MACON, Ga. - Students planning to attend college in Georgia and apply for state financial aid will soon have to fill out a federal application instead of a state form.

The Georgia Student Finance Commission has announced the Georgia Student Finance Application will be obsolete beginning June 8, 2013. Students applying for state assistance will have to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Georgia Student Finance Commission interim president Tracy Ireland told the Telegraph of Macon (bit.ly/101B7Xb) the change will help verify students applying for financial aid are legal citizens. Ireland says the state could have collected sworn affidavits and citizenship documents, or required federal applications instead.

Ireland says about half of Georgia's college students already use the FAFSA, which requires more information than the state application.