FAFSA Simplification for the 24-25 Award Year

Last Updated: 8/12/2024

This guide is intended as a resource to summarize the enhancements and updates made within PowerFAIDS to support the extensive changes from the Department of Education (ED) to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2024-2025 award year. These are changes are collectively known as FAFSA Simplification. For more general information about the changes to the FAFSA and the impacts on processing federal aid, please consult resources provided by the Department of Education on their FSA Training Center.

ISIR Data

New Fields

Hundreds of new fields have been added to the ISIR data pages on the student record to support the 24-25 FAFSA. You will see these fields only when looking at the 24-25 award year; the data shown on the record for the 23-24 award year will continue to reflect the prior format.

Calculated Fields

For certain types of data found on the Calculated Data page, you will see both an 'ISIR' column and a 'Calculated' column. Values in the 'ISIR' column are calculated by the FAFSA Processing System (FPS) using data submitted in the associated ISIR transaction. Values in the 'Calculated' column are calculated by the system based on the most current data available in PowerFAIDS.

Student's Spouse Data

On the Student Data page, there is now data related to the student's spouse, if provided. When a data point is collected separately for both the student and their spouse, the associated field aliases use the following format:

Student Field

Spouse Field
ISIRStudent.FieldName ISIRStudent.SpouseFieldName

Updated Fields

To support updates to the language used on the 24-25 FAFSA, some field labels and their associated field aliases (used in selection sets, custom reports, and so on) have been updated in PowerFAIDS.

Page in Student Record

Old Field Name

New Field Name

New Field Alias

Calculated Data

 CPS Pushed ISIR Flag FPS Pushed ISIR Flag ISIRCalculated.FPSPushedISIRFlag

C Flags

 DHS Verification Number DHS Case Number

ISIRCFlag.DHSCaseNumber

Associated field lock: ISIRCFlag.DHSCaseNumberLock

C Flags

 DHS Match Flag DHS Primary Match Status ISIRCFlag.DHSPrimaryMatchStatus

C Flags

 DHS Match Flag Resolution Required DHS Primary Match Flag Status Resolution Required

ISIRCFlag.DHSPrimaryMatchFlagStatusResolutionRequired

Associated field lock: ISIRCFlag.DHSPrimaryMatchFlagStatusResolutionRequiredLock

C Flags

 Secondary DHS Match Flag DHS Secondary Match Status

ISIRCFlag.DHSSecondaryMatchStatus

Associated field lock: ISIRCFlag.DHSSecondaryMatchStatusLock

C Flags

 Secondary DHS Match Flag Resolution Required DHS Secondary Match Status Resolution Required

ISIRCFlag.DHSSecondaryMatchStatusResolutionRequired

Associated field lock: ISIRCFlag.DHSSecondaryMatchStatusResolutionRequiredLock

Parent Data

Parent 1 Date of Birth

Parent Date of Birth

ISIRParent.DateOfBirth

Associated field lock: ISIRParent.DateOfBirthLock

Parent Data

Parent 2 Date of Birth

Parent's Spouse or Partner Date of Birth

ISIRParent.SpouseOrPartnerDateOfBirth

Associated field lock: ISIRParent.SpouseOrPartnerDateOfBirthLock

Parent Data

Parent 1 Last Name

Parent Last Name

ISIRParent.LastName

Associated field lock: ISIRParent.LastNameLock

Parent Data

Parent 2 Last Name

Parent's Spouse or Partner Last Name

ISIRParent.SpouseOrPartnerLastName

Associated field lock: ISIRParent.SpouseOrPartnerLastNameLock

Parent Data

Parent 1 SSN

Parent SSN

ISIRParent.SSN

Associated field lock: ISIRParent.SSNLock

Parent Data

Parent 2 SSN

Parent's Spouse or Partner SSN

ISIRParent.SpouseOrPartnerSSN

Associated field lock: ISIRParent.SpouseOrPartnerSSNLock

Parent Data

Parent 1 Income Earned from Work

Parent Income Earned from Work

ISIRParent.IncomeEarnedFromWork

Associated field lock: ISIRParent.IncomeEarnedFromWorkLock

Parent Data

Parent 2 Income Earned from Work

Parent's Spouse or Partner Income Earned from Work

ISIRParent.SpouseOrPartnerIncomeEarnedFromWork

Associated field lock: ISIRParent.SpouseOrPartnerIncomeEarnedFromWorkLock

Parent Data

Interest Income

Parent Tax Exempt Interest Income

ISIRParent.TaxExemptInterestIncome

Associated field lock: ISIRParent.TaxExemptInterestIncomeLock

Parent Data

US Income Tax Paid

Parent Income Tax Paid

ISIRParent.IncomeTaxPaid

Associated field lock: ISIRParent.IncomeTaxPaidLock

Student Data

Federal School Code # (1-10)

College # (1-10)

ISIRStudent.College1

ISIRStudent.College2

ISIRStudent.College3

ISIRStudent.College4

ISIRStudent.College5

ISIRStudent.College6

ISIRStudent.College7

ISIRStudent.College8

ISIRStudent.College9

ISIRStudent.College10

Student Data

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Completion Status

ISIRStudent.HighSchoolCompletionStatus

Associated field lock: ISIRStudent.HighSchoolCompletionStatusLock

Student Data

Current SSN

SSN

ISIRStudent.SSN

Student Data

Interest Income

Tax Exempt Interest Income

ISIRStudent.TaxExemptInterestIncome

Associated field lock: ISIRStudent.TaxExemptInterestIncomeLock

Student Data

Street Address

Street Address

ISIRStudent.StreetAddress

Associated field lock: ISIRStudent.StreetAddressLock

Student Data

City

City

ISIRStudent.City

Associated field lock: ISIRStudent.CityLock

Student Data

State

State

ISIRStudent.State

Associated field lock: ISIRStudent.StateLock

Student Data

Zip Code

Zip Code

ISIRStudent.ZipCode

Associated field lock: ISIRStudent.ZipCodeLock

Student Data

US Income Tax Paid

Income Tax Paid

ISIRStudent.IncomeTaxPaid

Associated field lock: ISIRStudent.IncomeTaxPaidLock

Student Data

Spouse's Income Earned from Work

Spouse Income Earned from Work

ISIRStudent.SpouseIncomeEarnedFromWork

Associated field lock: ISIRStudent.SpouseIncomeEarnedFromWorkLock

As you can see in the table above, certain naming conventions were adjusted for the 24-25 award year relating to who a particular piece of data is associated with. Instead of Parent 1 and Parent 2, the FAFSA now refers to these parties as Parent and Parent's Spouse or Partner. When a data point is collected separately for both the parent and their spouse or partner, the associated field aliases use the following format:

Parent Field

Parent's Spouse or Partner Field
ISIRParent.FieldName ISIRParent.SpouseOrPartnerFieldName

Removed and Replaced Fields

In addition to those fields that were added and updated for the 24-25 award year, there are also fields that will no longer be used moving forward. For many of those fields however, there is a comparable new field that's been added.

Caution: If any of the removed field aliases have been used in a selection sets, custom reports, communications templates, or custom processes, we encourage schools to remove them. Otherwise, the field alias will display a blank value after September 6, 2024.

For example, if the ISIRCalculated.FederalEFC field alias was used in a selection, after September 6 the selection set would display a blank rule where that field alias was used. The selection set would need to be updated before it can be used. If any of these field aliases have been used and need to be replaced, suggested replacement field aliases have been included in parentheses.

Removed Field Alias Suggested Alternative(s)

ISIRCalculated.CalculatedDependencyModel

N/A

ISIRCalculated.DateApplicationCompleted

ISIRCalculated.ApplicationReceiptDate

ISIRCalculated.DependencyStatus
  • ISIRCalculated.DependencyModel
  • ISIRCalculated.SAI
  • ISIRCalculated.CalculatedSAIFormula

ISIRCalculated.FederalEFC

N/A

ISIRCalculated.OriginalSSN

ISIRCalculated.SSN

ISIRCalculated.PrimaryEFC

ISIRCalculated.SAI

ISIRCalculated.ProvisionalEFC

ISIRCalculated.ISIRUpdateRequired

ISIRCalculated.RejectReasonCode

ISIRCFlag.CalculatedRejectReasonCode

ISIRCalculated.SpecialCircumstancesFlag

N/A

ISIRCFlag.SARCFlag

ISIRCFlag.FPSCFlag

ISIRParent.FiledSchedule1

N/A

ISIRParent.IRSRequestFlag

N/A

ISIRParent.NumberOfFamilyMembers
  • ISIRCalculated.AssumedParentFamilySize
  • ISIRCalculated.CalculatedParentFamilySize
  • ISIRParent.UpdatedFamilySize

ISIRParent.TaxReturnCompleted
  • ISIRParent.FiledJointReturnWithCurrentSpouse
  • ISIRParent.Filed1040Or1040NR
  • ISIRParent.SpouseOrPartnerFiled1040Or1040NR

ISIRStudent.ActiveDutyInUSArmedForces

ISIRStudent.ActiveDuty

ISIRStudent.Age24ByJanuary1

N/A

ISIRStudent.AtRiskOfHomelessness
  • ISIRStudent.NoOtherCircumstances
  • ISIRStudent.UnaccompaniedHomelessYouthOrAtRiskAndSelfSupporting
  • ISIRStudent.UnaccompaniedAndHomelessGeneral
  • ISIRStudent.UnaccompaniedAndHomelessHighSchool
  • ISIRStudent.UnaccompaniedAndHomelessTRIO
  • ISIRStudent.UnaccompaniedAndHomelessFAA

ISIRStudent.DegreeOrCertificate
  • ISIRStudent.GradeLevel
  • ISIRStudent.PursuingTeacherCertification

ISIRStudent.DependentChildren

ISIRStudent.ChildOrOtherDependents

ISIRStudent.FederalSchoolCode1Housing

N/A

ISIRStudent.FiledSchedule1

N/A

ISIRStudent.Gender

N/A

ISIRStudent.IRSRequestFlag

N/A

ISIRStudent.LegalDependentsOtherThanChildrenOrSpouse

ISIRStudent.ChildOrOtherDependents

ISIRStudent.Married

ISIRStudent.MaritalStatus

ISIRStudent.MiddleInitial

ISIRStudent.MiddleName

ISIRStudent.NumberOfFamilyMembers
  • ISIRStudent.UpdatedFamilySize
  • ISIRCalculated.AssumedStudentFamilySize

ISIRStudent.OrphanWardOfCourtOrFosterCare
  • ISIRStudent.ParentsDeceased
  • ISIRStudent.WardOfCourt
  • ISIRStudent.FosterCare

ISIRStudent.OtherUntaxedIncome

N/A

ISIRStudent.TaxReturnCompleted
  • ISIRStudent.FiledJointReturnWithCurrentSpouse
  • ISIRStudent.Filed1040Or1040NR
  • ISIRStudent.SpouseFiled1040Or1040NR

ISIRStudent.UnaccompaniedYouthDeterminedByHUD

ISIRStudent.UnaccompaniedAndHomelessGeneral

ISIRStudent.UnaccompaniedYouthDeterminedBySchool

ISIRStudent.UnaccompaniedAndHomelessHighSchool

ISIRStudent.VeteranOfUSArmedForces

ISIRStudent.Veteran

ISIRStudent.WorkStudyInterest

N/A

ISIRStudent.YearInSchool

ISIRStudent.GradeLevel

ISIR Corrections

Due to the number of new and updated fields in the 24-25 ISIR, the ISIR Correction comparison settings will need to be reviewed to account for any updates you want to make regarding the new fields. All new fields have been defaulted to 'compare'.

Pell Grant Calculations

Enrollment Intensity

Starting in the 24-25 award year, Federal Pell Grant eligibility and award amount calculations have been updated to use a new Enrollment Intensity factor in place of the prior enrollment status. PowerFAIDS calculates Enrollment Intensity using data collected in the Academic Years & Payment Periods page of the student record. The payment period Scheduled Weeks value and the academic year Hours in Year and Weeks in Year values are used to calculate full-time status for non-standard terms; standard terms use the federally defined full-time enrollment of 12 hours to represent full-time status. The payment period Scheduled Hours value is then used to calculate enrollment intensity. The default values in these fields are originally set in the payment period and academic year definitions when the entities are created in System Administration, but they can be updated for each individual student.

Standard Term Calculation

Enrollment Intensity Calculation: (PaymentPeriod.ScheduledHours * multiplied by 100) / divided by 12 (carry decimals out to 3 digits after the decimal). The result is then rounded to the nearest whole percent; capped at 100%.

Payment Period Scheduled Hours

Calculation

Enrollment Intensity
18 (18*100) / 12 = 150 100%
15 (15*100) / 12 = 125 100%
12 (12*100) / 12 = 100 100%
10.5 (10.5*100) / 12 = 87.5 88%
6.5 (6.5*100) / 12 = 54.167 54%

4

(4*100) / 12 = 33.333

33%

1

(1*100) / 12 = 8.333

8%

0.5

(0.5* 100) / 12 = 4.167

4%

Non-standard Term Calculation

Full-time Enrollment Calculation: (PaymentPeriod.ScheduledWeeks * multiplied by SystemAdministration.AcademicYearHoursInYear ) / divided by SystemAdministration.AcademicYearWeeksInYear (carry decimals out to 3 digits after the decimal). The result is then rounded up to the next whole number.

Enrollment Intensity Calculation: (PaymentPeriod.ScheduledHours * multiplied by 100) / divided by the Full-time Enrollment value above (carry decimals out to 3 digits after the decimal). The result is then rounded to the nearest whole percent; capped at 100%.

Full-time Enrollment Calculation:

Payment Period Scheduled Weeks

Academic Year Hours in Year

 Academic Year Weeks in Year Calculation

Full-time Enrollment
8 40

32

(8*40) / 32 = 10

 10
12 24

34

(12*24) / 34= 8.470

 9
10 24

34

(10*24) / 34 = 7.06

 8

Enrollment Intensity Calculation:

Payment Period Scheduled Hours

Full-time Enrollment

 Calculation Enrollment Intensity
16 12

(16*100) / 12 = 133.333

100%
12 12

(12*100) / 12 = 100

100%

11

15

(11*100) / 15 = 73.333

73%
10.5 16

(10.5*100) / 16 = 65.625

66%

Packaging

Starting in the 24-25 award year, the Student Aid Index (SAI) has replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) value for calculating Title IV federal aid eligibility and award amounts. Unlike the EFC, the SAI value can be negative. When packaging aid, a negative SAI is converted to 0 for all calculations other than for Federal Pell Grants.

Updates to Preconfigured Federal Items

Refer to the worksheets below to determine what updates are needed to the preconfigured federal setup items:

Tip: If your institution edited the names of the preconfigured federal setup items, then the provided list will not match your system exactly.