FAFSA Changes

• The FAFSA requires consent to access IRS information
• Consent is given by each contributor before signing the FAFSA
• Contributors include the student, student’s spouse, and may include a parent and/or parent’s spouse
• The FAFSA now uses the Federal Tax Information (FTI) to import IRS data
• This replaces the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) used in the past

• The Student Aid Index (SAI) is the measure of your financial need
• SAI replaces the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)
• Assets, untaxed income and other factors affect the SAI differently than years prior

• Pell Grant now awarded proportionally based on 1 – 12 credits enrollment
• Full-time, three-quarter time, half-time and less than half time enrollment statuses are no longer used
• Student whose prior school closed may have some Lifetime Eligibility Usage (LEU) restored

• Independent students typically do not provide parent information
• Students under 24 may answer FAFSA questions to show they are “Provisionally Independent”
• All appeals, forms and documentation must be completed to receive aid for each Provisionally Independent category:
  • Unaccompanied Homeless/At-Risk Youth (UHY)
    • Students who cannot live with a parent, and lack stable housing
    • At-risk youth include students staying with a friend or non-parent relative
  • Dependency Override
    • Self-supporting students who wish to appeal based on unusual circumstances other than inadequate housing
  • Parents refuse to complete the FAFSA
    • Students who confirm a parent’s refusal may receive Unsubsidized Loans Only

• FAFSA form available in 11 most common languages
• Selective Service registration no longer affects the FAFSA
• Drug convictions no longer affect the FAFSA

These federal aid requirements, rights, and responsibilities have not changed or have had only minor updates:

• The FAFSA remains required annually for federal aid consideration and is available to U.S. Citizens or Eligible Non-Citizens.
• Questions about the applicant's gender, race, and ethnicity have no effect on federal student aid eligibility and remain only for statistical purposes.
• Dependency status questions to determine if your parents must provide their information remain the same.
• FAFSA will still request tax information from two years ago. Families that had significant reduction in income due to extenuating circumstances can still request special circumstances review.
• Federal Education Loans requirements remain the same.
• Federal Aid Rights & Responsibilities also didn't change.
• Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements for Federal Aid are still required to maintain eligibility.