Senator Marshall Offers Assistance for Students Struggling with FAFSA Application Failures

Washington, D.C. – The Biden Administration’s attempt to update the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has put millions of students’ financial futures in limbo. The failed rollout of the new FAFSA program and the mismanagement by the U.S. Department of Education has led to a nationwide delay on the 2023-2024 FAFSA applications.

Students seeking federal financial aid for higher education courses must complete the FAFSA paperwork to be eligible for the assistance. Unfortunately, the continued hiccups with the Education Departments FAFSA program has created widespread uncertainty for students, parents, and colleges going into the next school year. 

“Repeated delays by the Department of Education in rolling out the new FAFSA application have left millions of students and schools in limbo for the upcoming school year,” said Senator Roger Marshall. “Right now, colleges continue to lack the essential data required to formulate financial aid offers, leading to significant uncertainty for students’ futures. The mismanagement within the Department of Education disproportionately affects first-generation and low-income college students, who are most reliant on assistance to pursue higher education. As a community college graduate myself, I understand the stress these students face from this mismanagement.”

To help students and families navigate this period of uncertainty, Senator Marshall has published a new FAFSA resource guide. The guide includes links and contact information for his office for further assistance. 

FAFSA Resources for Students and Parents

Parents and prospective college students continue to struggle with completing the new FAFSA forms. Below are resources and best practices for the most common concerns and complaints. 

If you have tried the resources below and cannot resolve your issue, please contact our office at (785) 829-9000 for additional assistance. 

Filling out the FAFSA

https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out

FAFSA Deadlines

https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/fafsa-deadlines

Renewing your FAFSA

https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/renew

Correcting a current FAFSA Form 

https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/review-and-correct

IRS Data Retrieval Tool 

https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/what-is-irs-drt

Completing the FAFSA without a contributor SSN

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-support/contributor-social-security-number

Understanding the Types of Student Aid

https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/topic/types_of_aid/articles

Overview of the Student Aid Report

https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/review-and-correct/sar-student-aid-report

Background:

• Senator Marshall recently met with college presidents in the Kansas City and Wichita areas to discuss ongoing concerns with the new FAFSA form and how the Administration’s delays are impacting the college’s ability to help potential students. 
• Earlier this month, the Senator joined Republican colleagues in a press conference highlighting the U.S. Department of Education’s mismanagement of the new online FAFSA form.
• Senator Marshall co-sponsored the Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act, which would reinstate an exemption on the FAFSA form for family farms and small businesses, allowing them not to count assets towards financial aid. The Education Department removed the exemption in the most recent FAFSA. Assets will be counted on FAFSA applications for the 2024-2025 school year if left unchanged. 
• In January, the Senator joined 28 colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Education (DOE) demanding answers and solutions to ongoing issues with the FAFSA form.