<p>the feds just came out with a PDF copy of the EFC formula guide for next year (2009-2010).</p>
<p>for those of you who would like to figure out next year's EFC manually, here's the link:</p>
<p>happy calculating!!</p>
<p>to add to the above post:</p>
<p>you might want to print out a copy of the 2009-2010 FAFSA to use in conjunction with the EFC formula guide. the FAFSA PDF will be out in early December--even though i bet you can get the draft copy if you don't want to wait.</p>
<p>This is not set in stone yet. It's a good guide for now, but it still may change before January 1st!</p>
<p>that is true kelsmom. let's see what happens!</p>
<p>It's interesting to note the changes this coming year. Pages 3-6 on the PDF detail who qualifies for independent status (remember that most aid offices will require documentation for these!!) and who qualifies for Automatic 0 EFC and Simplified formulas (both exclude assets). The intesting thing here is the fact that a dislocated worker can qualify for Simplified formula if the income is $50,000 or less and they can be classified as a dislocated worker by the definition (they don't have to follow the eligible-to-file-1040A/EZ or someone-had-a-federal-means-tested-benefit rule, just the income threshold). This is a big deal for those who got a lump sum when they were kicked out the door - that asset won't be counted.</p>
<p>Profile is another story, of course!</p>
<p>Thank you for this post!! :)</p>
<p><em>yipee! :) I still qualify as an automatic 0 EFC</em></p>
<p>i also am assured of a 0 EFC for the first time--thanks to social security benefits not being counted towards the EFC calculations next year....</p>
<p>....so yippie for me as well!!!</p>
<p>Note that SSI is Supplemental Security Income - not all social security income falls into this category. It's untaxed SSI that is excluded in the formula.</p>
<p>i am sure that social security disability payments fall under the same category along with ssi recipients.</p>
<p>but in case i am wrong, is there anybody out there that knows for certain? if so please chime in!</p>
<p>if there is a link to the info please put it in your post as well.</p>
<p>thanks!!</p>
<p>SSDI does not fall under the same category as SSI, it says this right on the FAFSA</p>
<p>this is because SSI has a resource limit and "other" income limit to receive it and SSDI does not, so SSI recipients would qualify for the automatic zero but not SSDI automatically, UNLESS you receive SSDI and SSI</p>
<p>FinAid</a> | Financial Aid Applications | Common Errors</p>
<p>Very bottom of page explains this.</p>
<p>oops! i did not see that one, however i am in the unique position of receiving both SSI and SSDI from the feds, so double yippie for me!!!!</p>
<p>thanks ilovekermit and kelsmom for the clarification!</p>
<p>maybe the feds will clarify what they mean by "social security benefits" at a later date...after all there is more than 1 type of social security benefit out there today!</p>
<p>i managed to download a draft copy of the 2009-2010 FAFSA so i will take a look and see what it says about that issue....</p>
<p>baker...</p>
<p>use of the word "recipients" means tested, and "beneficiaries" are people who receive benefits of insurance programs (i.e. not means tested) in federal lingo. most people don't understand this, including some who work for them, but by using one term or the other they believe they are being clear since the difference in wording related to a difference in program policy</p>
<p>so this means that SSI is not a social security benefit. SSI is a program managed by SSA that people receive.</p>
<p>also when you fill out the fafsa there is a place that asks if you receive SSI, TANF etc</p>
<p>if you tick off that box as a yes, you get the automatic zero, this is regardless of additional SSDI benefits</p>
<p>the one exception to that that I know of is SSA PASS program, where you could have substantial savings and income while receiving up to the maximum SSDI benefit of around 2k per month. However when you report savings over 2k the SSI limit and income of the maximum combined federal and state SSI level +20, you fasfa will be pulled for verification where you will NOT get the automatic zero. that is a complicated and rare situation where ticking off the box will not result in an automatic zero.</p>
<p>for example kelsmom's link sys:</p>
<p>Families may find the question about federal benefit programs a little confusing. The Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI) is not the same as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The acronyms may be similar, but the programs are not the same. Do not answer yes to the questions about SSI if you are receiving SSDI.</p>
<p>HOWEVER that info is wrong because SSI is not considered a federal "benefit" by the feds. It (SSI) is considered and managed as a federal "assistance" program. Unfortunately there seems to be much confusion and little consistency about different federal benefit and assistance programs.</p>
<p>I am so confused - stupid acronyms!! (ok probably stupid me but I am willing to be educated). My husband is 66 and receives his federal pension (not taxed unless we have other income over a certain amount - which we do not). Does that come under the SSI umbrella of items that is not reported under the new FAFSA rules. It is not a means tested benefit so I am thinking no?</p>
<p>Hey, you think YOU guys are confused ... I didn't even know about the distinctions until this post! I am still learning verification (it's much more confusing than it used to be, due to the myriad new programs in the 20 years since I last worked in financial aid) - and I have a file I am working on that has SSDI. There is no SSI. I didn't realize they aren't the same thing. </p>
<p>ilovekermit, do you have a link to a site where I can actually read up & learn about all of this? I would like to be able to understand what's what.</p>
<p>i would also like to see that link as well, ilovekermit.</p>
<p>now i am thoroughly confused!! what happens if you receive both SSI and SSDI? where do they go on next year's FAFSA?</p>
<p>Looks like the link to the EFC calculation document has moved. Here is the new link:
<a href="http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/111408EFCFormulaGuide0910.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/111408EFCFormulaGuide0910.pdf</a></p>
<p>Thank you! I have been looking for that.</p>
<p>why, dear god, is the asset protection for a single parent only 40% that of a married couple. I really really want to know the mindthink behind that.</p>
<p>sue:</p>
<p>there are a lot of inequities in the finaid system. </p>
<p>Why should a family with twins have half the efc of a family with two kids spaced four years apart?</p>
<p>Why should workers covered by a defined benefit pension have those employer contributions excluded from income while at the same time a person with no DB pension has 401(k) money added back to income?</p>