New FAFSA Form Faces Technical Difficulties and Delays

Despite challenges, over 400,000 people have started or submitted the new form, which aims to simplify the financial aid application process and expand eligibility.

The new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which was released in late December for the 2024-25 school year, has been experiencing technical difficulties and limited availability, causing frustration among students and families.
The new FAFSA form, a result of the FAFSA Simplification Act, is significantly shorter and has expanded Pell Grant eligibility, aiming to give more students a chance for financial aid.
Despite the challenges, over 400,000 people have started or submitted the new FAFSA form since its release.
The new form introduces a new student aid indicator that can reach the negatives and removes the number of family members in college from the calculation, changing the landscape of need-based aid eligibility.
Due to the delays and issues with the new form, financial aid offers are expected to be sent out later than usual, potentially not until late February or March.