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President Obama Simplifies the FAFSA for You
By Kathryn Knight
June 24, 2009
In a statement today, the Obama Administration announced sweeping changes to the FAFSA. Families filling out the FAFSA will no longer have to go through such a painstaking process just to see if they qualify for aid. With the new changes, the online FAFSA will see a drop from 30 screens of questions to 10, according to CNN.
The goal, according to the press release issued today by the U.S. Department of Education, is to “increase postsecondary enrollment, particularly among low- and middle-income students” through a more simplified process. Some of these changes have been put into effect already while the rest will span out over the course of a few months, culminating in the January 1, 2010 release of the newer, simpler FAFSA.
Changes to the FAFSA, according to the U.S. Department of Education:
- Instant estimates of Pell Grant and student loan eligibility—went into effect May 2009.
- Skipping questions. If you’re 24 or married, you can skip questions about your parents’ finances. Or if you’re a male over 26, you can pass over questions regarding Selective Service Registration—this change will be made throughout the summer.
- Elimination of 25 financial questions. The FAFSA will ask only financial questions that the IRS asks when citizens are filing their taxes—will go into effect in January.
According to The New York Times, an estimated 1.5 million students do not fill out the FAFSA each school year because of its intricacies. With these changes put in place by the Obama administration, the FAFSA will not only be less daunting but will also enable students to continue their education by making the most important financial aid application easier to understand and thereby complete.
To access the U.S. Department of Education’s press release on the new FAFSA as well as more plans from the Obama Administration’s Agenda for College Affordability, click here.
KelseyAC2
4 months ago
Anything to help simplify the process of attaining financial aid will greatly help parents who are in need of assistance, and that includes most of us!! Thank you, Mr. President!
KristaA93
4 months ago
That is wonderful news!! That form has been a thorn in my side for 4 years. I found it very daunting and frustrating, not to mention stressful. I would cringe every year when the time came to complete the form. Bravo for President Obama! I'm thrilled for the next group of college students who don't have to labor over the completion of the FAFSA form!
KristinC634
4 months ago
Applause! Having gone through this with our daughter for the 2009 college year, it's gratifying to know that it won't be so arduous for the 2010 college year. Kudos!!!
StephenM881
4 months ago
With having completed 10 FAFSA annual forms, providing less information coupled with the strict numerical calculation of how benefits are determined that fails to clearly identify a family's particular siutation, will result in more non-qualfication awards being granted to more individuals who so desperately need funding for higher education.
ChelseaO111
4 months ago
Illegal people can't have free money from the United States. How much sense does that make
GerreandaD
4 months ago
MY BOI OBAMA
Account Removed
4 months ago
I don't understand exactly how the FAFSA works. And so this only applies to people who are born here right cause it says citizens, so illegal people can't fill one out right?
MichaelW2721
4 months ago
AWESOME!!!
DES90
4 months ago
I Luv the idea..the thing is about the selective service....why would you stop askiing questions about the selective service at 26?........shold it be like around21 or something......because I mean sure we got doctors or pre-med pple still studying to get their degree at 30 but idk it seems unfair ...other thatn that ...thanx to the obama adm.
BarbaraM371
4 months ago
Thankfully, I am still trying to get this all strightened out for the Fall. Ahh all the forms are just too much.
SachiC
4 months ago
Thanks great! Now they just need to offer more money.
RonetteS4
4 months ago
omg, i wish they would have done this a year ago it. it really sucks because i lost out on money because the form was so difficult
EddyT6
4 months ago
Aw, thanks goodness! I gave up even applying to the FAFSA after my first application was rejected because I knew of the painstaking process involved in applying. Now I have reason to risk rejection again. Thanks Obama Administration!
ednaturay
4 months ago
wow wow wow. just about time because I am about to apply to college. I really like this because the college process is already daunting in itself. We have so much to do in terms of taking our SAT'S, SAT 2's, ACT's, filling out college applications, and applying for scholarships. The change to the FAFSA application is definitely a huge burden lifted from the already weighted down shoulders of a high school senior.
AmandaR2679
4 months ago
What about highering the incomes to qualify for aide for Advance Placement tests? Us people who are only within a thousand dollars of the "bracket" are being seriously burdened by the price of one of these things, and some have to take multiples!