FAFSA application stuck - wrong birthdate verified by SSA but can't edit!

same thing happened to me except it was my ssn that was wrong by one digit. had to make whole new account w/ correct info. super annoying!!

This is actually a common issue with the FAFSA system. When the SSA verification passes but there's a data mismatch, you need to complete an Identity Verification form (FSA-IV) through your school's financial aid office. You can't edit the birthdate directly, but you can submit documentation to your school showing the correct information. Make sure to bring: 1. Your husband's ID showing correct birthdate 2. Social security card 3. A printout of the current FAFSA application The school can then override the birthdate issue and process your application. Don't create a new application - that can actually flag your account for fraud review and delay things even more.

UGH THIS EXACT THING HAPPENED TO ME LAST YEAR!!!! The FAFSA system is SUCH GARBAGE!! I entered my mom's birthday wrong and then we were completely stuck. Took us THREE WEEKS to get it fixed because no one at FSA would help us!! I ended up missing priority deadline at my first-choice school and lost out on $5000 in grant money. The whole system is designed to FAIL students!!

have u tried logging out and then back in? sometimes the system refreshes and lets u edit stuff that was locked before

I worked at my school's financial aid office for 2 years and saw this all the time. What's actually happening is your husband's SSN is being verified, but the birthday mismatch is triggering a secondary verification flag. You have two options: 1. Submit a formal correction request through your school (takes 1-2 weeks) 2. Call FSA directly and ask for a "data field correction" - but good luck getting through! Honestly, I had to call FSA about 15 times last month for a similar issue with my own FAFSA. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through after watching their demo (https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ). They got me connected to an actual human at FSA in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours. The agent was able to submit an override code that unlocked my application immediately.

Financial aid advisor here. This is actually a system limitation that the Department of Education is aware of but hasn't fixed. When the SSA verification passes but there's incorrect data, you're in what we call a "verification limbo." Here's what you need to do: 1. DO NOT create a new FAFSA (this will flag both applications for potential fraud) 2. Contact your school's financial aid office and request an "administrative correction" using form FA-123 3. You'll need to provide documentation of the correct birthdate 4. The school can submit a system override that will allow the tax information to load This typically takes 3-5 business days to process. The good news is that your original submission date is preserved for priority consideration purposes.

lol everyone giving different advice... typical fafsa chaos 🤣

UPDATE: Thanks everyone for the advice! I ended up doing two things that worked: 1. Filed the correction form with my school's financial aid office 2. Used Claimyr to finally get through to FSA after days of trying The FSA agent was able to place a special override on our application that allowed the tax information to flow through despite the birthday mismatch. She said they'll correct the birthday on the back end once our documentation is processed. The good news is my SAI score calculation won't be delayed and I'll still be considered for priority aid! Such a relief after stressing about this for days.

So glad you got this resolved! This is such a common issue but it's frustrating how inconsistent the advice can be from different FSA representatives. For anyone else dealing with this - the key takeaway seems to be working through your school's financial aid office first, since they can submit overrides directly into the system. I had a similar verification mismatch last year (wrong zip code that somehow still verified) and my school was able to fix it much faster than trying to go through the main FSA helpline. The important thing is keeping your original submission date for priority consideration!

As someone who just went through this nightmare last month, I feel your pain! The FAFSA system really needs better error handling for these verification mismatches. I'm glad you were able to get it sorted out through both your school and FSA directly. For future students reading this - definitely try your school's financial aid office FIRST before spending hours on hold with the main FSA line. They have direct access to override these verification issues and usually respond much faster. Also keep all your documentation handy (birth certificate, SSN card, etc.) because you'll likely need to provide copies regardless of which route you take to fix it.

This thread is such a lifesaver! I'm a parent helping my daughter with her FAFSA and we made the exact same mistake with the birth month. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so reassuring - it's clear this happens to a lot of families and there are definitely ways to fix it. I'm going to call our school's financial aid office first thing Monday morning based on all the advice here. It's frustrating that such a small typo can cause such big problems, but I feel much more confident now knowing that the original submission date gets preserved and there are multiple paths to resolution. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and solutions!

Wow, what a comprehensive thread! As someone who works in college admissions, I see students panic about FAFSA issues like this all the time. I'm really glad Kayla got her situation resolved and that everyone shared such detailed experiences. One thing I'd add for future readers: if you're dealing with ANY FAFSA verification issue, document everything! Keep screenshots of error messages, save confirmation numbers from phone calls, and maintain a timeline of what you tried and when. This documentation can be incredibly helpful if you need to escalate the issue or if there are any questions later about your submission date for aid priority. The FAFSA system definitely has its quirks, but there are always solutions - it's just a matter of finding the right pathway and being persistent!