BlsdMama Posted October 3, 2021 Posted October 3, 2021 I'm updating his FAFSA for next year. FAFSA is telling me DS is a dependant, What am I doing wrong? He's currently 22, and will be 23 before next year. He is 100% self supporting. I thought at 22 they could be independent?? Quote
maize Posted October 3, 2021 Posted October 3, 2021 6 minutes ago, BlsdMama said: I'm updating his FAFSA for next year. FAFSA is telling me DS is a dependant, What am I doing wrong? He's currently 22, and will be 23 before next year. He is 100% self supporting. I thought at 22 they could be independent?? It's actually 24 (turning 24): https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/dependency 1 Quote
BlsdMama Posted October 3, 2021 Author Posted October 3, 2021 SMH. This sucks. Our income is non representative. We did a Covid withdrawal (Household family member had Covid allowing a 401k withdrawal which we used for ALS expenses which have been high. But it gets claimed on income.) DS is truly 100% self supporting and there is NO way we can help him with school for his last year. As a dependent, working as much as he does, his income looks like "extra," when he is not a dependent. Because of my incredibly high medical needs, is there anything we can do? Quote
RootAnn Posted October 3, 2021 Posted October 3, 2021 You can submit a written letter to the financial aid dept of his school with your situation and hope for the best. 7 Quote
historically accurate Posted October 3, 2021 Posted October 3, 2021 (edited) 4 minutes ago, BlsdMama said: SMH. This sucks. Our income is non representative. We did a Covid withdrawal (Household family member had Covid allowing a 401k withdrawal which we used for ALS expenses which have been high. But it gets claimed on income.) DS is truly 100% self supporting and there is NO way we can help him with school for his last year. As a dependent, working as much as he does, his income looks like "extra," when he is not a dependent. Because of my incredibly high medical needs, is there anything we can do? You probably can't do much on the FAFSA, but since it's his last year, I would definitely talk to the school's financial aid office. My parents got laid off during my junior year of college, and the college chipped in a bit more money during my senior year as well as upping my work study options since the previous year's income was not representative. Edit: RootAnn said it much more succinctly than me. Edited October 3, 2021 by historically accurate 1 1 Quote
BlsdMama Posted October 3, 2021 Author Posted October 3, 2021 Thanks. I'm so frustrated. We had about $60k in expenses this past year with handicap accessibility changes to the house, medical bills, etc. The withdrawal we took from 401k now looks like income. SMH. 1 Quote
maize Posted October 3, 2021 Posted October 3, 2021 53 minutes ago, BlsdMama said: Thanks. I'm so frustrated. We had about $60k in expenses this past year with handicap accessibility changes to the house, medical bills, etc. The withdrawal we took from 401k now looks like income. SMH. What year did you withdraw the 401k funds? The 2021-22 fafsa should be based on 2019 income, and 2022-23 on 2020 income. 1 1 Quote
maize Posted October 3, 2021 Posted October 3, 2021 In any case it is definitely worth contacting the financial aid office with information about exceptional family medical/handicap expenses. 1 1 Quote
BlsdMama Posted October 3, 2021 Author Posted October 3, 2021 8 minutes ago, maize said: What year did you withdraw the 401k funds? The 2021-22 fafsa should be based on 2019 income, and 2022-23 on 2020 income. 2020- its split over three years. 😉 Quote
Sebastian (a lady) Posted October 5, 2021 Posted October 5, 2021 You should definitely contact the college financial aid office and ask for professional judgement based on higher than normal medical costs. Use the professional judgement tip sheets here to prepare for the type of information that will support your request. https://professionals.collegeboard.org/higher-ed/financial-aid/im/tips Quote
BlsdMama Posted October 8, 2021 Author Posted October 8, 2021 On 10/5/2021 at 6:23 PM, Sebastian (a lady) said: You should definitely contact the college financial aid office and ask for professional judgement based on higher than normal medical costs. Use the professional judgement tip sheets here to prepare for the type of information that will support your request. https://professionals.collegeboard.org/higher-ed/financial-aid/im/tips Thank you. I will do so - three different schools next year, lol. We will have four in college next year and two in high school. Funny how we never did this math earlier. 😉 2 Quote
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