New FAFSA Form Faces Glitches and Confusion
Despite being simpler and shorter, the redesigned form is causing difficulties for students and families, with technical issues and confusing questions.
- The redesigned 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available around the clock, following a weeklong soft launch, during which the form was open for as little as 30 minutes a day.
- Although the new form is simpler and shorter, students and families are still contending with technical glitches, changed processes and confusing questions.
- Experts urge students to submit the new FAFSA as soon as possible, since some types of financial aid have priority deadlines or draw from a limited pool.
- About 1 million students have submitted the new FAFSA as of Jan. 8, according to U.S. Education Department data. That’s roughly 6% of the 17 million who typically submit the form each year.
- There’s a new process for undocumented parents to request an FSA ID this year — but it’s not working yet, and there’s no timeline for when it will be. Until this issue is fixed, students whose parents don’t have Social Security numbers (SSNs) cannot submit the FAFSA.
Cleveland Plain Dealer 
Forbes 
