FAFSA Resources
2024-2025 FAFSA Changes
As a result of the FAFSA Simplification Act, Federal Student Aid the U.S. Department of Education is updating the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process to expand access to federal financial aid and provide an easier, streamlined FAFSA experience for students and families. As of January 1, 2024, the 2024-2025 FAFSA is available on the .
During this soft launch period, there may be periodic outages and processing errors as the Department of Education works to improve the user experience. If you are experiencing difficulty in completing and submitting your FAFSA, you should first check the to determine if you are encountering a known issue that has a workaround. The Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) is also available to assist you in troubleshooting FAFSA filing problems during their extended hours: M-F 8am-10pm (ET) and Sat. 11am-5pm (ET) at 1-800-433-3243. You can also reach out to the LIM Office of Student Financial Services directly at sfs@limcollege.edu or 212-310-0689 for assistance.
Key Changes to 2024-2025 FAFSA
- The FAFSA will be streamlined and more user-friendly with fewer questions (less than 50 Q鈥檚)
- The Student Aid Index (SAI) will replace the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
- Federal financial aid eligibility will be extended to more students.
- IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) makes entering tax information easier and will be required for students, spouses, and parents to transfer their 2022 tax information or non-filing status.
- The number of family members in college will no longer factor into the FAFSA calculation.
- Untaxed items such as payments to tax-deferred retirement or pension plans, veteran鈥檚 non-educational benefits, and worker鈥檚 compensation will no longer be required.
- Parent assets will now include net worth of all businesses and net worth of a family farm, if applicable.
- For divorced or separated parents: The parent who provided the most financial support to the student will need to provide their information. Previously, the parent who the student lived with the most provided their information.
- Everyone contributing to the FAFSA form online must have their own Federal Student Aid account (FSA ID).
- Create an if you don鈥檛 already have one. Each contributor, including the student, will access their account with their own FSA ID (account username and password).
Terms to Know
- Student Aid Index (SAI): Calculated by FAFSA data and will determine student aid eligibility. This replaces the EFC that was used in previous years.
- Cost of Attendance (COA): COA includes tuition and fees, food and housing, books and supplies (including course materials and equipment), miscellaneous expenses, and transportation.
- Contributor: A parent, stepparent, student, or spouse of the student providing information on the FAFSA.
- Consent: Is required from each contributor to authorize the IRS to share tax data directly on your FAFSA. If any contributor does not provide consent, the student will automatically be ineligible for aid.
- Direct Data Exchange (DDX): Previously known as IRS Data Retrieval; this tool imports tax data directly from the IRS to your FAFSA.
- FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS): A summary of your completed FAFSA information. This replaces the Student Aid Report (SAR) that was used in previous years.
Ways to Prepare
- A Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID is required for all contributors including the student.
- Determine who your contributors are. The FAFSA will also offer assistance when filing. Students, parents, stepparents, and a student鈥檚 spouse may be considered contributors.
- Gather 2022 Federal Tax Information and W-2s. All contributors will need this information, if applicable.
Contact us at sfs@limcollege.edu if you have any additional questions. You can also find answers to your questions about the FAFSA in general on the .