FAFSA spouse info page glitch - sophomore's aid delayed + handling job loss impact on two applications

For the technical glitch, have you tried using a completely different browser or device? Sometimes the FAFSA site has compatibility issues with certain browsers. Also try clearing your cache and cookies before attempting again. Regarding the layoff situation - yes, you should absolutely file a special circumstances form with BOTH schools. For your sophomore, even without a complete FAFSA, you can still notify the financial aid office about the upcoming change in income. For your senior, you'll want to file what's called a Professional Judgment request (sometimes called a Special Circumstances form) with documentation of the layoff notice. Don't wait - get this process started now even if the layoff isn't happening until May.

FAFSA has been a NIGHTMARE this year with all the changes!! The spouse info page crashed on me 3 times when i was helping my niece. What finally worked was completing it at like 2am when traffic was low on the site. Also try a different device - my laptop didnt work but my phone did for some reason

Regarding the layoff situation - this is exactly what the Professional Judgment process is designed for. You'll need to contact both financial aid offices directly. For your sophomore, even with the FAFSA still processing, you can initiate this conversation now. They may ask you to estimate what your income will be during the layoff period compared to what was reported on your tax returns. For documentation, most schools will want: 1. Letter from employer confirming the layoff (get this in writing ASAP) 2. Last pay stub before the layoff 3. Estimation of unemployment benefits if applicable 4. Any severance package details Your SAI of 54k could potentially be lowered substantially with a single-income household transition.

I was STUCK in the exact same spot with the spouse info page for literally 6 weeks!!! So frustrating!! After trying EVERYTHING and getting nowhere with phone calls, I finally got through to someone who could help by using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They connected me to an actual FSA representative in under 10 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The rep was able to override something on their end to push my application through. Worth every penny because my daughter was about to lose her housing without the financial aid package!

hey so for the layoff thing - my dad lost his job last year while i was applying and we had to do the professional judgement thing they were talking about. took forever and lots of paperwork but they did adjust my aid package. just make sure you stay on top of it and keep calling/emailing them cuz financial aid offices are sooooo slow

I recommend starting both processes IMMEDIATELY: 1. For the technical issue: Try incognito/private browsing mode, try at off-peak hours (early morning or late night), and use multiple different devices. If none of those work, you need to bypass the regular phone system to reach an actual human at FSA who can manually fix this. 2. For the financial situation: Initiate Professional Judgment requests with BOTH schools right now. Don't wait until the layoff actually happens - the financial aid offices need time to process these requests. The 2025-2026 FAFSA uses older tax information anyway, so the Professional Judgment process exists specifically to address current circumstances that differ from your tax returns. Be persistent with both issues. Document every attempt to resolve the technical issue and every communication with the financial aid offices. This will be essential if you need to escalate either situation further.

also dont forget u might qualify for unemployment during the layoff which could help temporarily! my cousins husband got laid off and they got like $2300/month which helped them avoid touching savings

Have you tried creating a new FSA ID for yourself and starting over? Sometimes that works when there's a corrupt account issue. Just make sure to document your current FSA ID info before creating a new one. For the Professional Judgment requests for both children, make sure you're using the exact terminology each school requires. Some call it "Special Circumstances Appeal" while others use "Income Adjustment Request" or "Professional Judgment Review." Each school's financial aid office will have slightly different forms and processes.

One final important suggestion - if you can't resolve the technical issue quickly, contact your sophomore's school financial aid office DIRECTLY. Explain the technical problem with FAFSA, and ask if they can process a provisional financial aid package based on last year's information while you resolve the FAFSA issues. Many schools have emergency procedures for FAFSA technical problems, especially when they're this close to the semester starting. They may be able to extend payment deadlines or offer an emergency loan until the FAFSA is processed. This won't solve the long-term issue, but it could prevent registration or housing problems in the immediate term.