FAFSA suddenly shows unsubmitted status after initially processing with SAI - what happened?

omg same thing happened to my son's FAFSA!! it had a SAI number and everything and now looks like we never even finished it! wtf is going on with the system this year???

How long ago did you notice this? Have you been able to get through to anyone at FSA? I'm wondering if we should try submitting again or if that would make things worse...

just noticed it 2 days ago. tried calling like 5 times but cant get a real person. thinking about just resubmitting but scared itll mess things up more

This is actually a known issue with the 2025-2026 FAFSA processing system. The Department of Education announced last week that approximately 12% of submitted applications are experiencing a status display error where completed forms appear as unsubmitted. The good news is that your data should still be in their system. Here's what you need to do:\n\n1. Take screenshots of any confirmation emails or numbers you received when originally submitting\n2. Email fsapartners@ed.gov with those screenshots and your daughter's information\n3. Check the FAFSA processing status page (not just her account) at https://studentaid.gov/fafsa-status\n\nMost importantly, don't resubmit the application as this can create duplicate records in their system and further delay processing.

Thank you so much for this information! We do have the confirmation email from when she first submitted so I'll make sure to include that in our follow-up. I had no idea there was a separate status page - we'll check that right away. Do you happen to know how long they're taking to respond to emails right now?

Email response times are currently running about 7-10 business days according to their latest update. Make sure your subject line includes \

I work in a college financial aid office and we've been seeing this EXACT issue with dozens of students this cycle. The new FAFSA rollout has been an absolute disaster. Here's the inside scoop: the system is randomly flagging some applications as \

ok so should i still email that fsapartners adress too? or just talk to the schools?

Do both. Email FSA for your records (use exactly \

Thank you for this insider perspective! It's both reassuring and frustrating to hear this is a widespread issue. My daughter applied to 6 schools - should we contact all of them or just her top choices? And what specific information should we provide to the financial aid offices?

Contact ALL six schools - you never know which might offer the best aid package. Provide: 1) Student name and DOB, 2) FAFSA ID, 3) Original submission date, 4) Screenshot of any confirmation emails, and 5) Brief explanation of status change. Most schools are creating special tracking codes for these FAFSA system errors to ensure students aren't penalized for the department's mistakes.

My gf had a similar problem but her SAI just disappeared even tho it still showed submitted. When she called they said its part of the reprocessing due to that glitch they announced in January. They just reset everything instead of fixing it lol typical government

Was your girlfriend able to get through to a real person on the phone? We've been trying for days and can't get past the automated system.

Yeah she got lucky after calling like 6 times. Called right when they opened at 8am EST

After spending 4 hours trying to reach someone at FSA about a similar issue, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it was a game-changer. They connected me to an actual FSA agent in about 15 minutes instead of endless hold times. The agent confirmed this is a known display issue and was able to verify my son's application was actually still in their system despite showing as unsubmitted. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ\n\nThe FSA agent told me they're prioritizing fixing applications with upcoming school deadlines, so make sure to mention any priority dates when you talk to them.

Thank you for this suggestion! Did they actually fix your issue right away or just confirm it was a known problem? My daughter's earliest priority deadline is February 15, so we're getting really anxious about this.

They didn't fix it immediately, but they put a priority flag on our application after I mentioned the February deadlines. The agent was able to see our original submission date and SAI score in their internal system, even though it wasn't showing up on our end. She said they're working through the backlog and applications with February deadlines are being handled first. They gave me a case number to reference for follow-ups too.

OMG the FAFSA system this year is a COMPLETE DISASTER!!! My daughter submitted in December too and now it's showing as if she never even started an application!! Called for HOURS and sent THREE emails with ZERO response. Meanwhile, her school is sending threatening emails about missing financial aid deadlines. I'M LOSING MY MIND!!!\n\nThis is my 3rd kid going through college and I have NEVER seen such an incompetent rollout of anything government-related in my life (and that's saying A LOT). They had THREE EXTRA MONTHS to get this right and still completely failed. How are families supposed to make college decisions without knowing financial aid???\n\nAnd don't even get me started on the new \

I understand your frustration - this FAFSA cycle has been particularly challenging. For the threatening emails from the school, I'd recommend forwarding the FSA's official announcement about the processing delays to your daughter's financial aid office. All schools have received guidance from the Department of Education about these issues, and most are extending their financial aid deadlines accordingly. If they're still sending threatening emails, ask to speak with the financial aid director directly, as they should be aware of these systemic problems.

They SHOULD be aware but the financial aid office keeps saying they

the new \

EXACTLY!!! And don't even get me started on how it handled my stepdaughter's situation - the form literally had no option for our actual family setup and we had to call for help, only to be told to just

To provide some factual context: The Department of Education acknowledged significant processing issues with the 2025-2026 FAFSA on January 30th. Three specific problems were identified:\n\n1. Status display errors (applications appearing as unsubmitted when they were processed)\n2. Missing SAI calculations for previously processed applications\n3. Contributor section access problems\n\nTheir official guidance is:\n- Do NOT resubmit applications that were previously completed\n- Document original submission with screenshots/confirmation emails\n- Use the FSA Partner Portal for status verification rather than the student portal\n- Expect processing delays of 4-6 weeks (extended from the usual 3-5 days)\n\nFor priority deadlines, most institutions have announced extensions, but you should communicate directly with each school's financial aid office. The Department has committed to ensuring no student is disadvantaged due to these technical issues.

Thank you for this clear explanation. What exactly is the FSA Partner Portal? Is that different from the studentaid.gov site my daughter uses to log in? I'm not seeing that option anywhere.

I apologize for the confusion. The FSA Partner Portal is only accessible to schools and financial aid administrators, not to students or parents. The best alternative for you is to use the FAFSA status checker at https://studentaid.gov/fafsa-status (which is different from just logging into your daughter's account). This page specifically shows processing status rather than application status. If that still shows no submission, then following the advice to contact both FSA directly and your daughter's schools is your best path forward.

Got it, thank you for clarifying! We'll check that status page right away.

Wait are we supposed to be using fsapartners@ed.gov or sending messages through the portal? im so confused about where to actually send stuff

Use the messaging system within your student's studentaid.gov account portal for official communication. The fsapartners email is primarily for institutions and financial aid administrators. When using the portal messaging system, select \

ok thx! just sent a message through the portal