FAFSA keeps rejecting my application because 'SSA can't confirm info' - SSA says everything's fine!

I actually resolved this exact issue last month! The problem is usually not with SSA directly but with how the information is entered in FAFSA. Here's what worked for me:\n\n1. Make sure your name on FAFSA EXACTLY matches your Social Security card (including hyphens, suffixes, etc.)\n2. Check if your birthdate is correctly entered (sometimes people accidentally flip month/day)\n3. Verify you're not using any special characters in your name fields\n4. Try clearing your browser cache before submitting again\n\nIf none of that works, request a paper signature page from FSA. They'll mail you a form you can sign and return, which bypasses the electronic SSA verification process.

Thanks for these suggestions! I double-checked everything and my name is EXACTLY as it appears on my SS card. No special characters, no typos in my birthdate. It's so frustrating! How long did it take to get the paper signature page after you requested it? I'm worried about missing the April 15th priority deadline for state grants.

same thing happened to my daughter lol. we waited for like 3 weeks and it fixed itself. sometimes there systems just dont talk to eachother right. just keep checking your account everyday

3 weeks?! I've already been dealing with this for a month! Did you keep calling during those 3 weeks or just waited it out?

This is a very common issue with the FAFSA-SSA interface, especially with the new system rollout. From my experience working in financial aid, there are a few additional things you should try:\n\n1. Are you using a FSA ID that was created less than 3 days ago? The system needs time to sync with SSA.\n2. If your name contains apostrophes (like O'Brien) or includes suffixes (Jr., III), try variations in how you enter it.\n3. Check if you've recently changed your name with SSA but it hasn't propagated to all systems.\n4. Request a SAR (Student Aid Report) and verify your SSN is correct there.\n\nIf you've confirmed all information is correct, contact your school's financial aid office. They can submit an override request in certain circumstances.

My FSA ID is actually from last year, so it's definitely been more than 3 days. No apostrophes or suffixes in my name either. I requested the SAR last week and my SSN is correct there! Could my school's financial aid office really help even though I haven't been accepted yet? I'm still applying!

i had this problem too!! it was so annoying. i finally got someone at fafsa who said it could be cuz my mom had changed her last name after divorce but that was YEARS ago. they made me send in my birth certificate and ss card copies. took forever but finally worked

That's interesting - my parents did get divorced but that was when I was like 5, and I've never changed my name. I wonder if there's some old record messing things up. What number did you call to actually reach someone helpful?

Typical government incompetence. One hand doesn't know what the other is doing. I spent 6 HOURS on hold with FAFSA last year for a similar issue. The entire system is designed to make it hard to get aid. By the time you get through this mess, you'll have missed deadlines and they'll say

While the frustration is understandable, this isn't accurate. FSA doesn't benefit from denying aid - their funding allocation doesn't work that way. These verification issues are due to system compatibility problems between agencies, not a conspiracy to deny funds. The issue is technical/procedural, not intentional obstruction.

I was stuck in this exact same loop for WEEKS trying to reach someone at FSA who could actually help. Normal calls would keep disconnecting after 2+ hours on hold. I finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me so much time and frustration! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ\n\nWhen I finally got through, the agent was able to manually override the SSA verification flag on my application. You have to specifically ask for a \

OMG thank you for this! I'm going to try it right now. Did you have to provide any additional documentation when they did the manual override?

They asked me to email copies of my Social Security card and state ID/driver's license to verify my identity, but it was pretty straightforward. The important thing was getting to an actual agent who had the authority to help. Make sure you ask for a case number and the agent's ID too, so if you need to call back you can reference the previous conversation.

Quick question - are you filling out the 2025-26 FAFSA on studentaid.gov or through a school portal? Some school systems have integration issues with the SSA database. I had better luck going directly through the federal site.

I'm doing it directly on studentaid.gov - I didn't even know you could do it through school portals! I'm applying to 5 different schools so I figured the main site was the way to go.

there mite be a mismatch w ur parents info not urs! check if ur using the right SSN for ur parents if ur a dependent. my brother had this problem n it was cuz my dad typed his SSN wrong by 1 digit

That's a good point! I'm actually filing as independent (I'm 24), so I didn't enter parent info at all. Maybe that's part of the problem? The system might be looking for parent data that isn't there?

Being 24 actually makes you independent automatically, so that shouldn't be causing the SSA verification problem. However, if you previously filed as a dependent in past years, there could be a status conflict in their system. When you call using the service mentioned above, specifically mention you're filing as independent for the first time if that's the case.

Quick update question - have you tried submitting your FAFSA application during non-peak hours? Sometimes the SSA verification system gets overloaded during high-traffic periods. Try submitting very early morning (like 5-6am) or late night. I've seen this work for several students I've advised.

I actually haven't tried that! I've been trying during normal daytime hours. I'll set an alarm and try submitting at 5:30am tomorrow morning. Thanks for the suggestion!

did u try making a whole new fsa id? sometimes the old ones get corrupted in the system or something. my cousin had to delete his old one and make new one and wait 3 days and then it worked

UPDATE: IT WORKED!!!! I used that Claimyr service that @profile6 mentioned and actually got through to someone after trying for weeks! The agent confirmed there was a flag on my account because my SSN verification had failed, but she saw that I had called SSA multiple times to confirm my info. She put me on hold for about 10 minutes while she consulted with a supervisor, then came back and said they could do a manual override! They're sending me an email with a special link to complete my submission that bypasses the SSA check. THANK YOU everyone for your help!!

That's awesome! So glad it worked out for you. Make sure to save that case number in case anything else comes up. The verification process can still be a pain, but at least you're past this roadblock!

Great news! Thank you for updating us - this information will help others facing the same issue. Now make sure you watch for any follow-up communications. Sometimes these manual overrides trigger additional verification requirements later in the process.

Congratulations on getting it resolved! This is such valuable information for others dealing with the same frustrating issue. I'm bookmarking that Claimyr service for future reference - it sounds like a game changer for actually reaching someone who can help with these verification problems. The manual override option is something I've never heard of before, but it makes sense that they would have that capability for situations like this where the automated systems aren't working properly. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone with the solution!

This is such a perfect example of why we need better communication between government agencies! I'm a newcomer here but I've been lurking and reading about FAFSA issues - this SSA verification problem seems to come up constantly. @9f241d062528 I'm so glad you got it resolved and thank you for sharing the Claimyr service! I had never heard of that before. It's frustrating that students have to jump through so many hoops just to get financial aid, but threads like this really show how helpful this community can be. I'm definitely saving this information in case I run into similar issues. The manual override option is something I wish more people knew about - it seems like FSA agents don't always volunteer that information unless you specifically ask for it.

As someone new to this community, I just want to say how incredible this thread has been to read! @9f241d062528 congratulations on finally getting this resolved - what a nightmare you went through! I'm currently preparing to fill out my FAFSA for the first time and honestly had no idea these kinds of verification issues could happen. The Claimyr service that @c0a759d0a949 mentioned sounds like a lifesaver - I'm definitely bookmarking that just in case. It's really eye-opening to see how many different things can go wrong (parent info mismatches, timing issues, system overloads) and how helpful this community is at troubleshooting. @8505111f7185 and @083be97810bd especially - your detailed advice throughout this thread shows you really know your stuff! I feel much more prepared now knowing about manual overrides and the importance of getting case numbers. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread! @9f241d062528 what an incredible journey you went through - I can't imagine the stress of dealing with that SSA verification loop for over a month. Your persistence really paid off and I'm so glad you shared the solution that finally worked! The Claimyr service that @c0a759d0a949 mentioned is something I had never heard of before but sounds like it could be a game-changer for anyone dealing with these endless hold times. It's frustrating that students have to resort to third-party services just to reach actual humans who can help, but at least options like this exist. @8505111f7185 and @083be97810bd - your detailed technical advice throughout this thread has been invaluable. The tips about FSA ID timing, name formatting variations, and especially the manual override option are things I never would have known about otherwise. It's clear you both have real expertise in navigating these systems. I'm bookmarking this entire thread as a reference guide. The combination of troubleshooting steps, the Claimyr service, and knowing that manual overrides exist gives me so much more confidence about tackling my own FAFSA. This community is amazing - thank you all for being so generous with your knowledge and support!

As a newcomer to this community, I just have to say WOW - this thread has been absolutely incredible to follow! @9f241d062528 congratulations on finally breaking through that bureaucratic nightmare! Your persistence over a month of dealing with the SSA verification loop is truly inspiring, and I'm so grateful you took the time to share your complete solution. The Claimyr service that @c0a759d0a949 recommended sounds like a total game-changer - I had no idea such services existed to help navigate those impossible hold times with government agencies. It's honestly frustrating that students need to rely on third-party tools just to reach actual humans who can help, but I'm definitely keeping this in my back pocket. @8505111f7185 and @083be97810bd - thank you for providing such detailed technical guidance throughout this entire discussion! The insights about FSA ID timing, name formatting nuances, manual overrides, and even trying during off-peak hours are invaluable tips that I never would have known otherwise. Your expertise really shines through. This whole thread is going straight into my FAFSA reference folder. Between the step-by-step troubleshooting advice, the Claimyr service discovery, and learning that manual overrides are actually possible (why don't they advertise this?!), I feel so much more prepared to handle any verification issues that might come up. This community is amazing - the willingness to share knowledge and support each other through these stressful financial aid processes is exactly what makes forums like this so valuable. Thank you everyone for creating such a helpful resource for current and future students!