Submitting paper FAFSA as backup while online application is under review - will this cause problems?

NO NO NO DON'T DO THIS!!! I literally made this exact mistake last year and it was a NIGHTMARE!!! The system flagged my application as potentially fraudulent because there were two submissions and it took MONTHS to resolve. Both applications went into verification and I had to submit all my documents TWICE. Then they kept saying different things about which application was valid. Just stick with your online one and call FSA if you're concerned about the issues.

Omg seriously?? That sounds awful! I definitely don't want to deal with fraud flags. Did you have to contact them to fix it or did it eventually sort itself out?

Submitting a paper FAFSA when you already have an online application in progress is definitely not recommended. The system is designed to identify duplicate applications through your SSN, and this will trigger what's called a

Thanks for explaining! That makes sense about the adaptive questioning. Do you know how I can find out exactly what issues they're flagging on my application? The status just says 'in review - issues identified' without specifics.

my brother put in both kinds last yr and got his money faster so maybe it works sometimes?? idk tho he got the pell grant n i think u get diff amounts based on which form u do

This is incorrect information. Pell Grant amounts are determined by your SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation, not by which format of the FAFSA you submit. The formulas are identical for both paper and online applications. If your brother received aid more quickly, it was likely due to other factors in his application or processing timeline, not because he submitted multiple applications.

To address your specific concern about the 'issues' showing on your application: This is actually quite normal in the review process. The system flags items that need verification or additional information. You should be able to see what those specific issues are by logging into studentaid.gov and checking the 'Action Required' or 'To-Do List' section of your dashboard.\n\nIf you're having trouble accessing those details or understanding what they mean, you'll need to contact Federal Student Aid directly. Their standard phone line can have extremely long wait times (I've waited 2+ hours before), but there's a service called Claimyr that can help get you through much faster. I used it last month when I had verification issues and got through in about 10 minutes - their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ\n\nRegardless of how you contact them, speaking with FSA directly is the best way to understand and resolve any issues with your existing application, rather than complicating things with a paper submission.

Thank you so much! I didn't realize there was a specific section for the issues - I'll check that right now. If I can't figure it out, I might try that service because every time I've called FSA I get disconnected after waiting forever.

I work in a financial aid office. Please do NOT submit both versions. Here's why:\n\n1. Double submissions automatically trigger a C-code on your SAI calculation\n2. Both applications go into verification queue which delays processing by 3-4 weeks minimum\n3. Your school has to manually resolve which application to use\n4. You'll have to complete verification requirements twice in many cases\n\nIf you're seeing issues on your online application, address those specifically. The online system actually has fewer errors than paper forms because it has built-in validation checks.

Thank you for the insider perspective! I definitely won't submit a paper form now. What's a C-code? Is that bad?

A C-code (Comment code) is a flag on your FAFSA that requires resolution before aid can be disbursed. Some are minor, some are major. The duplicate application C-code (C-14) requires manual resolution by both the Federal Processor and your school's financial aid office. It's not the end of the world, but it will delay your aid processing by weeks or sometimes months.

I'm going through almost the same thing right now!!! Mine's been \

Yes! I just checked after someone else mentioned that and you're right - they were hidden in a submenu. Looks like mine is flagging something about my parents' marital status and some tax info that doesn't match. At least now I know what to fix instead of submitting another application!

When I did my FAFSA last month I actually called and asked this exact question because I was worried about my online app. The rep told me that paper applications are taking WAY longer to process now - like 6-8 weeks compared to 2-3 weeks for online. She also said they're trying to phase out paper forms eventually, so they're not really encouraging people to use them anymore. Just stick with your online one, it'll be faster in the long run even with the issues.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I've checked my dashboard more carefully and found the specific issues I need to address (parent marital status inconsistency and some tax info that doesn't match their records). I'm definitely NOT going to submit a paper form now after hearing all your experiences. Going to upload the correct documents tonight and hopefully that resolves everything. Fingers crossed!

That's great you found the specific issues! One quick tip - when you upload corrected documents, take screenshots of the confirmation pages. I've had situations where documents seemingly disappeared from the system, and having proof of submission saved me a ton of headache. Good luck with your aid!