Right now – and I’m know because I’m going through it – the last week or two and the next week are all “getting ready for Summer courses” time.
So all of the Pell grants, financial aid, etc.
Normally, it’s no big deal.
HOWEVER, they “simplified” the FAFSA form last fall – and SCREWED IT UP.
So they redid it by December, and screwed it up again.
Then made MORE changes late January.
Meanwhile, THOUSANDS of colleges and universities, who run on TIGHT SCHEDULES, are going to get delayed.
Millions of students are awaited notifications of their awards or not using the new simplified forms –
all of which require SSA involvement for not only the STUDENTS, but additionally, the PARENTS this year.
BOTH parents, if available, have to have their OWN accounts with FAFSA as well as the student, all needing their id’s checked.
BUT what’s also new is: PULLING DATA directly from the IRS – and who using SSA to help verify identities there? IRS.
They’re finally starting to get it settled but I have zero doubt they’re burning the midnight oil because: April is tax season (what’s the last two weeks?) – AND this week all the summer financial aid is getting finalized — and the 2024/2025 grants and loans begins JULY 1ST.
There’s a 60 day requirement for schools to do their thing which means the FAFSA has to get THEIR act together before that…
60 days prior to July 1st is: May 1st.
And what’s before May? April.
It’s all hypothetical here and I’m just spitballing it but this is a crunch month.
Nobody at the SSA cares about voter stuff at the moment. When they’re done with this they will. But this stuff is time limited.