FAFSA deadline crisis - can't submit with undocumented parents!

Same problem here!! I'm a student with undocumented parents and the system keeps giving me an error when I try to use the 000 numbers. Deadline is tonight for me too. So stressful!!

College advisor here. This is unfortunately a known issue with the new FAFSA system. For students with undocumented parents, you should be able to enter 000-00-0000 in the SSN field, but there's a glitch affecting some applications. There's an alternative method: 1) Have the parent create their own FSA ID using their ITIN if they have one 2) If they don't have an ITIN, you can request a signature waiver for the parent through the school's financial aid office 3) Document everything - take screenshots of the errors and keep notes of all attempted calls/contacts Most importantly, have your students submit written documentation to their schools' financial aid offices TODAY explaining the technical issue, so they have proof they attempted to meet the deadline.

when i had this happen last year i just went to financial aid office and they gave me a paper form to fill out. might be too late for today tho

This is a serious issue! Let me share some additional information based on my experience as a financial aid counselor. For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, undocumented parents are supposed to be able to use 000-00-0000 as their SSN, but there's a technical glitch affecting some applications. Here's what I recommend: 1. Take screenshots of the error message as proof 2. Email AND call your students' financial aid offices immediately to document the attempt 3. Request a deadline extension due to technical issues (most schools will grant this) 4. Have parents write a signed statement indicating they do not have an SSN 5. Look for the "special circumstances" option in the contributor section The Department of Education is aware of this issue and should be issuing guidance soon. Don't panic - your students won't lose aid eligibility if you document the technical problem properly.

i had this EXACT problem last week and finally gave up trying to call FSA directly cuz it was impossible to get thru. my cousin told me about this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual human at FSA in like 15 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ the agent told me there's a workaround where you need to enter the parent info in a specific sequence. you have to first create a paper signature page for the undocumented parent, THEN go back and use 000-00-0000. worked for me but took the agent walking me thru it step by step

@profile3 yeah it's legit! my financial aid advisor actually recommended it to me because they use it at our school when they need to reach fsa quickly for student issues

THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING!!!! Why do they make it so hard for us??? My mom has been in this country for 20 years working and paying taxes with ITIN but they still won't let me finish my FAFSA!!! I'm going to lose my chance at college because of a stupid COMPUTER GLITCH??? This is DISCRIMINATION!!!!

Update: We finally got through to someone at FSA! For anyone still struggling, here's what worked: We had to request a signature exemption for the undocumented parents. The students need to submit: 1) A signed statement from the student explaining parent's status, 2) Letter from school counselor confirming inability to obtain parent signature due to documentation status, 3) Copy of student's identification. The FSA agent said schools are being instructed to accept these applications as meeting the deadline even if technical issues prevent full submission today. Hope this helps others!

my brother had this problem and ended up not getting any aid last year so make sure u follow up like crazy... colleges say they understand but then they run out of money...

Not exactly the same but we had issues with the income verification section for my stepfather who doesn't live with us anymore but is still married to my mom. Couldn't get through on phone either. Ended up having to go to the financial aid office in person to get help. Got it sorted just in time. The whole system is a mess this year.

For everyone who helped resolve this issue - thank you for sharing your solutions. For those still struggling, please remember that this technical problem has been officially acknowledged by the Department of Education. They've issued guidance to colleges that students facing this specific issue should not be penalized for late submission. I recommend every affected student: 1. Keep detailed records of all submission attempts 2. Email their intended colleges' financial aid offices with documentation 3. Follow up weekly until resolution 4. Consider filing a complaint through the FSA Feedback System This situation is frustrating but solvable. Don't let a technical glitch stand between you and your college education!

As someone who just went through this nightmare process last month, I want to add that if you're still having issues, try clearing your browser cache and cookies completely before attempting the FAFSA again. I know it sounds basic, but the new system has serious session management problems that cause weird errors. Also, try using a different browser entirely - I had to switch from Chrome to Firefox to get past the contributor section. One more tip: if your school has a financial aid workshop or drop-in hours tomorrow, GO! Even though the deadline passed, most aid offices are extending deadlines for students who can prove they attempted submission due to technical issues. Bring printed screenshots of every error message you encountered. You've got this - don't let a broken website system keep you from your education!