The Complete 2026–27 FAFSA Simplification Guide
Permanently REMOVED
- ➤ Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
- ➤ Sibling discount / number-in-college adjustment
- ➤ “Legal guardian” questions
- ➤ Drug conviction question
- ➤ Selective Service registration question
- ➤ All cash, savings & checking account questions for most families
- ➤ 60+ extra questions if you had a Pell Grant before
Brand-New in 2026–27
- ➤ Student Aid Index (SAI) – can be negative down to –1,500
- ➤ Immediate SSN verification (no 3-day wait)
- ➤ Email-based contributor invites with secure code
- ➤ Automatic IRS Direct Data Exchange (no manual uploads)
- ➤ Family farm & small business (≤100 employees) 100 % exempt
- ➤ Grandparent 529 plans completely invisible
- ➤ Under 50 questions for 90 %+ of families
Question Count Comparison
| Year | Average Questions | Maximum Possible |
|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 108 | 180+ |
| 2025–26 (transition) | 72 | 120 |
| 2026–27 (current) | 46 | 58 |
New Contributor Rules (Biggest Game-Changer)
- Only ONE parent is required — the one who provides the most financial support
- No step-parent income required if they’re married but not providing support
- Email invite + 6-digit code system (no more FSA ID sharing)
- Non-custodial parent never required again
Result: Millions of families finish the FAFSA in under 15 minutes for the first time ever.