FAFSA Simplification Web Center
This web center was created to keep NASFAA members and the financial aid community updated on pertinent news related to FAFSA Simplification updates. Check back often as this page is updated regularly.
News Articles & Statements
- May 28, 2026 - NCAN: 2026 High School Seniors Set All-Time High FAFSA Completion Rate
- May 13, 2026 - GAO: Student Eligibility for Pell Grants Increased After FAFSA Simplification
- April 16, 2026 - ED Announces Launch of FAFSA Real-Time Identity Fraud Detection Capabilities in Late April
- April 15, 2026 - NASFAA Submits Comments on 2027-28 FAFSA
- March 5, 2026 - McMahon Recounts First Year Priorities, FAFSA Launch, Focus on ROI, OBBBA Implementation, and More During FSA’s In-Person Conference
- February 17, 2026 - 2027-28 FAFSA Now Open For Public Comment
More FAFSA Launch Coverage & Statements | More FAFSA Simplification News Coverage
Congressional Hearing on 2024-25 FAFSA Rollout
- Article: "From a Hardship to a Crisis" - NASFAA Testifies on Current Status of the FAFSA Rollout
- Written Testimony of Justin S. Draeger, President & CEO National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
- Recording: FAFSA Fail: Examining the Impacts on Students, Families, and Schools
Webinars On-Demand
AskRegs Questions & Answers
- Who Is Considered a Veteran For Dependency Status Purposes?
- Will an Incomplete FAFSA Be Deleted After 45 Days Of Inactivity?
- How Do We Get a Reprocessed ISIR After the Student Corrects Their Social Security Number For a Paper FAFSA?
- Is a Student With an Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determination Considered Independent If Circumstances Change Mid-Year?
See all FAFSA Simplification AskRegs Questions
"Off The Cuff" Podcast Episodes
- April 17, 2026 - OTC Inside the Beltway: Debriefing ED's New FAFSA Fraud Prevention Measures
- April 3, 2026 - OTC AskRegs Experts: Borrower Defense Claims and FAFSA Preview Comments
- March 13, 2026 - OTC AskRegs Experts: Recapping the FSA Training Conference and More OBBBA Updates
- September 12, 2025 - OTC Inside the Beltway: Verification, Countdown to FAFSA Launch, and a NegReg Roadmap
- April 11, 2025 - OTC AskRegs Experts: NASFAA's 2026-27 FAFSA Comments and Updated R2T4 Decision Trees
- March 7, 2025 - OTC AskRegs Experts: Federal Tax Information and More FAFSA Guidance
- February 28, 2025 - OTC Inside The Beltway: Unpacking ED's DEI Dear Colleague Letter, SAVE Plan Updates, and Batch Corrections Functionality
- January 15, 2025 - OTC From the Field: Under Secretary James Kvaal Discusses ED's Priorities During the Biden-Era
See All "Off The Cuff" Episodes
Analysis
Significant changes to federal student aid policy, including simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Pell Grant eligibility criteria, expanding Pell Grant eligibility to incarcerated students, and the repeal of limitations on subsidized loan eligibility for undergraduate Direct Loans were attached to the FAFSA Simplification Act which was part of a larger bill called the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.
A subsequent appropriations act (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022) authorized funding for fiscal year 2022 Pell Grants and made technical changes to the FAFSA Simplification Act.
- NASFAA Research Report Details Financial Aid Offices’ Insights and Concerns Over 2024-25 FAFSA Filing Rates Among First-Year Undergraduates
- NASFAA Offers Six Considerations for Developing Future FAFSA Forms
- Deep Dive: ED Issues FAFSA Simplification Implementation Guidance for 2024-25 Award Year
- Analysis of 2022 FAFSA Simplification Technical Amendments
- Analysis of 2021 FAFSA Simplification Provisions
- Q&A on Changes to Federal Student Aid Policy Included in Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
- Removal of Number in College Yields More Equitable, Simple Application Process
Tools & Resources
- NASFAA Resource on FAFSA Information for Families of Mixed Immigration Statuses (Availalbe in English and Spanish)
- Communicating With Students from Families with Mixed Immigration Statuses About Completing the FAFSA
- Department of Education QA Document on How ED Can Use and Share FAFSA Data
- 2024-25 FAFSA Key Dates Timeline (May 2025)
- April 2024 NASFAA Advocacy Update
- NASFAA FAFSA Launch Resources Page
- Explainer: How to Get an FSA ID without a Social Security Number*
- FAFSA Simplification Brief for Campus Partners*
- Professional Judgment Changes 2-Pager*
- PowerPoint FAFSA Simplification Presentation*
- Comment Codes Crosswalk (Updated May 2024: comment codes 158-160, 283-284, 325)**
- Community Resource Library: FAFSA Simplification Communication Samples
- 2023 FAFSA Simplification Pre-Implementation Survey
- 2024-25 Federal Methodology and Pell Formula Changes Flowchart*
- Chart: Legislative Changes to Federal Methodology and the Pell Grant Program, 2021+
- Chart: Detailed Summary of Non-Pell/Federal Methodology Changes from the FAFSA
- Implementation Checklist for Schools (PDF)*
- Timeline of Effective Dates from the 2021 & 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Acts
Surveys
- November 18, 2024 - FAFSA Simplification Pre-Implementation Survey Findings**
- May 10, 2024 - Results From Fourth Quick Scan Survey: Financial Aid Offer Timing
- May 3, 2024 - Results From Third Quick Scan Survey: Financial Aid Offer Timing
- April 23, 2024 - Results From Second Quick Scan Survey: Financial Aid Offer Timing
- April 16, 2024 - Results From Quick Scan Survey: Financial Aid Offer Timing
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April 9, 2024 - 24-25 Aid Offer Distribution Date Poll Results
Self-Study Guides & Monographs
- 2024-25 Need Analysis Self-Study Guide
- 2024-25 Application Process Self-Study Guide
- 2024-25 Federal Pell Grant Program Self-Study Guide
- Monograph: Developing the Cost of Attendance
- Monograph: Professional Judgment in Eligibility Determination and Need Analysis
NASFAA 2023 Conference Session Recordings
- July 12 - FAFSA Simplification: Navigating Hot Topics, Latest Updates and Unresolved Issues* (Virtual Conference)
- July 2 - NASFAA Closing Session Featuring the New Student Aid Index*
- July 1 - U.S. Department of Education Federal Update*
- June 30 - General Session: FAFSA Simplification*
Department of Education & Congressional References
- FSA Webinar on May 1: Real-Time FAFSA Fraud Detection
- FSA Provides Update on Federal Tax Information (FTI) Guidance
- FSA Announces New Identity Verification Course on FPP
- ED Provides Update on FAFSA Reject Code 68
- ED Provides 2026-27 FAFSA Preview Presentation
- ED Publishes FAQs on Identity Verification
- FSA Provides FAFSA Guides for Non-English Speakers
- FSA Training Center New and Enhanced Training Courses
- Updated Guide: How To Submit the FAFSA For Contributors Without an SSN
- FSA Provides Updated Resource on FAFSA Corrections for Students and Contributors
- White House Kicks of the “National FAFSA Week of Action”
- FSA to Host Two Webinars This Week on FAFSA Tax Data Issues, Common Technical Questions
- FSA Releases Technical FAQ and Known Issues Guide for 2024-25 FAFSA
- 2024–25 FAFSA Issue Alerts
- FSA Releases 2024-25 FAFSA Guidance for Puerto Rico and Other U.S. Territories Dual Tax Filers
- FSA Releases Update to Draft 2024-25 FAFSA Specifications Guide Including Final Comment Codes
- FSA Finalizes ISIR Record Layout and Portion the 2024-25 FAFSA Specifications Guide
- Trending Topics in FAFSA Simplification: Microlearning Video Series
- FSA Announces New FAFSA Webinar Focusing on FSA ID Creation
- ED Begins FAFSA Communication Campaign for 2023-24 Filers
- 2024–25 FAFSA Prototype
- ED Plans to Begin FAFSA Communications This Week
- FSA Unveils Student Aid Estimator for 2024-25
- FSA's FAFSA Simplification Webinar Series Is Now Available On Demand
- Department of Education FAFSA Simplification Information Page
- (ANN-23-01) Live Internet Webinars – Better FAFSA Better Future Webinar Series, June–July 2023
- Draft 2024-25 Paper FAFSA, March 2023
- HHS Poverty Guidelines
- H.R. 2471 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022
- H.R. 133 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
* These resources are generously sponsored by a grant from Strada Education Foundation.
** This resource is generously sponsored by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Publication Date: 5/28/2026
