FAFSA verification page shows 'unknown error' after mobile verification - can't proceed

The same exact thing happened to me last week. Turns out there was a session timing issue. What worked for me: 1. Log completely out of studentaid.gov 2. Close ALL browser windows and tabs (not just the FAFSA one) 3. Restart your computer (seriously, this matters) 4. Use Chrome in incognito mode or Firefox in private browsing 5. Log back in and go directly to the verification page without clicking around anywhere else For some reason, the contact verification system is super sensitive to cookies and cached data. If you've already tried clearing cache but didn't restart, that might be why it's still failing.

had the same prob last yr. website is GARBAGE. nothin helps except waiting a few days. system is overloaded from everyone trying to submit for the deadlines

Sooo I actually work in a financial aid office (not for the govt thank goodness) and we've been hearing about this specific error a LOT this year. The problem is that the verification system isn't syncing with your FSA ID properly. Something to do with the new SAI calculation system. Here's what you can do: 1. Try a different mobile device - sometimes the system gets stuck on a specific device ID 2. If that doesn't work, contact FSA directly at 1-800-433-3243 But good luck actually reaching someone at that number - I've had students on hold for over 3 hours lately.

This is my 4th time filling out FAFSA (junior in college) and I stg it gets worse every year. Last year my parents' tax info wouldn't transfer, the year before the confirmation emails never came through. Now this garbage. The whole system needs to be scrapped and rebuilt.

UPDATE: I tried the steps from @profile2 but still no luck. Then I tried calling the FSA number for TWO HOURS and kept getting disconnected. Eventually tried the Claimyr service that @profile1 mentioned and it actually worked! Got through to someone who confirmed there was a bug with my specific account where the mobile verification was showing as complete on my end but not in their system. They had to manually update something on their end and now I'm able to proceed. FINALLY!!! For anyone else stuck on this step, definitely worth trying to get a human on the phone who can fix it from their side.

FYI - I emailed the technical support team about this instead of calling (fsaStudentExperienceGroup@ed.gov) and they got back to me in 2 days. Might be too slow for your deadline but wanted to share another option.

Glad you got it resolved! For what it's worth, I called my school's financial aid office and they said they're well aware of these technical issues with the new FAFSA system and most schools are being more flexible with deadlines this year. Might be worth checking if your school has any extension options if others are still struggling with this.

As someone who just went through this nightmare last month, I feel your pain! The FAFSA system has been an absolute disaster this year. I had a similar issue where everything looked fine on my end but there was some backend problem they couldn't see. One thing that helped me was screenshotting every error message and keeping detailed notes of what I tried - when I finally got through to someone, having that documentation made it way easier for them to figure out what was wrong. Also, if you're still having issues, try logging in at like 6 AM when fewer people are using the system. Sometimes the errors are just from server overload. Hope you get it sorted before your deadline!

Just wanted to add another potential solution for anyone still dealing with this - I had the exact same "unknown error" after mobile verification and what finally worked for me was switching to a different phone number entirely. Turns out the system sometimes gets stuck on a specific number even after verification goes through. I used my mom's phone number instead (you can change it in your FSA ID profile) and the verification went through immediately. It's frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops, but if you have access to another phone number it might be worth trying before spending hours on hold with FSA!

Wow, reading through all these responses really shows how widespread this issue is! I'm a senior who's been dealing with FAFSA for 4 years now and this verification error is definitely new this year. For anyone still struggling, I want to add that some browsers have stricter security settings that can interfere with the verification process. I had success using Microsoft Edge instead of Chrome or Firefox - apparently Edge handles the FSA cookies differently. Also, if you're using any ad blockers or privacy extensions, try disabling them completely before attempting verification again. The FAFSA system is notoriously finicky about browser security settings. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need a master's degree in troubleshooting just to apply for financial aid, but hopefully these tips help someone avoid the hours of frustration!