FAFSA parent section locked after verification - how to continue?

dont feel stupid, their website is THE WORST. after u verify, it locks editing until they process ur verification. super annoying but nothing u can do but wait. took like 4 days for mine to unlock last month

Seriously?? That's ridiculous! My school's priority deadline is in 10 days. Do you know if there's any way to contact them to expedite the process?

Unfortunately, the previous response isn't quite accurate. The FAFSA doesn't automatically lock the parent section after verification - you should still be able to access it. Try these steps:\n\n1. Log out completely and clear your browser cache/cookies\n2. Log back in to studentaid.gov\n3. Click on \

Thank you so much! I'll try these steps right now. I was getting so anxious thinking I'd miss the deadline.

I had the exact same issue last week! The thing that worked for me was using a different browser entirely. The Edit buttons wouldn't show up in Chrome but they appeared in Firefox for some reason. Worth a try!

This is actually a common issue with the new FAFSA system. What's happening is there's a session timer running in the background even when you're not actively navigating the site. If your verification review took longer than 30 minutes, the system likely logged you out but didn't redirect you properly.\n\nIn addition to the steps mentioned above, make sure you're using the most updated browser version. The new FAFSA site has compatibility issues with older browser versions, especially on mobile devices.

Oh that makes sense! I did spend a while gathering documents during verification. I'm updating my browser now and will try again. Really appreciate everyone's help!

If none of the suggestions work, I'd recommend calling Federal Student Aid directly at 1-800-433-3243. I had a similar issue and spent HOURS trying to fix it myself before finally calling. They need to be aware of these technical issues as they happen.\n\nI was on hold forever though before giving up. Has anyone found a better way to actually reach a human there?

Try Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it saved me so much frustration with FAFSA calls. Their system basically calls and waits on hold for you, then calls you when a real agent is on the line. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. Worked great when I needed to fix a similar login issue for my parent contribution section.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll try the technical fixes first, but good to know there's a way to actually reach someone if needed. The hold times are insane these days.

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE the Dept of Education spent 4 YEARS and millions of dollars \

The separated parent issue is a known bug they're working on. In the meantime, try having one parent complete all sections, then have the other parent submit their information through the verification portal instead. It's not ideal but has worked for some families in similar situations.

Thanks I'll try that. So frustrating that we have to find workarounds for their broken system when college deadlines are on the line!!

UPDATE: I finally got it working! For anyone with this issue in the future, here's what worked: I had to use Firefox (Chrome didn't show the Edit buttons correctly), clear cache/cookies, AND use a desktop computer (not mobile). Then I was able to see all the parent section links properly.\n\nThe verification is still processing but at least I was able to continue editing other sections. Thanks everyone for your help!

Great to hear you got it working! Just a heads-up - make sure you check back after the verification processing completes. Sometimes the verification results can affect other parts of your application that might need updating.

thx for posting what worked! gonna bookmark this for when mine inevitably breaks again lol