FAFSA application opens in one week. What do I need?

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Planning on attending college next year? Start getting your documents in order to apply for financial aid.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens in one week, on Wednesday, Oct. 1. Despite issues in past years, the U.S. Department of Education said it has been beta testing the application website to ensure their systems are performing as expected.

FAFSA is a free government application that uses students' and families' financial information to determine if a student can get financial aid from the federal government to pay for college. It also determines eligibility for work-study, loans and other federal student aid programs.

In 2024, the U.S. Department of Education launched a new version of FAFSA. Issues with the rollout caused major delays and confusion, which led the department to make changes.

"The Department is committed to learning from challenges with the launch of the 2024–25 FAFSA form and making key improvements to the experience for students, families, and colleges in the coming year," the statement from the department reads.

Students can start preparing to fill out the application now so it can be completed as soon as it's available. Applicants will need an account on the Federal Student Aid website, and will need the following documents:

• Social Security number
• Driver's license number
• Alien registration number, if you are not a U.S. citizen
• Federal income tax returns, W-2s and other records of money earned
• Bank statements and records of investments
• Records of untaxed income

Students in Virginia also have another tool at their disposal to help them in the application process. The Financial Aid Help Desk, launched by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), is available to answer questions students and families have about FAFSA.

To access the Help Desk, text “uAspire” to 434-478-4003. You will then be able to ask a financial aid expert any questions you have about the financial aid process and they will respond within 24 business hours.

You can learn more about FAFSA and apply when it opens by visiting the Federal Student Aid website. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2026.