This is a wonderful presentation that can assist students and parents in understanding what they will encounter when they complete a 2025-26 FAFSA. The end of the presentation goes through some scenarios in which corrections might be submitted - such as adding schools to a completed FAFSA. https://fsapartners.ed.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/202526fafsapreviewpresentation.pdf
@kelsmom is this FAFSA available for all to file…now.
No, not yet. Select students are being invited to complete a FAFSA - I honestly have no clue how they are chosen or invited. The target date for everyone is December 1. I don’t know if it’s still on track, but I haven’t heard otherwise.
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The FAFSA is expected to be available by December 1st. Home | U.S. Department of Education
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The 2025-2026 form is out according to the website.
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I started the new FAFSA. I am actually very impressed with the layout and the instructions.
The only thing I didn’t like is the spouse section. They want name, SSN and email. Nowhere do they explain why that information is necessary. My tax return, which was filed jointly, has already been imported. IMO, they should only need spouse contact information in case of non-joint filing, and it should be made clear that this person will need to receive an invitation to be a Contributor so that they can approve transfer of their tax return information.
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This is also a good resource for completing FAFSA, with many helpful tips, tricks, and screenshots.
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Upcoming FSA FAFSA webinars that may be helpful for students and parents:
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Not sure where to put this because it is per se political but people have to know what is happening…does this grant freeze include current Pell grants and fed student loans? It seems so?
When does Spring semester Pell typically get paid out?
I am very disappointed that NASFAA has not issued any information on this. This is incredibly concerning. I guess we have to wait to see if Congress, under whom the authority for the Higher Education Act falls, will do their job to make sure that federally mandated funding is released as required by law. Payments to individuals are made via payments to schools, which happen via the release of federal funding, so I don’t understand how payments to individuals would not be impacted unless the expectation is that schools would cover it with their own funds (not going to happen).
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There is some counselor chatter happening, some reported students having difficulty accessing/completing FAFSA.
Beyond that, I’ve got nothing. Will update if I hear any substantiated news.
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Dept of ED says no impact to student loans, Pell, or work study:
The U.S. Department of Education said in a statement on Tuesday morning that the memo sent to government agencies the day before calling for a broad pause on federal spending did not apply to federal student loans or Pell grants. That money will continue to flow, the statement said.
“The temporary pause does not impact assistance received directly by individuals,” said Madison Biedermann, who, according to the department, is currently delegated to perform spokesperson duties. This assistance includes funds like federal direct student loans and Pell grants that the department provides to “individual students,” her statement said.
Part of the confusion, which included many alarmed posts on social media, sprung from the “received directly” portion of the Office of Management and Budget memo. Grants and loans for education can be sent to the school, so students may never receive the money directly.
In a follow-up statement, the department confirmed that no Pell grants or loans would be paused or delayed because of the order. Funding for the federal work-study program, which helps pay for campus jobs, will continue to flow, too.
Rest of article here…
Gift link:
Huh?? Schools draw down funds to pay students - they don’t draw down funds that are unallocated. If they are withholding things like TRIO funding, those funds are allocated in advance to the institution & the funding is already in use during the year for these in-progress programs. That’s shameful if those funds are withheld. Same thing for research funding, which impacts graduate students if it’s withheld mid year.
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The story is definitely still unfolding for sure.
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