The Department of Education (ED) recently announced that it will now update, in accordance with
the law, the tables used to protect a portion of a family’s income from being considered available for college expenses by inflation-adjusted amounts, which will result in some students qualifying for more federal Pell Grants.
The FAFSA Simplification Act of 2020, the law that Congress passed to significantly streamline the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), required that ED annually update the Income Protection Allowance (IPA) tables to account for inflation
and other economic changes. For a greater number of students, bringing those numbers current will reduce the portion of a family’s income that is considered available for educational expenses, resulting in a lower Student Aid Index (SAI) and potentially
increased financial aid eligibility.
However, the delivery of FAFSA applicant data to institutions - which was already delayed until the end of January - will not take place until after these changes are implemented, until the first half of March. This means additional delays in the delivery
of financial aid offers to students and families, further compressing the available window for them to make informed enrollment decisions.
In response to this news, the undersigned organizations issued the following statement:
“Due to the continued delays in the availability of FAFSA applicant data announced by the US Department of Education, we encourage colleges and universities to provide flexibility to students and families as they consider their offers of admission and
financial aid.
During the pandemic, many institutions extended their enrollment, scholarship, and financial aid deadlines beyond the traditional May 1 date, and we urge institutions to make similar accommodations this year. We all want students and families to have
the time they need to consider their financial options before making enrollment decisions.”
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