FAFSA website error "cannot complete this request at this time" - stuck for weeks!

same here!! been getting that stupid error since last thursday. soooo annoying

Im dealing with this exact issue right now too!! My daugher needs her FAFSA done for NYU and we keep getting the error. We called the help line and they just put us on hold for 45 mins then hung up on us!!! Did u try filling it out during non-peak hours? Someone told me to try at like 5am when the servers aren't busy

This error typically happens when there's a problem with the session token on your account or when there's high traffic on the FAFSA servers. A few things that might help: 1. Try completely logging out, closing your browser, then logging back in (not just refreshing) 2. If you've been using saved data, try entering everything manually once 3. Check if you have any special characters in your responses that might be causing validation issues 4. Make sure your FSA ID hasn't expired or been locked If none of that works, you may need to contact Federal Student Aid directly. Unfortunately their phone system is notoriously difficult to navigate.

I had that error for TWO MONTHS last year, it's honestly ridiculous that they haven't fixed these issues after so many years of running the FAFSA program. The whole system is designed to be confusing and frustrating so fewer people apply and they can give out less money. That's my theory anyway. Keep trying and document everything in case you need to file for a deadline extension with your school.

That error message usually indicates one of three things: 1. Session timeout issue - this happens a lot with the 2025-2026 application because they added more verification steps 2. Data validation problem - the system is catching something it considers an error in your entries 3. System overload - which has been happening a lot since they updated the SAI calculation method I would recommend taking these specific steps: - Clear your browser cache completely - Use Chrome in incognito mode (seems to work better with their system) - Have all your tax and income information ready so you can complete it in one session - If you get to a specific section where it fails, take note of exactly where it happens If you keep having issues, you might need to speak directly with a Federal Student Aid agent, who can sometimes override these errors or provide a specific workaround for your account.

I got through to FSA last week after dealing with this same error! I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it worked perfectly - they got me connected to an actual human at FSA in about 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours or getting hung up on. The agent was able to look at my specific application and told me I needed to delete a duplicate application that was causing conflicts. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ After I got that fixed, the error went away and I could finally submit my FAFSA. Got my SAI calculation two days later.

This might sound weird but I had this exact same error and I found out it was because I had saved the FAFSA site as a bookmark and was accessing it that way. Something about the way the bookmark saved the URL was causing problems. When I googled "studentaid.gov" and went to the site fresh, I was able to log in and complete my application without any errors. Might be worth trying!

One more thing to try - check if your application has any sections marked as "incomplete" in your dashboard. Sometimes the error occurs because there's a required field that wasn't properly validated. Even if you think you completed everything, the system might have failed to register a response. Go through each section again carefully. Also, verify that your parents (if you're a dependent student) have properly linked their FSA IDs to your application and completed their sections. Many students miss this step and it can cause the error you're seeing.

my cousin works in financial aid office at state college and she says theres a big issue with the FASFA system this year because of all the changes they made to the SAI calculations. lots of people gettin this error. her advice is to keep trying different devices and browsers and eventually itll work. stupid advice but thats all they tell people 🤷‍♂️

UPDATE: Finally got this resolved! After trying everything suggested here, I ended up using that Claimyr service to get through to a FAFSA agent. Turns out I DID have a duplicate application that was causing conflicts (thanks @profile6 for suggesting that). The agent was able to delete the duplicate and reset my account. Just submitted my FAFSA successfully and got confirmation! Such a relief. Now waiting for my SAI calculation. Thanks everyone for your help!

Congrats on getting it fixed! This is really helpful to know about the duplicate application issue. I've been having the same error for over a week now and I think I might have the same problem - I started filling it out on my phone at school, then tried to continue on my laptop at home. Going to try that Claimyr service too since the regular FAFSA phone line is absolutely useless. Thanks for updating us with what actually worked!

I'm new to this whole FAFSA process and seeing all these error messages is honestly terrifying me! I haven't even started my application yet because I keep hearing about all these technical issues. Should I wait until they fix these problems or just dive in and hope for the best? My parents are freaking out about deadlines too. Is there anything I should do differently when starting fresh to avoid the duplicate application issue that seems to be causing problems for so many people?