{"id":525,"date":"2023-11-01T10:42:47","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T14:42:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/?page_id=525"},"modified":"2025-10-21T13:03:27","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T17:03:27","slug":"fafsa-simplification-qa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/fafsa-simplification\/fafsa-simplification-qa\/","title":{"rendered":"FAFSA Simplification Q&#038;A"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<div class=\"accordion accordion--secondary accordion--secondary-size1 js-accordion\">\r\n  <div class=\"accordion__section\">\r\n    <a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion__head\">\r\n      <h3 class=\"h4 mb-0\">Why is the FAFSA changing?<\/h3>\r\n      <span class=\"accordion__arrow\">\r\n        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M224 416c-8.188 0-16.38-3.125-22.62-9.375l-192-192c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.75 0-45.25s32.75-12.5 45.25 0L224 338.8l169.4-169.4c12.5-12.5 32.75-12.5 45.25 0s12.5 32.75 0 45.25l-192 192C240.4 412.9 232.2 416 224 416z\"\/><\/svg>\r\n      <\/span>\r\n    <\/a>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"accordion__body\">\r\n      <p><p>With a new \u201csimplified\u201d FAFSA, students and parents can expect to complete the FAFSA more efficiently in a shorter period of time.<\/p>\n<\/p>\r\n    <\/div><!-- \/.accordion__body -->\r\n  <\/div><!-- \/.accordion__section -->\r\n<\/div><!-- \/.accordion js-accordion -->\n\n\r\n<div class=\"accordion accordion--secondary accordion--secondary-size1 js-accordion\">\r\n  <div class=\"accordion__section\">\r\n    <a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion__head\">\r\n      <h3 class=\"h4 mb-0\">What is the FUTURE Act?<\/h3>\r\n      <span class=\"accordion__arrow\">\r\n        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M224 416c-8.188 0-16.38-3.125-22.62-9.375l-192-192c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.75 0-45.25s32.75-12.5 45.25 0L224 338.8l169.4-169.4c12.5-12.5 32.75-12.5 45.25 0s12.5 32.75 0 45.25l-192 192C240.4 412.9 232.2 416 224 416z\"\/><\/svg>\r\n      <\/span>\r\n    <\/a>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"accordion__body\">\r\n      <p><p>The Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education Act (FUTURE Act) requires the Department of Education to access tax information held by the IRS pertaining to FAFSA applicants\u2014and, where applicable, their parents and spouses\u2014through a secure method: the FUTURE Act Direct Data Exchange (FA-DDX).<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fsapartners.ed.gov\/knowledge-center\/library\/dear-colleague-letters\/2023-08-04\/fafsa-simplification-act-changes-implementation-2024-25#pid_1357386\">Reference: FAFSA Simplification Act Changes for Implementation in 2024-25<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/116\/plaws\/publ91\/PLAW-116publ91.pdf\">Law: PUBLIC LAW 116\u201391<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\r\n    <\/div><!-- \/.accordion__body -->\r\n  <\/div><!-- \/.accordion__section -->\r\n<\/div><!-- \/.accordion js-accordion -->\n\n\r\n<div class=\"accordion accordion--secondary accordion--secondary-size1 js-accordion\">\r\n  <div class=\"accordion__section\">\r\n    <a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion__head\">\r\n      <h3 class=\"h4 mb-0\">What is the FAFSA Simplification Act?<\/h3>\r\n      <span class=\"accordion__arrow\">\r\n        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M224 416c-8.188 0-16.38-3.125-22.62-9.375l-192-192c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.75 0-45.25s32.75-12.5 45.25 0L224 338.8l169.4-169.4c12.5-12.5 32.75-12.5 45.25 0s12.5 32.75 0 45.25l-192 192C240.4 412.9 232.2 416 224 416z\"\/><\/svg>\r\n      <\/span>\r\n    <\/a>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"accordion__body\">\r\n      <p><p>The <em>FAFSA Simplification Act<\/em> represents a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid starting with the 2024\u201325 award year. This includes the <em>Free Application for Federal Student Aid<\/em> (FAFSA\u00ae) form, need analysis, and many policies and procedures for schools that participate in federal student aid programs.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/116\/plaws\/publ260\/PLAW-116publ260.pdf\">Law: PUBLIC LAW 116\u2013260<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\r\n    <\/div><!-- \/.accordion__body -->\r\n  <\/div><!-- \/.accordion__section -->\r\n<\/div><!-- \/.accordion js-accordion -->\n\n\r\n<div class=\"accordion accordion--secondary accordion--secondary-size1 js-accordion\">\r\n  <div class=\"accordion__section\">\r\n    <a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion__head\">\r\n      <h3 class=\"h4 mb-0\">What is the Better FAFSA Better Future Campaign?<\/h3>\r\n      <span class=\"accordion__arrow\">\r\n        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M224 416c-8.188 0-16.38-3.125-22.62-9.375l-192-192c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.75 0-45.25s32.75-12.5 45.25 0L224 338.8l169.4-169.4c12.5-12.5 32.75-12.5 45.25 0s12.5 32.75 0 45.25l-192 192C240.4 412.9 232.2 416 224 416z\"\/><\/svg>\r\n      <\/span>\r\n    <\/a>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"accordion__body\">\r\n      <p><p>A federal initiative aimed at bringing awareness of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ed.gov\/higher-education\/paying-college\/better-fafsa\">FAFSA Simplification Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/p>\r\n    <\/div><!-- \/.accordion__body -->\r\n  <\/div><!-- \/.accordion__section -->\r\n<\/div><!-- \/.accordion js-accordion -->\n\n\r\n<div class=\"accordion accordion--secondary accordion--secondary-size1 js-accordion\">\r\n  <div class=\"accordion__section\">\r\n    <a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion__head\">\r\n      <h3 class=\"h4 mb-0\">What changes are being introduced for 2024-2025?<\/h3>\r\n      <span class=\"accordion__arrow\">\r\n        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M224 416c-8.188 0-16.38-3.125-22.62-9.375l-192-192c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.75 0-45.25s32.75-12.5 45.25 0L224 338.8l169.4-169.4c12.5-12.5 32.75-12.5 45.25 0s12.5 32.75 0 45.25l-192 192C240.4 412.9 232.2 416 224 416z\"\/><\/svg>\r\n      <\/span>\r\n    <\/a>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"accordion__body\">\r\n      <p><p>Changes include, but are not limited to, the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Which parent completes the parental section of the FAFSA (in the cases of divorced\/remarried parents for dependent students)<\/li>\n<li>Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be replaced with Student Aid Index (SAI) when it comes to calculating aid eligibility<\/li>\n<li>Consent is required for Tax Data Transfers when it comes to contributors\/students providing tax information on the FAFSA<\/li>\n<li>Student Aid Report will be replaced by the FAFSA Submission Summary<\/li>\n<li>Household size will be replaced by Family Size<\/li>\n<li>An alternative method of adding Federal Tax Information (FTI)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\r\n    <\/div><!-- \/.accordion__body -->\r\n  <\/div><!-- \/.accordion__section -->\r\n<\/div><!-- \/.accordion js-accordion -->\n\n\r\n<div class=\"accordion accordion--secondary accordion--secondary-size1 js-accordion\">\r\n  <div class=\"accordion__section\">\r\n    <a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion__head\">\r\n      <h3 class=\"h4 mb-0\">What are contributors?<\/h3>\r\n      <span class=\"accordion__arrow\">\r\n        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M224 416c-8.188 0-16.38-3.125-22.62-9.375l-192-192c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.75 0-45.25s32.75-12.5 45.25 0L224 338.8l169.4-169.4c12.5-12.5 32.75-12.5 45.25 0s12.5 32.75 0 45.25l-192 192C240.4 412.9 232.2 416 224 416z\"\/><\/svg>\r\n      <\/span>\r\n    <\/a>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"accordion__body\">\r\n      <p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/fsapartners.ed.gov\/knowledge-center\/library\/dear-colleague-letters\/2023-08-04\/fafsa-simplification-act-changes-implementation-2024-25\">Federal Student Aid (FSA) defines contributors<\/a> as \u201cindividuals, such as a parent or spouse, that may be required to provide information on an applicant\u2019s FAFSA depending on the applicant\u2019s dependency or marital status.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\r\n    <\/div><!-- \/.accordion__body -->\r\n  <\/div><!-- \/.accordion__section -->\r\n<\/div><!-- \/.accordion js-accordion -->\n\n\r\n<div class=\"accordion accordion--secondary accordion--secondary-size1 js-accordion\">\r\n  <div class=\"accordion__section\">\r\n    <a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion__head\">\r\n      <h3 class=\"h4 mb-0\">What are unusual circumstances?<\/h3>\r\n      <span class=\"accordion__arrow\">\r\n        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M224 416c-8.188 0-16.38-3.125-22.62-9.375l-192-192c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.75 0-45.25s32.75-12.5 45.25 0L224 338.8l169.4-169.4c12.5-12.5 32.75-12.5 45.25 0s12.5 32.75 0 45.25l-192 192C240.4 412.9 232.2 416 224 416z\"\/><\/svg>\r\n      <\/span>\r\n    <\/a>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"accordion__body\">\r\n      <p><p>Students with unusual circumstances are defined as:<\/p>\n<p>A student for whom a financial aid administrator makes a documented determination of independence by reason of unusual circumstances and in which the student is unable to contact a parent or where contact of parents poses a risk to such student, which includes circumstances of \u2013<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Human trafficking, as described in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of  (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.);<\/li>\n<li>Legally granted refugee or asylum status;<\/li>\n<li>Parental abandonment or estrangement; or<\/li>\n<li>Student or parental incarceration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\r\n    <\/div><!-- \/.accordion__body -->\r\n  <\/div><!-- \/.accordion__section -->\r\n<\/div><!-- \/.accordion js-accordion -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":500,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-525","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>FAFSA Simplification Q&amp;A | Middlesex College<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/fafsa-simplification\/fafsa-simplification-qa\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"FAFSA Simplification Q&amp;A | Middlesex College\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/fafsa-simplification\/fafsa-simplification-qa\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Financial Aid\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-21T17:03:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/middlesexcollege.edu\\\/financial-aid\\\/fafsa-simplification\\\/fafsa-simplification-qa\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/middlesexcollege.edu\\\/financial-aid\\\/fafsa-simplification\\\/fafsa-simplification-qa\\\/\",\"name\":\"FAFSA Simplification Q&A | Middlesex College\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/middlesexcollege.edu\\\/financial-aid\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-11-01T14:42:47+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-21T17:03:27+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/middlesexcollege.edu\\\/financial-aid\\\/fafsa-simplification\\\/fafsa-simplification-qa\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/middlesexcollege.edu\\\/financial-aid\\\/fafsa-simplification\\\/fafsa-simplification-qa\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/middlesexcollege.edu\\\/financial-aid\\\/fafsa-simplification\\\/fafsa-simplification-qa\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"FAFSA Simplification\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/middlesexcollege.edu\\\/financial-aid\\\/fafsa-simplification\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"FAFSA Simplification Q&#038;A\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/middlesexcollege.edu\\\/financial-aid\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/middlesexcollege.edu\\\/financial-aid\\\/\",\"name\":\"Financial Aid\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/middlesexcollege.edu\\\/financial-aid\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"FAFSA Simplification Q&A | Middlesex College","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/fafsa-simplification\/fafsa-simplification-qa\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"FAFSA Simplification Q&A | Middlesex College","og_url":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/fafsa-simplification\/fafsa-simplification-qa\/","og_site_name":"Financial Aid","article_modified_time":"2025-10-21T17:03:27+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/fafsa-simplification\/fafsa-simplification-qa\/","url":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/fafsa-simplification\/fafsa-simplification-qa\/","name":"FAFSA Simplification Q&A | Middlesex College","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/#website"},"datePublished":"2023-11-01T14:42:47+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-21T17:03:27+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/fafsa-simplification\/fafsa-simplification-qa\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/fafsa-simplification\/fafsa-simplification-qa\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/fafsa-simplification\/fafsa-simplification-qa\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"FAFSA Simplification","item":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/fafsa-simplification\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"FAFSA Simplification Q&#038;A"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/#website","url":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/","name":"Financial Aid","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=525"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/525\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1056,"href":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/525\/revisions\/1056"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/middlesexcollege.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}