FAFSA application stuck processing for weeks - how to get past this limbo??

This happened to me too! My application was stuck in processing for almost a month. Try logging out completely, clearing your browser cache/cookies, and then logging back in. Sometimes the system just glitches and shows processing when it's actually complete. Also check your email spam folder - my SAI notification was there even though the website still said processing.

mine was stuck for 5 weeks lol. the system is overloaded this year i think. just keep waiting its annoying but thats what you gotta do

There are a few things you can try: 1. Double-check if all sections of your application are actually complete. Sometimes it will continue "processing" if there's a section that needs attention, but the notification isn't clear. 2. Contact your school's financial aid office directly. They can often see more details about your FAFSA status than you can, and may be able to proceed with a provisional financial aid package while waiting for the official SAI. 3. Make sure you submitted your tax information correctly. If there's a mismatch between what you entered and what's in the IRS database, it can cause delays. 4. If your parent/contributor also needed to sign the FAFSA, verify they completed their portion correctly. The processing delays are unfortunately common this year with the new FAFSA simplification changes.

I had the EXACT same issue last month!!!! I was going CRAZY trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid and kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual person at the FSA helpline. They've got this service where they wait on hold for you and then call you when an agent is ready. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ When I finally got through to FSA, they found that there was a flag on my account because my mom's SSN had a typo. They fixed it right away and my application was processed within 48 hours. Might be worth trying since you're on a deadline!

this hole system is broken!!!!! i been waiting 7 weeks and nothing. they make it impossible to get help and expect us to just deal with it. im bout to lose my financial aid for next semester cuz of this garbage. the government doesnt care about students at all

Financial aid counselor here. The FAFSA processing delays this year are significantly worse than normal due to the transition to the new simplified FAFSA system. Here's what I recommend: 1. Contact your school's financial aid office immediately and explain your situation. Schools are aware of the widespread delays and many have implemented extensions or provisional aid packages while awaiting official SAI scores. 2. If you're approaching your school's deadline, ask specifically about their policy for FAFSA processing delays - most institutions have created exception policies this year. 3. Make sure your application doesn't have any information that might trigger additional review - such as leaving required fields blank or entering information that doesn't match your tax records. 4. If your parents are divorced or you have unusual family circumstances, verify all contributor information was correctly entered. While frustrating, these delays are happening to thousands of students currently. Your school likely has contingency plans in place.

Has anyone had an issue where their Parent Plus loan eligibility was affected by these processing delays? I'm worried about more than just the grants and direct loans.

UPDATE: I used the Claimyr service that someone suggested above and it worked perfectly! Got through to an FSA rep in about 45 minutes (without having to sit on hold myself). Turns out there was a data mismatch between what I reported as my income and what the IRS Data Retrieval Tool pulled in. The agent fixed it on the spot and said my application should be fully processed within 3-5 business days. I also spoke to my school's financial aid office and they're giving me an extension on their deadline. THANK YOU all for the help!!!

So glad to see this thread because I'm dealing with something similar! My FAFSA has been stuck for about 2 weeks now and I was starting to panic. Reading through everyone's experiences really helps - especially knowing that schools are being flexible with deadlines this year. I'm definitely going to try calling my financial aid office first thing Monday morning to see if they can work with me on a provisional package. Has anyone else noticed if certain schools are being more accommodating than others with these delays?

This thread is so helpful! I'm in a similar boat - submitted my FAFSA 4 weeks ago and it's still stuck in processing hell. Reading through everyone's experiences gives me hope that there are actual solutions. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service tomorrow and also call my school's financial aid office to ask about their FAFSA delay policy. It's reassuring to know that schools are being more flexible this year because of all the system issues. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community is a lifesaver when you're dealing with financial aid stress!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My FAFSA has been processing for almost 3 weeks and I was getting so anxious about my upcoming deadlines. This thread is honestly a huge relief - I had no idea so many other students were dealing with identical issues. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service that several people mentioned since waiting on hold for hours just to get disconnected is driving me crazy. I'm also planning to call my school's financial aid office tomorrow to ask about their FAFSA delay policies and see if they can work with me on a provisional aid package. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - it's so helpful to know there are actual steps we can take instead of just waiting helplessly!