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Draft guide to prepare for changes under FAFSA Simplification
November 29, 2022
In a move to help institutions prepare for upcoming FAFSA Simplification changes, the Department of Education has released a draft guide to determine a student's eligibility for need-based aid.
In a November 21 Electronic Announcement, the Department said it is posting the 2024-25 Draft Student Aid Index (SAI) and Pell Grant Eligibility Guide on the FSA Knowledge Center website "to give financial aid administrators, software vendors, and other vested stakeholders time to understand and prepare for upcoming changes."
The Department said the FAFSA Simplification Act "represents a significant overhaul of federal student aid, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form, need analysis, and many policies and procedures for schools that participate in the Title IV programs." The Department has taken a phased implementation approach to the FAFSA Simplification Act with full implementation by July 1, 2024.
According to the Department, the draft guide includes information about the transition from the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to the Student Aid Index (SAI) and the methodology for determining eligibility for federal student aid, starting with the 2024-25 application cycle and beyond.
The Department said it will provide additional updated and expanded guidance as it becomes available, and a final version of the guide will be published prior to the start of the 2024-25 processing cycle.