Better FAFSA is coming but delayed

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) - The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be much easier for families to fill out starting this year, but it will be a few more weeks before it is actually available.

The new Better FAFSA is two-thirds shorter, just – 36 questions compared to 108 in the old version, and there are other improvements included in the new form as well.

The U.S. Department of Education says the changes to Better FAFSA are so comprehensive, that implementing them has delayed Better FAFSA’s opening date until the end of the year, meaning families will have a shortened time frame to complete the application for financial aid. In past years, the old FAFSA opened on Oct. 1.

Besides the shorter number of questions, highlights featured in Better FAFSA includes:

• Students will be able to list up to 20 colleges on the application, up from 10 on the old FAFSA.
• Both students and parents will need to create an FSA ID in order to input information into Better FAFSA.
• Better FAFSA includes a process for individuals without Social Security numbers to obtain an FSA ID.
• It also includes policies that will streamline assistance for students in foster care or experiencing homelessness.

A reminder that Idaho students interested in applying for the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship will need to fill out Better FAFSA in order to be eligible for the scholarship. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is March 1, 2024. The Idaho Opportunity Scholarship amount is $3.500 per year and is renewable for up to four years.

The Office of the State Board of Education (OSBE) will provide additional updates on the status of Better FAFSA as more information becomes available.

OSBE staff members are also offering webinars for families to learn more about financial aid, Better FAFSA, and state scholarship programs:

• Nov. 9, 7:00 pm (MST) – Link to register

• Dec. 7, 7:00 pm (MST) – Link to register