FAFSA forms last year were not launched until the end of December and were not fully available for all applicants until January. (Adobe Stock)
Hoosier families with current and future college students should prepare for a delay in accessing financial aid.
The Department of Education has announced the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2025-26 school year will not be available on its usual Oct. 1 release date. Instead, the application will be fully operational starting Dec. 1.
Bill Wozniak, vice president of marketing for the Indiana-based nonprofit InvestED, which provides free assistance when applying for financial aid, explained the challenges for students and their parents.
"Until you get to the real heart of FAFSA filing season, you don't see all the leaks in the pipe," Wozniak pointed out. "Things that did not go well last year. Some have been fixed. Here and between now and Dec. 1, we're all trying to be cautiously optimistic."
The Department of Education decided to postpone this year's release to avoid potential technical issues.
Wozniak advised parents and students to start by obtaining a Federal Student Aid ID, something INvestED can assist with.
"People just call and our team of experts are there," Wozniak noted. "Whether it's getting that FSA ID or it's actually filing the FAFSA itself. People just get so much comfort because they're talking to an Indiana-based expert."
To reach INvestED, call 317-715-9007. While the application will have limited access on Oct. 1, only select individuals will be able to file early. Wozniak urged families not to count on being among those few.
"Just plan on Dec. 1," Wozniak emphasized. "I think there's millions and millions of people that think they're going to be the one that can file on Oct. 1 and in most cases, that's not going to be the case."
Joe Ulery, Producer
Tuesday, August 27, 2024