While completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) form can be a daunting task, it’s critical to tap into the funds available for students, including outright grants.
The Covid-19 relief bill signed into law in late 2020 (The Consolidated Appropriations Act), made several changes to the FAFSA filing process in the future. The law seeks to simplify the financial aid process. Additional provisions will make changes to how student income is calculated.
The new FAFSA application is slated to be implemented in the 2024–2025 award year, although there are a few minor changes that will occur earlier. It’s important to understand how the timing of family income impacts financial aid. Income-related information required on the FAFSA is based on the “prior prior” tax year (referred to as the base year). For example, the 2021–2022 FAFSA will be based on income information in the 2019 tax return. Because the FAFSA changes will be enacted in 2024, families may want to consider their income in 2022 and how future changes may impact their planning.
Here are some of the key changes:
- The term “Expected Family Contribution (EFC)” will now be known as the “Student Aid Index (SAI)”
- The FAFSA form will be simplified, reducing the number of questions to 36 from more than 100
- For divorced parents, the changes will require the parent who provides the most financial support to complete the FAFSA, instead of the parent who lives with the student most of the time
- Some new calculations are beneficial. Distributions from non-parent-owned college savings accounts (a grandparent, for example) will not be counted as income to the student for purposes of the FAFSA test. This is important since the FAFSA counts 50% of student income towards calculation of the EFC. Under current rules, a $10,000 distribution from a grandparent-owned 529 plan account may reduce the following aid award by $5,000
- Additionally, the Income Protection Allowance (IPA), which shelters a certain amount of income from the EFC calculation, will be increased as part of the changes
- One change in particular will have a negative impact on families with multiple children in college at the same time. Currently the calculation for a family’s EFC is generally divided by the number of eligible students attending college at that time, effectively increasing the amount of financial aid available. This will change under the new rules, as the calculation will not incorporate how many children are in college at the same time.
Get an early start
Families filing for aid — especially those filing for the first time — will want to get their records organized (tax returns, etc.) so the process can go more smoothly and the FAFSA can be filed in a timely manner. It’s generally better to file early, especially if colleges require additional information or clarification after the initial filing of the FAFSA. Filing early may also increase the likelihood of receiving a grant.
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