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Applying for financial aid doesn’t have to be a daunting task. In fact, with the simplified 2025-2026 FAFSA form, it’s easier than ever to secure the funds needed for college. In this post, we’ll break down the essentials: the three key pieces of information anyone completing a FAFSA will need, common pitfalls to avoid, and helpful tips to streamline the process.
Three things needed to complete the FAFSA:
- Verified account username and password (FSA ID)
- Parent or spouse contributor name, date of birth, Social Security number, and email address
- Income and asset information (if required): this includes 2023 tax records (2022 tax records if completing the 24-25 FAFSA)
People who have completed the FAFSA to date have said it took them between 15 minutes – 1 hour, including gathering any personal documents and financial information needed to complete it. It depends on whether the information listed above is handy and if any contributors (parents/guardians) complete their portion in a timely manner.
In fact, the U.S. Department of Education completed a Beta Testing period from October 1, 2024 – November 21, 2024 when the new FAFSA officially launched. To simplify the application, they incorporated feedback from students, parents, schools, community-based organizations, as well as other partners into the FAFSA process and comprehensively tested the FAFSA form, system, and user supports at scale through a rigorous beta testing period.
The key to a successful FAFSA submission is simple: checking email. After submitting initial information, the Department of Education may request additional documents. Failing to respond to these requests can delay the application and potentially jeopardize financial aid eligibility. Therefore, keeping a close eye on the inbox and encouraging contributors to do the same is crucial.
Now we have covered the basics, let’s review some common questions. Can a student start the FAFSA independently? What if English isn’t their first language?
A (parent/guardian) can start the FAFSA and then add the student’s social security number. They will then receive an invitation to complete their portion. If an invitation is not received, the student will just need to sign in using their FSA ID and the invitation should be on the dashboard.
For those whose first language is not English, the FAFSA is officially available in both English and Spanish. For assistance in other languages, contact the Student Financial Aid Information Center.
If a student cannot get their parent’s or guardian’s information to complete the form, it is ok. There are some unusual circumstances that the Department of Education acknowledges and would allow them to continue with the form. Unusual circumstances may include the following situations:
- The parents are incarcerated.
- The student has left home due to an abusive family environment.
- The student is a victim of human trafficking.
- The student has been granted refugee or asylee status.
- The student was abandoned by or estranged from the parents and has not been adopted.
If the student has an unusual circumstance, select “Yes” to the “Do unusual circumstances prevent the student from contacting their parents or would contacting their parents pose a risk to the student?” question on the FAFSA form. The student will be considered provisionally independent and will be able to skip questions about parents on the FAFSA form and submit it without a parent signature.
Still have questions or need help? No problem. UpliftED in partnership with Heart of Florida United Way and other partners in the region will host FAFSA completion labs and webinars in the near future. These will be updated on social media, upliftED’s Cash for College webpage and shared with schools and community partners. Most schools (high schools, Valencia College and University of Central Florida) in the region also host FAFSA and/or Financial Aid Nights to assist with the process.
Here are a few helpful links to resources:
We hope this information will empower more students and their families with the information needed to complete the FAFSA. We are passionate about making sure every student has the opportunity to review their eligibility for federal aid.
