FAFSA submission blocked without SSN - attestation form sent but can't sign application

Going through the same nightmare right now. No SSN, sent in all required docs over a month ago, but my application is stuck in limbo. Every time I call, I get transferred between 2-3 different departments and nobody can give me a straight answer. I've been told everything from "it's processing" to "we never received your documents" (even though I have confirmation emails). The MANVER# is a manual verification number they assign to cases requiring special processing - at least that's what one agent told me.

Not having an SSN makes everything 10x harder with FAFSA! When I went through this last year, what FINALLY worked was having my school's financial aid office call FSA directly on my behalf. They have special access channels and can often get things resolved when we can't. Try contacting your school's aid office ASAP and explain the situation - they deal with this stuff all the time.

the whole systm is BROKEN!!!! i had same issue last yr but with my parents (they dont have ssn). wasted 3 MONTHS trying to fix. missed priority deadline & lost $4500 in grants. fafsa is discriminating against families without ssn's & nobody cares!!!!

I work at a community college financial aid office and we've been seeing this issue frequently this year. Here's what actually works: 1. First, confirm your FAFSA ID is properly linked to your attestation form. This is the most common breakdown point. 2. The MANVER# means your application is in the manual verification queue, which unfortunately can take 3-6 weeks to process due to backlogs. 3. You need to specifically request an "Application Status Override" when you call. Many frontline agents don't know this option exists. 4. Keep detailed records of all calls - date, time, agent ID, and exactly what was said. 5. If you're approaching your school's deadline, have your financial aid office submit a "Professional Judgment Review Request" with your MANVER# to expedite processing. The non-SSN verification process changed significantly this year, and many FSA agents haven't been properly trained on the new procedures.

my cousin didnt have ssn too for fafsa. she had to get letter from school then call fafsa like 20 times lol. try again maybe u get better person on phone next time. good luck!!!!

I had a similar attestation form issue and was going INSANE trying to get through to someone helpful at FSA. After waiting on hold for 3+ hours across multiple calls, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual FAFSA representative in about 7 minutes! I was shocked it worked. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ When I finally got through, I asked specifically for the Application Processing department and mentioned I needed an Application Status Override (like someone suggested above). The rep was able to see my attestation form in their system and manually connect it to my application, allowing me to complete the signature process that same day.

I handle financial aid applications at a university, and these non-SSN verification issues have been especially problematic this year. Here's what you need to understand: 1. The 2024-2025 FAFSA changes included a new verification process for non-SSN applicants that requires manual review. 2. Your attestation form is likely properly submitted but sitting in a verification queue. The MANVER# confirms this. 3. What most people don't realize is that you can still submit a partially completed FAFSA to meet your school's priority deadline, then complete the verification afterward. Contact your school's financial aid office immediately and ask them to note in your file that you've submitted everything required but are waiting on FSA processing. Most schools will hold your place in line for aid if they know you're actively working through a verification issue. This won't completely solve your problem, but it protects your aid eligibility while you continue working with FSA.

i bet if u keep calling bck eventually u get a person who can actually help! sometimes its just luck who u get on phone...

UPDATE: Success! I finally got this resolved yesterday. Here's what worked for me: 1. Used Claimyr to get through to FSA quickly (seriously saved me hours of hold time) 2. Asked specifically for the Application Processing department 3. Explained I needed an "Application Status Override" for my attestation verification 4. Provided my MANVER# and all submission dates The representative confirmed they had all my documents and manually cleared the verification hold on my account. I was able to sign and submit my FAFSA right after the call! Also contacted my financial aid office as suggested, and they were prepared to submit a priority deadline extension if needed. Thank you everyone for your help!

Congratulations Rebecca! This is such great news and thank you for sharing the step-by-step process that worked. I'm currently dealing with the exact same issue (also no SSN, also stuck at signature page) and have been getting nowhere with regular FSA calls. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service and ask specifically for "Application Status Override" - I had never heard of that term before this thread. One question - how long did it take for your account to update after the representative cleared the verification hold? Did you try signing immediately or wait a bit? Want to make sure I don't mess anything up when I finally get through!

This thread has been incredibly helpful - I'm bookmarking it for future reference! As someone who works with students facing similar issues, I want to add a few more tips that might help others: 1. Document EVERYTHING - screenshot your FAFSA account showing where you're stuck, save confirmation emails from when you submitted docs, and keep notes from every phone call with dates/times/agent names. 2. If you're still having trouble after trying the suggestions here, consider reaching out to your state's Department of Education or your congressional representative's office. They often have direct contacts at FSA for constituent services. 3. For future applicants: Start your FAFSA process EXTRA early if you don't have an SSN. What should take a few weeks can easily turn into 2+ months with verification delays. The fact that Rebecca got this resolved gives me hope that the system can work, but wow - it shouldn't be this complicated! Thank you to everyone who shared practical solutions instead of just complaining. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes a difference.