Kennedy On Simplifying The FAFSA Form

Press Release

KENNEDY ON SIMPLIFYING THE FAFSA FORM

Today, The Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS) released a new report urging Congress to make the application process for federal student aid simpler by permitting the U.S. Department of Education to receive tax-related information on the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) directly from the Internal Revenue Service. According to TICAS, this step would allow the Department of Education to eliminate approximately two-thirds of the income-related questions on the FAFSA form - making the financial aid application process much easier for students and families.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy issued the following statement:

"I applaud the Institute for College Access and Success for its timely contribution on ways to simplify the FAFSA. It's obvious that the form is too complicated, and I'm very concerned that it's creating needless barriers that prevent students from receiving the college aid to which they're entitled. Today, 1.5 million lower-income students who are likely eligible for Pell Grants are not receiving them because these students don't apply for federal student aid. It's clear that the difficulty of filling out the FAFSA is a major cause.

As Congress moves forward with reauthorization of the Higher Education Act this year, we'll be considering a number of proposals to make the federal financial aid application process easier for students and families. I'm very confident that we can work in a bipartisan manner to achieve that goal."

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