StudentAid.gov keeps showing 'currently unavailable' error - can't access my FAFSA

I got through about 20 minutes ago but then it crashed while I was reviewing my verification docs. The whole system seems super unstable today. Have you tried the mobile app? Sometimes it works when the website is down.

same here cant get in since yesterday afternoon tried calling the help number but was on hold for 45 mins before i gave up

This happens every year around peak submission times. The servers get overloaded because everyone's trying to access the system at once. It's incredibly frustrating, but typically resolves within 24-48 hours. If you're concerned about your university deadline, I'd recommend calling your school's financial aid office directly to explain the situation. Most schools are aware of these FAFSA system issues and can make accommodations.

I used to waste HOURS waiting on hold when these outages happened. Then I discovered Claimyr.com which gets you through to an actual Federal Student Aid agent without the insane wait times. Just used it last week during another outage and got through in minutes instead of hours. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ if you want to see how it works. Totally saved my application deadline last semester!

🙄 welcome to the wonderful world of FAFSA where nothing works when you need it most! I've been dealing with this garbage for 3 years now and EVERY SINGLE TIME there's a deadline approach, the site crashes. It's like they WANT us to miss our financial aid. Absolutely ridiculous that a government system this important is so poorly maintained. And they wonder why students are drowning in debt!

This happened to me yesterday too. I was finally able to get in around 3am when I woke up for a bathroom break and quickly checked on my phone. Maybe try during odd hours when there's less traffic? Also, make sure you're using the correct URL - there are some phishing sites that look similar to the real StudentAid.gov site.

haha classic fafsa always breaking when we need it most lol maybe they should use some of that student loan money to buy better servers 😂

its working now just got in and could see my stuff, try again

For future reference, you can also check the Federal Student Aid Twitter account (@FederalStudentAid) during outages - they usually post updates about system status and expected resolution times. I've found it helpful to know whether it's a planned maintenance window or an unexpected issue. Also, if you're really stuck and need to reach someone urgently, try calling right when they open at 8am EST - the hold times are usually shortest then before everyone else starts calling throughout the day.

This is so stressful! I'm dealing with the same issue for my grad school applications. One tip that's helped me in the past - if you have multiple devices, try using your phone's mobile data instead of wifi. Sometimes the issue is with certain internet providers or networks being overwhelmed. Also, I've noticed that if you can get past the login screen but it crashes later, try doing just ONE thing at a time (like checking status, then logging out and back in to download a document). The system seems to handle single actions better than multiple tasks in one session when it's struggling.

I've been having the same issue since yesterday evening! So frustrating when you're trying to meet deadlines. I found that clearing my browser cookies specifically for StudentAid.gov (not just cache) helped me get in briefly this morning, though it kicked me out again after about 10 minutes. Also, if you're still having trouble, try using an incognito/private browsing window - sometimes that bypasses whatever session errors are causing the crashes. Really hoping they get this fixed soon because I know so many of us are dealing with upcoming deadlines!

I've been struggling with this exact same issue for the past two days! What worked for me was trying to access the site very early in the morning around 6 AM - I think fewer people are online then so there's less server strain. I was able to complete my verification document upload and check my SAI without any crashes. Also, if you're still having trouble reaching your school's financial aid office, many universities have emergency financial aid hotlines specifically for FAFSA-related issues during peak season. They're usually more responsive than the main federal hotline. Don't panic about your deadline - most schools are very understanding about these system outages since they happen every year around this time!

I'm experiencing the exact same frustrating issue! Been trying to access my FAFSA since yesterday and keep getting that "currently unavailable" message. What's really helped me is following @FederalStudentAid on Twitter - they actually posted an update about 2 hours ago saying they're aware of the widespread outages and are working to resolve them. They estimated service should be restored by tonight. In the meantime, I called my university's financial aid office and they said they can extend my deadline by a few days if I can provide a screenshot of the error message as proof. Might be worth reaching out to State University's financial aid office proactively - they deal with these FAFSA outages every year and are usually pretty accommodating!

I've been dealing with this same nightmare since Tuesday! The system keeps timing out right when I'm trying to submit my verification documents. What's worked for me is using a VPN to connect through a different location - sometimes the issue seems to be regional server overload. Also, I discovered that if you start filling out forms during off-peak hours but don't submit until peak times, the session often stays more stable. Try starting your session around 11 PM or 5 AM and then just keep the browser tab open. And definitely take screenshots of every error message - I learned that lesson the hard way when my school's financial aid office asked for proof of the system issues. Hang in there, this always gets resolved within a few days even though it feels like forever when you're stressed about deadlines!

I'm having the exact same problem! Been locked out since this morning and I'm getting so stressed about my deadlines too. Reading through all these responses is actually really helpful though - I had no idea about trying the mobile app or using incognito mode. Definitely going to try the early morning approach that several people mentioned. It's frustrating but oddly comforting to know this is a widespread issue and not just me doing something wrong. Thanks everyone for sharing your workarounds and tips! Fingers crossed the system is more stable tomorrow 🤞

I'm going through this exact same thing right now! Been trying since yesterday and keep getting that stupid "currently unavailable" message. What's really helping me stay sane is seeing all these great suggestions from everyone - I had no idea about trying the mobile app or the early morning approach. I just downloaded the app and am going to set my alarm for 6am tomorrow to try when there's less traffic. Also taking screenshots of all the error messages now in case I need proof for my school's financial aid office. It's so stressful when you have deadlines looming, but at least we're all dealing with this mess together! Thanks to everyone sharing their tips and workarounds - this community is seriously saving my sanity right now 🙏

I'm dealing with this exact same issue! Started yesterday around 2pm and still can't get in. This thread has been incredibly helpful though - I had no idea there were so many workarounds to try. Just attempted the mobile app suggestion from @Cedric and it actually let me log in briefly before crashing again, but at least I could see my application is still "in review" status. Planning to try the 6am approach tomorrow that several people mentioned. Also calling my school's financial aid office first thing Monday morning with screenshots of the error messages. It's such a relief to know this is widespread and not just my computer being weird. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - definitely makes this less stressful knowing we're all going through it together! 🤝