How to Fix FAFSA Not working – Steps to fix

This guide covers how to fix FAFSA not working errors along with other information, such as how FAFSA works, why these errors occur, and more.

So, without any further ado, let’s get started –

What is FAFSA?

FAFSA (Free Application for Free Student Aid) is an official form in which graduates and undergraduate students in the United States of America apply for federal financial help to pay college fees.

It totally differs from the CSS Profile ( College Scholarship Service Profile) that some colleges ask for. It is a fee-based product of the College Board and is used by the educational institutions to give out their own institutional fund rather than from state and federal funds.

The FAFSA decides who is eligible to receive financial aid in the form of loans, scholarships, and grants based on the data collected from the application. The FAFSA application period starts on 1st October and ends on 30th June. It also has some deadlines that students have to follow strictly.

How does FAFSA work?

The Federal Student Aid, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education, provides up to $150 billion annually in federal aid to more than 13 million students. It consists of grants, work-study, and loans.

Grants

It is also referred to as a scholarship, and it is for those students who need exceptional financial help. You don’t have to repay it. It is also known as Pell Grant.

Work-study

The government initiated it to provide paid part-time jobs for graduates and undergraduate students by taking part in colleges and universities.

Loan

The loan is different from grants and scholarships. It needs to be repaid. However, the federal interest rate is low compared with those that private lenders offer.

Many other types of federal loans are available for higher education, also referred to as Stafford Loans. There are two types of subsidized loans: the first is directly subsidized, and the other is directly unsubsidized. 

Direct subsidizing is available for families that need financial help, whereas Direct unsubsidizing is available to families regardless of financial needs. The FAFSA is the only gateway to this financial help. The Office of Federal Student Aid administers it.

Knowledge of Financial Literacy for Students is required when applying for these kinds of loans.

Who is qualified for FAFSA?

There are some criteria that you must meet if you want to get federal student financial help. Have a look at the mentioned criteria.

• Students must be registered with the Selective Service System.
• Students must have continued the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) report.

• The Students must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or qualified non-U.S. citizens.

• Students must have a valid Social Security number.

• It asks for a high school diploma or a GED.

• Students must not be a part of any crime or found guilty of selling or possessing illegitimate drugs at the time of receiving federal aid.
• Students must sign a certification statement stating that they are not a part of any default on a federal student loan and don’t possess any money on a federal student grant. They will use the financial aid for educational purposes only.
• Students must prove that they need financial assistance and that their families can’t afford to pay for their college.

What’s the issue with FAFSA?

Many are looking for “How to fix FAFSA Not working” errors as millions of college students fill out FAFSA forms every year for financial aid. More than 13 million students get a combined $150 billion as financial help via the FAFSA.

The FSA website saw a sudden visitor increase after the current president of the United States, Joseph Biden, declared his plans for a broad Student Loan Forgiveness Program.

He set a criterion saying that any borrower earning less than $125,000 yearly will get the relief of up to $10,000 in student debt cancellation.

However many visitors reported an issue on the website after Joe Biden’s announcement as they all want to apply for Joe Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness plan. The FSA website reads.

“StudentAid.gov is experiencing high volumes of visitors. You will be able to proceed to the site momentarily. Thanks for your patience!”

It also made visitors angry, so the FSA launched another website with complete information on the president’s debt cancellation plan.

How to fix FAFSA Not Working?

The error that the visitors face on the FAFSA is that they cannot sign up and submit the portion instead of filling in all the sections. After you opt to submit your encounter with the message “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, please successfully return to the home page.”

Here are the probable reasons and fixes for FAFSA not working.

Technical Issue

Sometimes the website may be having a maintenance process or facing a technical issue. In this case, you can try completing your application after a few hours.

Unsupported browser

You may be using a browser that the FAFSA website doesn’t support. Try using browsers such as Google Chrome, iOS Safari, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox.

If you use a supported browser, try clearing your cache and cookies.

Incorrect or Incomplete Application

Make sure to correctly enter all the information such as your name, SSN details, D.O.B and school information. Also, make sure to complete all the steps.

Data Mismatch

You might be looking for “how to fix FAFSA Not working. “If you are using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, make sure to recheck the information, as there may be differences between your information and the available information on the tool.

Contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center

If nothing works, you can try contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243), and the representative will help you.

How to Correct or Update Your FAFSA Form

Now that you know “How to fix FAFSA Not working,” If you have made an error while filling out your FAFSA Form, follow the steps below to get it fixed.

• Open your browser and visit “fafsa.gov”
• Login into your account by entering your FSA ID
• Look for Make the correction on My FSA Page and click on it.
• Update your information and recheck it properly.
• Review and submit your application.

Alternatively, you can contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at “https://studentaid.gov/help-center/contact” and request a SAR application.

Once you recieve an application on your Mail, fill it out, sign it and send it to the address mentioned in your application.

You can also contact your school administrator to see if they can electronically change your information.

FAQs

Why is my FAFSA application not working?

There may be many issues and fix for your FAFSA application not working, such as technical issues, unsupported browser, incorrect information and Data mismatch.

When did the FAFSA application start?

Application for FAFSA starts on 1st October and ends on 30th June.

What should I do if I’m late for the FAFSA application?

If you are late, there is nothing much you can do, you can try again next year or try contacting your college authorities to see if they can help you.

How can I prevent FAFSA application issues in the future?

To prevent any issues, make sure to fill out an application as early as possible, verify all the information in advance and print your filled-out application form with documents in case the authorities ask for it.

Conclusion 

There you have it. We have tried to cover everything about “How to fix FAFSA Not working” and some other relevant information. I hope this will help you out!