Lost FAFSA login credentials - need alternative contact methods after 10 years

Uggggh the FAFSA phone system is THE WORST. I was in a similar situation last year trying to recover my husband's account info from like 2011. What worked for me was calling right when they open (8am Eastern I think?). Still waited 45 mins but at least got through. Also try the account recovery process on studentaid.gov instead of the regular 'forgot password' option - it has different verification methods that might work with your current contact info.

There are several ways to regain access to your FAFSA account: 1. Call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 (their main number) or try the alternative number 1-800-730-8913 2. For account specific issues, the FSA ID helpdesk is at 1-800-557-7394 3. You can also submit a request through their feedback center at studentaid.gov/feedback-center/ 4. If you absolutely can't recover your old account, you may need to create a new FSA ID and then call to have them link your previous records Also, since you're helping your daughter, remember that she'll need her own FSA ID separate from yours. You'll be listed as the parent contributor on her application.

have u tried going 2 the financial aid office at ur daughters school?? sometimes they can help u get thru to someone or even fix the issue themselves. thats how i got mine fixed when i couldnt get anybody on the phone

After trying for WEEKS to reach someone at FSA about my son's verification issues, I finally discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that actually gets you through to a live FAFSA agent without the endless waiting. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ It was literally the only way I managed to talk to an actual human at FSA. The agent was able to help me recover access even though I no longer had my old email address. They verified my identity through other means (SSN, DOB, address history, etc).

This is such a common problem with FAFSA and it's RIDICULOUS!!! The entire system is designed to make it impossible to get help. I went through this nightmare scenario last year and eventually had to CREATE A NEW FSA ID and start from scratch. Then I had to send in actual physical mail with copies of my ID and social security card to link my old records. It took OVER TWO MONTHS to resolve. The fact that they expect people to remember login details from 10+ years ago is absurd. Not everyone keeps the same email address for their entire life! And their phone system is a joke - I once waited 3.5 hours only to be disconnected when an agent finally picked up.

Have you tried using the Virtual Assistant chatbot on studentaid.gov? It's not great for complex issues, but it can sometimes direct you to specific recovery options based on your situation. Also, stupid question maybe, but have you checked old email accounts? I found my old FSA emails in a Gmail account I hadn't used in years, which had the information I needed.

After seeing this thread, I tried the Claimyr service the other person mentioned and IT WORKED!! Got through to a real person at FSA in like 10 minutes after spending days trying on my own. Just wanted to update in case anyone else is struggling with the same issue.

my cousin works at a college financial aid office and she says they get special direct numbers to fafsa that regular ppl dont get. so definitely try going thru a school if u can!!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Lost access to my FSA ID from 2016 and it's been a nightmare. One thing that helped me was contacting my state's Department of Education - they often have direct connections to federal aid offices and can sometimes escalate your case. Also, if you have any old tax returns from when you filed the FAFSA, those can help verify your identity when you do get through to someone. The whole system is absolutely broken and designed to frustrate people into giving up. Don't let them wear you down - you deserve access to your own information!

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! Here's what finally worked for me after months of frustration: I called the FSA ID helpdesk number (1-800-557-7394) that someone mentioned above, but the key was calling on a Tuesday morning right at 8am EST. I also had my Social Security card, driver's license, and old tax returns ready before calling. The agent was able to verify my identity using my SSN, birthdate, and address history even though I couldn't access my old email. They walked me through creating a new FSA ID and then linked it to my old records on the spot. The whole call took about 30 minutes once I got through. Don't give up - you will get this resolved! Your daughter is lucky to have a parent who's fighting this hard to help her with college funding.

I'm going through the EXACT same thing right now with my old FSA ID from 2014! It's like they designed this system to be as user-unfriendly as possible. One tip that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you have any old bank statements or records showing ACH transfers from federal student aid, those can also help verify your identity when you finally get through to someone. I found some old statements in my tax files that showed the loan disbursements, and the agent was able to use those account numbers as additional verification. Also, I've heard that tweeting at @FederalStudentAid sometimes gets faster responses than their regular channels - they seem more responsive on social media because it's public. Worth a shot when you're desperate! Hang in there, this process is absolutely maddening but you'll get through it.