Will FAFSA processing continue during a government shutdown? Need urgent answers!

Unfortunately, yes, a government shutdown can affect FAFSA processing. The Department of Education would likely operate with limited staff, which means delays in processing applications and calculating SAI scores. Essential services usually continue, but with reduced capacity. Your best bet is to contact your school's financial aid office ASAP and explain your situation - they often have contingency plans for these scenarios.

omg same boat!!!! my application has been "processing" for 3 weeks now and im so stressed. if theres a shutdown do we have to start over when govt opens back up??

During the 2018 shutdown the FAFSA website stayed up but processing was delayed by WEEKS. I had to get an emergency loan from my school to cover tuition until my financial aid came thru. Check with your financial aid office about emergency options they might have.

I work at a university financial aid office. Here's what you need to know: 1. Yes, a shutdown will delay FAFSA processing, but it won't completely stop all operations 2. Your submitted application is safe - no data will be lost 3. Most schools have policies for government shutdown scenarios 4. Contact your financial aid office immediately to request an extension based on the shutdown 5. Bring documentation showing when you submitted your FAFSA 6. Ask about emergency funding options (many schools have short-term loans specifically for this) This situation is frustrating but happens every few years. Your school has dealt with it before and should have procedures in place.

the whole system is such a joke!!! why should our education depend on whether congress can do their job?? my brother lost his work-study position during the last shutdown and had to drop out for a semester. the system is DESIGNED to keep poor students out!!!

I've been trying to reach someone at FSA for days about my verification documents and it's impossible to get through. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me past the hold times and connected with an actual human at Federal Student Aid. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent told me that even during previous shutdowns, they maintained some staff to handle critical cases, especially those involving verification and deadline issues. If you're facing a school deadline, they can sometimes flag your account for priority processing.

my cousins fafsa got stuck during the 2019 shutdown and her school just made her pay the full amount upfront then refunded her later when the aid came thru!!! Not everyone has $20k sitting around!!

To prepare for the potential shutdown, I recommend doing the following immediately: 1. Download and save screenshots of your submitted FAFSA and any processing confirmations 2. Email your financial aid office with "URGENT: Government Shutdown FAFSA Processing" in the subject line 3. Request a formal extension of your October 15 deadline citing the pending government shutdown 4. Ask about tuition deferment options and emergency funding 5. Get documentation from Federal Student Aid showing your application status (use phone or email) 6. Check if your college offers short-term emergency loans During previous shutdowns, the Department of Education maintained some functions but with significant delays. Your school should already be preparing contingency plans.

this happened to me in 2019!!! i had to get an emergency hardship waiver from my school. most schools have them but dont advertise it. ask specifically for a "shutdown hardship waiver" or "processing delay waiver" - those are the magic words that worked for me

For everyone concerned about this issue, I just read that the Department of Education has a contingency plan that keeps approximately 10% of staff working during shutdowns. While that means significant delays, it doesn't mean complete stoppage of all FAFSA processing. The most important step is communicating with your financial aid office. They can often place holds on your account to prevent registration or housing cancellations while waiting for delayed federal aid processing.

Hey Nia! I'm in a similar situation as a transfer student - my FAFSA has been processing for weeks and I'm terrified about the shutdown too. One thing I discovered is that you can check the status of government operations at usa.gov during a shutdown to see which Department of Education services are still running. Also, if you haven't already, try logging into your FSA account to see if there are any updates or messages about your application status. Sometimes they post notices there before they update the main FAFSA site. Fingers crossed we both get our aid sorted out before any potential shutdown hits! 🤞

As someone who went through this exact scenario during the 2018-2019 shutdown, I want to reassure you that while it's stressful, there are definitely ways to navigate this! Here's what worked for me: I immediately contacted my school's emergency aid office (separate from regular financial aid) and they had a specific "government shutdown protocol" that included temporary tuition deferrals and interest-free bridge loans. The key is acting fast - don't wait to see if a shutdown actually happens. Also, document EVERYTHING - screenshots of your FAFSA submission, emails with your school, phone call logs with FSA. I kept a folder with all of this and it made the process much smoother when my aid finally came through. Your first-gen status might actually work in your favor here - many schools have additional emergency resources specifically for first-generation students facing financial emergencies. Hang in there! 💪

I just went through something similar last year when there were delays (not shutdown related, but same stress!). Here's what I wish I'd known earlier: call your school's main financial aid number and ask to speak with someone about "emergency situations" or "extenuating circumstances" - they often have different staff who handle these cases vs regular processing. Also, if you're living on campus, contact housing separately from financial aid. They usually have their own policies for students waiting on delayed federal aid and can put temporary holds on your account. The worst part is the waiting and not knowing, but most schools have been through this enough times that they have systems in place. Document your FAFSA submission date and any communication attempts with federal aid - this shows you did everything right on your end. You've got this! The fact that you're being proactive now puts you ahead of many students who wait until the last minute.