How to Navigate the Dreaded Fafza From Marketplace in Washington, I'm Nancy Marshall

Genser in for David Broncoschew.

There's an acronym in education that spurs a feeling of at best boredom and at worst,

Dread, Fafza.

It's the free application for federal student aid.

It's essential for students to complete if they want federal grants and loans for college,

and now it's getting a makeover.

In December, the federal government is expected to release a revised Fafza that's intended

to provide more aid and make the process of getting that aid less painful.

Marketplace's Stephanie Hughes has more.

The new Fafza lets students send their tax info from the IRS directly to the Department

of Education, meaning they don't have to tell the government something more than once.

Students will have far fewer errors, perhaps transposing numbers or not understanding which

line they were supposed to pull from.

Some cook leaves the non-profit National College Attainment Network, which is advising

on the simplified Fafza.

Her organization found over 40% of high school seniors didn't submit the form last year.

So we have a lot of money left on the table by those who are eligible for Pell grants,

but don't know or understand about Fafza or started a Fafza and decided it was too difficult.

The simplified form will also reflect that the government's expanding who's eligible

for a Pell grant.

The December launch date is later than usual, says the Urban Institute Sandy Bound.

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