A Better FAFSA …
The US FAFSA Simplification Act represents a significant overhaul to the processes and systems used to apply for and offer financial aid.
**Caution! Our information is limited, but we will continue to update this page as more details become available. The details included on this page are what we can currently confirm. Check back regularly this fall for updates!**
The 2024-25 FAFSA® has been delayed and will not be available until sometime in December 2023. At the end of 2021, Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act. This act changes not only the questions presented to students and families, but also how their tax information is presented, who can be listed on the application, how the information will be sent to institutions, what subsequent questions institutions can ask, among other changes. Due to the impact on institutions and the complexity of these changes, Department of Education has stated they will make the application available “sometime in December, 2023.”
WSU’s FAFSA/WASFA priority dates for 2024-25:
- May 1, 2024 – Deadline for new & current Cougs
Impacts & Benefits
The FAFSA® is getting a makeover with the hopes of making it even easier for students and their families to submit.
Not only will there be fewer questions on the FAFSA® to answer, and fewer requirements overall, your tax information will be retrieved through a direct data exchange with the IRS.
The US Department of Education (ED) also estimates we should see an increase to the number of students eligible to receive the Federal Pell Grant.
The Department of Education is in the soft launch period of the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. During the soft launch period, they will monitor site performance, conduct pauses for maintenance, and make updates to improve the user experience for students and families.. If you are experiencing issues with any portion of your 2024-2025 FAFSA Application, check studentaid.gov to see if this is a known and documented issue.
FSA ID
Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA®, all users/contributors must have an FSA ID and password to fill out the FAFSA®, even those without a Social Security Number (SSN).
However, those without a SSN cannot yet create an FSA ID. We expect this access to be available around the same time the FAFSA® is released.
Processing your FSA ID can take up to 5 business days, so we recommend creating it at least a week before you start your FAFSA®. You could even do it now!
*Students without a SSN will need to complete the WASFA application – so long as they are a Washington State resident.
What is an FSA ID?
Who needs an FSA ID?
How do you get an FSA ID?
What if I don’t remember my FSA ID or am not sure if I have one?
When should I create my FSA ID?
If you’ve got a Social Security Number (SSN), you can create it now!In general, because it can take up to 5 business days, we recommend creating it at least a week before you start your FAFSA®.
Those without SSN’s will likely have to wait until December 2023 before the system is able to create their FSA IDs.
What’s Changing?
Contributors
A contributor refers to anyone who is required to provide information on a student’s FAFSA®, including the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adopted parent, or the parent’s spouse. Being a contributor does not imply responsibility for the student’s college costs.
- You, the student, will need the contributor’s name, date of birth, Social Security Number (SSN), and email address to invite them to complete the required portion of your FAFSA®.
- Contributors will need to provide personal and financial information on their section of your FAFSA®. They will only be able to see and complete their own specific sections of your FAFSA®.
- All Contributors must provide consent to have their federal tax information (FTI) transferred directly from the IRS to the FAFSA®. If consent is not provided by all parties, you will not be eligible for federal financial aid. In previous years, transferring IRS data was optional; moving forward, it’s required.
Which Parent to Use in Divorced/Separated Situations
If your parents are divorced or separated, the contributing parent(s) is the parent (and their spouse, if remarried) who provided the greater portion of your financial support during the 12 months immediately prior to filing the FAFSA®.It no longer will default to the parent you primarily lived with during the past 12 months.
Family Size and Number in College
The number of people in your family size will be automatically pulled in from your Federal Tax Information (FTI).The number of family members in college will still be asked on the FAFSA®, but it will be excluded from the federal, state, and institutional financial aid calculation.
Small Business and Farm Assets
The net worth of any small business and/or farm assets must be included on the FAFSA®.Remember, net worth = asset value minus asset debt.
Terminology
EFC > SAI
The final figure calculated by the FAFSA® will no longer be called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Rather, it will be called the Student Aid Index (SAI) to more accurately describe how that number is used to determine financial aid eligibility.
Student Aid Report (SAR) > FAFSA® Submission Summary
Similarly, the Student Aid Report (SAR) which is the confirmation of what’s been submitted will now be referred to as the FAFSA® Submission Summary.
Known Issues
What’s Not Changing?
Basic Eligibility
The FAFSA® will continue to be made available on an annual basis for federal financial aid consideration and students must meet the eligibility requirements.It is the only application UW–Madison uses for consideration of all sources of financial aid including federal, state, and institutional financial aid.
Dependency Status
Prior-Prior Year Tax Data
The FAFSA® will use prior-prior tax data, which could be up to two years old.If you or your family have experienced significant changes in income or have expenses that are not reflected on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), your special circumstances may be eligible for a professional judgment. Read More»