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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.
march3lles
3 months ago
OK this sounds good. I have to leave now, but I will see how much easier the FAFSA is when I return. Hang in there people. I am sure we all want a chance at a better life. Don't give up.
SarahP918
4 months ago
this is what the country would need because so they can help with the future college students. president bush never helped with anything and at least president obama is there for change
AnitaF89
4 months ago
Oh my lord... finally a president that actually knows what he's doing!! Thank God Obama comes from and middle class background, because anyone above that just has no CLUE! Unlike Bush, and past Presidents, I'm sure they have never seen what the FAFSA even looks like; Daddy and Mommy just wrote a freaking check to any school they wanted to go and that was that. Thank God... Oh Thank God for this!
Obama just got my vote (again) for the next election!
oldschool
4 months ago
I am a 46 year old father of a 20 year old college junior & I was blessed with a daughter 2 years ago. I was laid off 4-15-09, I have 56 credit hours dating back to 1989, and with todays competitive job market, plus my age, I REALLY need some help paying for my college so I can finish my degree in Radio Communications
racapehart18
4 months ago
i am going to national college in dayton ohio an d i dont know if i am going to be able to pay to stay in or have what i need to survie.
racapehart18
4 months ago
need help with money to take care of my kids and my home i am 30 years old and single please can some one help my unemplment is runing out please help!!!!!!!1!
tiffanyma81
4 months ago
I came back to school to better my self I really need the help so I can really be commited so my bills would not go over my head I REALLY NEED THE HELP
JosephK807
4 months ago
The happyest thang that will happen in my life is going back to school, so please I need a scholarship help me complete my goal
LitonS
4 months ago
i want to sponsorship for study. Because i am poor. My e-mail is litonsircar@yahoo.com
NatashaW376
4 months ago
I agree with many ppl on here. I literally waited until I was 24 so that I could be considered independent and receive financial aid. My mom always made too much money to receive it, but they never took into consideration how much of that money actually went towards bills and other kids that she has IN COLLEGE. The gov't is totally screwed up when it comes to financial aid. Here I am trying to complete a bachelor's degree at the age of 24 just because we could not afford it and the gov't wasn't willing to help.
AshleyD1949
4 months ago
Yeah, it's cool I guess if you're 24. But I'm 20 and don't live with my parents. They don't contribute any money towards my education in yet I still have to go on their income as well as mine. Last year I was denied any financial aid because my income and theirs was too much. I don't think that this is fair if you're living on your own and still required to be on their income. The IRS can look at my pay stubs and license and see that I'm not living with them and haven't for the past 2 years!
ClaireZ13
4 months ago
Thank God!
CasanovaG
4 months ago
WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!
I do my own fasfa and it seems like a lot of the answers are pointless for me.
ChantesaR
4 months ago
Thank You OBAMA! I had a really hard time filing out the FAFSA by myslelf.
babydee305
4 months ago
Thats outstanding, I think its a great idea. I like the idea that it is open to almost all ages.