Congress Resets SAI Formula, Updated Edconnect and ISIR Test Data Released

Federal Student Aid has published several important changes regarding the 2024-2025 FAFSA.

What changed?

FSA has replaced the SAI formula that it released on February 27th with its previous iteration due to the passage of the Extension of Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2024.
The “2024–25 Test ISIR Data File” has been replaced by a new file titled “2024–25 FPS Test ISIR Data System Created File.”
Financial aid offices should download and install EDConnect861fix.exe, which is an update to to resolve an issue that corrupted profiles in EDconnect version 8.6.1.

For more details, read the complete announcement below:

On March 1, 2024, the Extension of Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2024 reset the Student Aid Index (SAI) formula established on the FAFSA Simplification Act for the 2024–25 award year to have a -$1,500 minimum threshold on the allowance for negative income earned by dependent students (e.g., the Student’s Contribution from Income). The threshold will be $0 for award years 2025-26 and beyond.
Accordingly, the -$1,500 income floor for SAI Formula A will be reflected in the 2024–25 Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) that are delivered to schools and state aid agencies in the first half of March. In addition, we have removed the updated version of the 2024-25 Student Aid Index (SAI) and Pell Grant Eligibility Guide added under “Attachments” on Feb. 27 and have reinstated the previous version of the guide in its place.

On March 1, 2024, we added a new test data file of system-generated test ISIRs titled 2024–25 FPS Test ISIR Data System Created File to and replaced the additional 2024–25 Test ISIR Data File on the 2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide publication.

On March 1, 2024, we re-published the EDconnect 8.6.1 software after resolving an issue that impacted some users after the initial release on Feb. 27.
The issue caused corruption of the user’s group profile, making it inaccessible, if the user attempted to log in with an invalid FT#. EDconnect 8.6.1 users who did not attempt an invalid FT# log-in were unaffected. However, to ensure the issue does not impact you in the future, please do not use the 8.6.1 software that was posted on Feb. 27 (EDconnect861.exe). Please download and install the updated version (EDconnect861fix.exe).
Important: For users with an existing EDconnect installation, select the “Local Install – Custom” option to retain your database data. Detailed instructions are included in “Section 2.4 – Installing EDconnect” in the EDconnect 8.6.1 Installation and User Guide.
Information about the EDconnect 8.6.1 software is available in the Feb. 27, 2024 Electronic Announcement.

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