You need to document EVERYTHING. Take screenshots of the error, save confirmation numbers from your calls, and keep copies of that complaint you submitted. If the browser tricks don't work, you might need to start a new application, but ONLY after getting confirmation from FSA that it's okay to abandon the current one. And YES to the Professional Judgment reviews for both kids! That $54k SAI will absolutely be reduced with proper documentation of a 6-month income loss. Just be aware that different schools handle PJ reviews differently - some will make substantial adjustments, others barely change anything.

One more thing about the layoff - make sure to ask specifically about unemployment benefits in your state when filing for Professional Judgment. Financial aid offices will typically factor in projected unemployment benefits when recalculating your need, which might reduce how much your SAI changes. Also, when submitting documents, be clear that you're a single-income household. Some schools have special provisions for families where the primary/sole earner loses employment versus households with two incomes where one person is laid off.

wait why is ur SAI so high?? are u like super rich or something? my familys SAI was only like 14k and we still barely got any aid lol

For the spouse info page glitch - I actually remembered one more thing that might help. When we had this issue, we also tried using the mobile app version instead of the website. For some reason the app worked when the website kept glitching. Worth a try if the browser switch doesn't help!

Regarding the FAFSA technical issue, if all the browser solutions and app attempts fail, I strongly recommend requesting what's called a "FAFSA Reset" when you finally reach someone at Federal Student Aid. This is where they administratively reset certain sections of your application without losing all your data. It's not widely advertised but can resolve persistent section glitches. Also, for documentation of the upcoming layoff for your Professional Judgment reviews, you'll typically need: 1. Official layoff notice on company letterhead 2. Last 2-3 pay stubs before notification 3. Statement of unemployment benefits eligibility 4. Brief narrative explaining your single-income household situation 5. Monthly budget projection as mentioned earlier Each school has their own form, but having these documents ready will speed up the process significantly.