Can't reach FAFSA? Claimyr connects you to a live FAFSA agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the FAFSA
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the FAFSA drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
Anyone else notice that schools seem SUPER behind on sending award letters this year? I got my SAI like 3 weeks ago but none of my schools have sent me any award packages yet. When I called one school they said they're still catching up because of all the FAFSA delays.
This is accurate. Most schools are 4-6 weeks behind their normal financial aid timeline this year due to the FAFSA Simplification Act implementation delays. The Department of Education had to phase in the release of FAFSA data to schools, so many institutions only recently received complete applicant information. If you're making college decisions soon, I recommend contacting schools directly to request estimated aid packages based on your SAI.
UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at FSA! Turns out my application has an "unresolved comment code" that wasn't visible to me on the website. They said I need to submit additional verification of my parents' tax information even though we used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. They're sending me an email with instructions. The agent said this is why my SAI isn't showing up yet - the calculation is basically on hold until this verification is completed. Just wanted to update in case anyone else has the same issue!
Thanks for the update! This is really helpful to know. I'm having the exact same issue - my FAFSA shows "processed" but no SAR available and no SAI visible anywhere. I used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool too, so maybe I have the same verification problem. Did they give you a timeline for how long it takes once you submit the additional verification documents? I'm getting stressed about college decision deadlines coming up.
@Drew Hathaway This is exactly what happened to me! I ve'been so confused why my FAFSA said processed but I couldn t'find my SAI anywhere. I also used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool and thought that would make everything automatic. Did the FSA agent mention how common this verification issue is? I m'wondering if a lot of us are stuck in the same boat. Really appreciate you sharing this update - at least now I know what questions to ask when I call them!
Join the conversation
I think you're missing the important part of the equation - with parent plus loans, the debt is ENTIRELY in your name. With private parent loans, some lenders allow cosigning with the student, which lets them take over payments after graduation. That's what we did, and my son is now making the payments while building his credit.
That's a really good point about building credit and responsibility. We've discussed having our daughter take over payments after graduation regardless of loan type, but having it structured that way from the beginning does make sense. Did you have any challenges with the cosigning process?
One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is tax implications - the interest on both Parent PLUS and private parent loans may be tax deductible up to $2,500 per year (subject to income limits), so that could help offset some of the cost difference. Also, some private lenders offer interest rate reductions for autopay (usually 0.25%) which can add up over time. I'm leaning toward doing a mix like Sean suggested - maybe taking a smaller Parent PLUS loan to keep some federal protections while using private loans for the bulk to save on interest. Has anyone here actually done that split approach? I'm curious how complicated it makes the paperwork and repayment process.
The split approach sounds really smart! I'm definitely considering that now after reading everyone's advice. Do you know if there are any minimum amounts for Parent PLUS loans, or can you literally take just a small amount to maintain the federal protections? And thanks for mentioning the tax deduction - I completely forgot that loan interest could be deductible. That does help narrow the real cost difference between the options.
Join the conversation
As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently helping my younger sibling navigate their first FAFSA and we're waiting to hear back from schools. Their SAI came out to -1200, so reading about everyone's experiences with negative SAI and verification has been really reassuring. The practical tips shared here are gold - especially about checking spam folders regularly, getting IRS tax transcripts directly from irs.gov, and being proactive about follow-up calls. It's clear that verification is just a normal part of the process for many families, not something to panic about. What I appreciate most is how people who work in financial aid took the time to explain the "why" behind these processes. Understanding that verification is a federal requirement and that negative SAI should lead to substantial Pell Grant funding once everything clears makes the whole situation much less stressful. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - this community is such a valuable resource for families navigating financial aid for the first time!
Welcome to the community! It's so great to see you helping your sibling through this process. With an SAI of -1200, they're in excellent shape for substantial Pell Grant funding - likely the maximum amount once everything processes. One thing I'd add to all the great advice already shared: create a simple timeline/checklist for your sibling so they stay on top of deadlines. Include things like "check student portal weekly," "verify all documents submitted match FAFSA exactly," and "follow up 3-5 days after document submission." The fact that you're both being proactive and learning from everyone's experiences here puts you way ahead of families who just submit the FAFSA and wait passively. Your sibling is lucky to have someone helping them navigate this! The verification process might seem overwhelming at first, but as everyone has shown, it's totally manageable when you know what to expect.
This thread has been so incredibly helpful as someone new to the financial aid process! My nephew just got his FAFSA results with an SAI of -950 and we were confused about what that meant for his Pell Grant eligibility. Reading through everyone's experiences with negative SAI and verification has cleared up so much confusion. The detailed explanations from financial aid professionals about verification being a federal requirement (not schools trying to deny aid) and the practical tips about checking spam folders, getting official IRS transcripts, and being proactive with follow-ups are exactly what we needed to know. It's reassuring to understand that negative SAI should definitely qualify for substantial Pell Grant funding once any verification issues are resolved. I'm bookmarking this thread to reference as we navigate his aid packages from different schools. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and knowledge - this community is such an amazing resource for families going through this process for the first time!
Join the conversation
I had the exact same issue last month! The "unable right now" error drove me crazy for days. What finally worked for me was trying at really off-peak hours - like 2-3 AM on weekdays. I know it sounds crazy, but I think their servers are just completely overwhelmed during normal hours. Also, try using an incognito/private browser window - sometimes cached data can interfere with the login process. The mobile app suggestion from others is solid too. Don't panic about your deadline - most schools are being flexible with FAFSA deadlines this year given all the system issues. You've got this!
Thank you so much for the reassurance about the deadlines! I was really starting to stress about that. The 2-3 AM idea is actually brilliant - I never would have thought to try the middle of the night. I'm definitely going to set an alarm and give it a shot tonight. Did you have any other issues once you actually got into the system, or was it smooth sailing after that initial login hurdle?
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! It's so frustrating because I keep hearing mixed advice - some people say try early morning, others say late at night, and I've even seen people recommend specific browsers. What's really stressing me out is that my school's financial aid office keeps telling me to "just keep trying" but they haven't given me any concrete workarounds. Has anyone found a pattern to when the site actually works? Like are there specific days of the week or times that seem more reliable? I'm willing to set multiple alarms if it means I can finally get past this error message!
I feel your pain! I'm actually new to dealing with FAFSA myself, but from reading all these comments it sounds like early morning (around 5-7 AM) seems to be the most consistent time that works for people. The mobile app also seems to be more reliable than the website. Maybe try setting an alarm for 6 AM tomorrow and use the myStudentAid app instead of the browser? Also, it might be worth documenting all your failed attempts with screenshots and timestamps - that way if you do miss any deadlines, you'll have proof that you were trying. Good luck!
Wesley Hallow
Thank you all SO much for these helpful responses! I feel much more confident now. To summarize what I've learned: 1. I need the 2025-26 FAFSA for Fall 2025 enrollment 2. It opens October 1, 2024 3. We'll use our 2023 tax information 4. I should create FSA IDs for myself and my daughter now 5. Check for both school AND state priority deadlines 6. Also check if any schools require the CSS Profile 7. Apply early in case of technical issues I'm going to start gathering all our documents now and will mark October 1st on my calendar. This community has been incredibly helpful - thank you again!
0 coins
Sean O'Donnell
•Perfect summary! You've got this covered. One small addition - consider bookmarking the Federal Student Aid website (studentaid.gov) now so you have quick access to official information when questions come up during the process. Also, if your daughter ends up applying to any schools that participate in early decision programs, double-check their specific FAFSA deadlines as they can be even earlier than regular decision. Good luck with everything!
0 coins
Ava Williams
Welcome to the FAFSA journey! As someone who just went through this with my oldest last year, I can tell you that you're asking all the right questions early, which puts you ahead of the game. One thing I wish I had known earlier is to also check if your daughter's potential schools have any institutional financial aid forms beyond FAFSA and CSS Profile. Some schools have their own supplemental forms that can unlock additional aid opportunities. Also, if your family has any unusual financial circumstances (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), document those now as you may need to submit a "special circumstances" appeal later. The learning curve is steep but manageable - you're going to do great! And don't hesitate to reach out to the financial aid offices at your daughter's prospective schools directly. They're usually very helpful and can give you school-specific guidance.
0 coins
Dylan Fisher
•Thank you for the encouragement! It's so reassuring to hear from someone who just went through this. I hadn't thought about schools having their own additional forms beyond CSS Profile - I'll definitely check each school's website carefully. The special circumstances documentation tip is really smart too. It sounds like being proactive and organized is key. Did you find the financial aid offices at your son's schools pretty responsive when you had questions?
0 coins