FAFSA showing 'Unable to Complete This Action' error when trying to make corrections

omg yes!! got the same error last week. SO annoying!!! i tried for like 3 days straight before it magically started working again.

This is a known issue with the FAFSA system right now, especially when trying to make corrections after initial processing has begun. A few things to try: 1. Wait until very early morning (like 2-3am) when system traffic is lowest 2. Try using Microsoft Edge specifically (some browsers are having compatibility issues) 3. Double-check that you're not on a secure network with firewalls (like some workplaces) If none of these work, you'll need to contact FSA directly at 1-800-433-3243. Be prepared for a LONG wait though.

Have you tried calling the Federal Student Aid support line? I had a similar issue last month with a different error message but basically couldn't access my application. I called the 1-800 number but kept getting disconnected after waiting for over an hour. I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually get through to a real agent. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is ready. Saved me from wasting my whole day on hold. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Once I got through to an actual person, they were able to manually reset something on my account and I could make corrections again after about 24 hours.

I work at a financial aid office, and we've been seeing this issue frequently with the new FAFSA system. Here's what you should do: 1. First, try the off-peak hours approach mentioned above 2. If that fails after 2-3 attempts, call the FSA help desk 3. While waiting for a resolution, EMAIL your school's financial aid office immediately with documentation of the correct information you're trying to submit Many schools have been accepting manual corrections directly from students while these FAFSA technical issues persist. They won't update your actual FAFSA, but they can often adjust your aid package based on the correct information while you wait for the system to let you make the official correction. Make sure to screenshot the error message and include it in your email to the school.

Not sure if this will help but I had a similar problem with a different error message. I tried logging in with my FSA ID on my phone using data instead of wifi and for some reason it worked?? The FAFSA website is so glitchy this year.

I'm curious - what kind of income correction are you trying to make? If it's a substantial change, you might need to do a special circumstances review through your school instead of just a FAFSA correction anyway. The schools have more flexibility for income adjustments than people realize.

The FAFSA system is GARBAGE this year!!! I've had nothing but problems since they launched the "simplified" version. My daughter can't even get her SAI calculated because of constant errors, and now my son is having issues with corrections too. How are we supposed to make college decisions when we can't even get accurate financial aid information?? The whole thing is a disaster and nobody seems to care!

Have you tried contacting your school's financial aid office? When I was having prblems with my verification documents they were super helpful. maybe they can help with the correction error too?

UPDATE: I tried logging in at 2:30am like someone suggested and IT WORKED! I was able to make the correction to my income information. For anyone else having this issue - definitely try during off-peak hours! Now I'm just waiting for my new SAI to be calculated. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

That's amazing that the early morning trick worked for you! I'm actually dealing with a similar issue right now - been getting the same "Unable to Complete This Action" error for the past week when trying to update my parent's employment status. I've been so stressed about it affecting my aid package. Definitely going to try logging in around 2-3am tonight based on your success. Did you notice if the system seemed faster/more responsive during those off-peak hours, or just that the error didn't occur? Thanks for sharing your solution - gives me hope that I can get this sorted out!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Been trying to correct my dependency status for over a week and keep getting that "Unable to Complete This Action" error. It's so frustrating because I know this affects my aid eligibility significantly. I've tried different browsers, cleared cache, even tried from different devices but nothing works. Reading through everyone's responses here is really helpful - I had no idea about contacting my school's financial aid office directly while trying to fix the online form. That's genius advice! I'm definitely going to email them today with screenshots of the error and documentation of what I'm trying to correct. Also planning to try the early morning login approach tonight around 2-3am. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one struggling with this buggy system!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation! I went through something similar last year and the panic is real when you can't fix important FAFSA information. Based on all the great advice here, I'd definitely recommend trying both approaches simultaneously - attempt the early morning login (around 2-3am when system traffic is lowest) AND immediately email your school's financial aid office with documentation of the correct income information you're trying to submit. Many schools are being flexible with these technical issues and can work with you on aid calculations while you wait for the system to cooperate. Make sure to screenshot that error message and include it with your email to the school. The double-counted income issue you described is definitely something that needs to be corrected since it significantly inflates your SAI. Don't panic though - this is exactly the type of clear documentation error that financial aid offices can easily understand and work with. Keep us posted on whether the early morning trick works for you too!

I've been having the exact same error for the past 5 days! It's so frustrating because I need to update my parent's tax information before my school's priority deadline next Friday. I've tried everything - different browsers, devices, clearing cache, waiting 24 hours between attempts - but nothing has worked. Reading through all these responses is giving me hope though! I'm definitely going to try the early morning approach tonight around 2am and also email my financial aid office tomorrow with screenshots of the error. It's such a relief to know that schools are being understanding about these system glitches. Has anyone noticed if certain types of corrections are more prone to this error than others? I'm wondering if parent tax info updates are particularly buggy right now.

I just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble with the early morning approach, you might also want to try using an incognito/private browsing window when you attempt it. Sometimes the FAFSA system gets confused by cached login data or session cookies that persist even after clearing your browser cache normally. I had a friend who was getting similar errors and the combination of trying at 3am + using incognito mode finally worked for her. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions or ad blockers when you try - the FAFSA system is notoriously sensitive to those. The fact that so many people are successfully using the off-peak hours workaround gives me hope that it's really just a server capacity issue rather than a deeper system problem!

I've been following this thread because I'm dealing with a similar FAFSA correction nightmare! The "Unable to Complete This Action" error has been haunting me for 6 days now while I try to fix my parent's income information. Reading everyone's experiences and solutions here has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea that contacting my school's financial aid office directly was even an option! I'm definitely going to email them tomorrow with screenshots and documentation while also trying the early morning login approach tonight around 2-3am. The combination of off-peak hours + incognito browsing + disabling browser extensions sounds like my best bet. It's both frustrating and reassuring to know so many of us are dealing with this buggy system. Thanks to everyone for sharing your workarounds and keeping the rest of us sane during this stressful process!

I'm having the exact same issue! Been trying to correct my dependency status for over a week now and getting that same "Unable to Complete This Action" error every single time. It's so stressful because I know this could completely change my aid eligibility. I've tried everything - different browsers, clearing cache, different devices, waiting days between attempts - but nothing works. Reading through all these responses is giving me so much hope though! I had absolutely no idea that I could contact my school's financial aid office directly while dealing with this system error. That's such valuable advice! I'm definitely going to email them first thing tomorrow with screenshots of the error and documentation of what I'm trying to correct. I'm also planning to try the early morning approach tonight around 2-3am, plus using incognito mode and disabling my browser extensions like some people suggested. It's both frustrating and comforting to see so many others dealing with this same buggy system. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - you're keeping me sane during this nightmare process!