Senators ask DeVos to adjust FAFSA form due to the coronavirus pandemic – The Hill
A bipartisan group of senators is asking the Department of Education to adjust the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and website to account for changes to a student’s financial situation as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Students and families who have recently become unemployed or suffered a significant drop in income may fail to qualify for the support they need to afford college,” the senators wrote in a letter Wednesday to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
“To that end, we believe the Department plays an integral role in ensuring that students and financial aid administrators have the information and resources necessary to respond to the unique challenges that this global pandemic has created and exacerbated,” they added.
The senators said they are concerned that the financial situations of students who have recently filed or are in the process of filing the FAFSA are not “accurately reflected,” noting the 14.7 percent national unemployment rate.