New FAFSA Form Released with Major Changes, Faces Launch Issues

The simplified form, which was released late and has faced technical issues, changes aid calculations and could result in less assistance for some families.

• The 2024-25 FAFSA form, which was released three months later than its usual date, has been simplified to include only 36 questions, down from the previous 108.
• Major changes include the elimination of the sibling discount, meaning families won't automatically get additional aid if more than one child is in college.
• Wealthier or middle-income families won't be eligible for as much assistance due to a change in calculating how much a family can afford to pay.
• The new FAFSA form has been plagued with issues since its release, with the Department of Education acknowledging 'some minor issues' and the site being periodically unavailable.
• Despite these issues, more lower and moderate-income families should be eligible for Pell grants than ever before, which don't have to be repaid.

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