FAFSA parent login stuck after secure code - error keeps showing despite support help

I had the exact same problem with my mom's account last month! The secure code system has been glitchy since they rolled out the new FAFSA. Here's what finally worked for us: 1. Clear ALL browser data (not just cookies - the full cache) 2. Turn off any VPN if you're using one 3. Try logging in during off-peak hours (early morning worked for us) 4. Make sure the email used for the secure code is accessible on the same device 5. Double-check that your parent has verified their email address in the FSA system For some reason, the system sometimes gets stuck if these steps aren't followed exactly. The parent portal seems especially sensitive to any security features.

this happens ALL THE TIME!! the parent part of fafsa is THE WORST. my stepdad tried for like 2 weeks and we almost missed my deadline. try having ur dad use a completely different device - like if hes been using a laptop try a phone instead. thats what worked for us

I work in our college financial aid office and we've seen this issue A LOT this year. The parent portal has some serious technical problems. One thing that's not widely known is that sometimes the account gets a soft-lock after too many failed attempts that isn't immediately obvious. I would recommend having your parent: 1. Wait 24 hours without any login attempts (this resets the system flags) 2. Use a private/incognito browsing window 3. Make sure your parent is entering their OWN FSA ID credentials, not yours 4. Try generating the secure code via text instead of email if that's an option If those steps don't work, there's a specific FSA technical support team that handles these issues. The regular support line often can't solve the more complex login problems.

I had this EXACT issue and wasted 3 weeks trying to fix it through normal channels. After getting disconnected from FSA support 5 times, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent without the wait. The agent was able to identify that my mom's account had a security flag that needed to be manually removed from their end - something the regular support people never mentioned! They have a video demo here that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ After getting that flag removed, the secure code system started working immediately. Might be worth trying if the other suggestions don't work.

THE WHOLE FAFSA SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!!! I spent MONTHS trying to get my husband's account to work and missed my daughter's priority deadline because of it. Called support 12+ times and got a different answer every time. One agent would say it's a browser issue, another would say it's a verification problem, a third would say there's nothing wrong with the account at all!!! THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING!!! We eventually had to go IN PERSON to our college financial aid office and have them help submit a manual override request. Only thing that finally worked. The online system is GARBAGE and they should be ashamed.

my cousin had this same problem. turned out his dad was using a work computer that had some security setting blocking the fafsa site from fully loading. maybe check if your dad has any security software running?

UPDATE: We got it working!! After trying basically everything suggested here, what finally fixed it was: 1. Waiting 24 hours with no login attempts (thanks financial aid office worker!) 2. Using my dad's phone instead of his laptop (thanks for that suggestion!) 3. Making sure he was on our home WiFi, not his cellular data Not sure which of these was the actual fix, but the combination worked. He was able to log in, get past the secure code screen, and complete his section of my FAFSA. My application is finally submitted! Thank you all for the help - this forum saved us from missing my deadline!

Wow, this thread is a goldmine of information! I'm dealing with the exact same parent login issue right now and was getting so stressed about it. Reading through everyone's experiences makes me feel less alone in this mess. The combination of solutions that worked for Andre gives me hope - I'm definitely going to try the 24-hour reset approach first since that seems to be a common theme. It's really frustrating that the FSA support line doesn't mention these technical details about security flags and soft-locks. You'd think they would know their own system better! Has anyone else noticed if this problem is worse during certain times of the year? I'm wondering if it's related to high traffic periods when everyone's trying to submit their FAFSAs at once.