2nd degree student, FAFSA, question on dislocated worker status

Paying for College
1

<p>I'm 25 and applying to a 2nd bachelor's degree program and am filling out my FAFSA. I'm an old pro with FAFSA but this time around is different since I'm no longer a dependent student. There is a question about dislocated worker status, and the following information is given: </p>

<p>Is Student or Spouse a Dislocated Worker</p>

<p>In general, a person may be considered a dislocated worker if he or she:</p>

<pre><code>is receiving unemployment benefits due to being laid off or losing a job and is unlikely to return to a previous occupation;
has been laid off or received a lay-off notice from a job;
was self-employed but is now unemployed due to economic conditions or natural disaster; or
is a displaced homemaker.
</code></pre>

<p>I've been unemployed for the past year and a half, no longer receiving unemployment benefits. I've been living with family/helping with care of an ill family member. Would I still be considered a dislocated worker even though I'm no longer receiving unemployment benefits? Logically it seems to me that I should answer yes, as I was laid off, was receiving unemployment, and that's what started the process of going back to school. I've searched everywhere and can't seem to find an answer that fits my situation anywhere...</p>

2

<p>Make an appointment with the financial aid office, and ask about this one. It is my understanding that as a second bachelor’s degree student you are only eligible for unsubsidized student loans. If you maxed out on those loans for your first bachelor’s degree, you may not have any loan eligibility at all. In either of those cases, dislocated worker status wouldn’t matter one bit.</p>

3

<p>I’m not sure it makes a difference. You won’t qualify for a Pell Grant as a 2nd degree student. </p>

<p>You’ve been unemployed for over a year. You can’t have an EFC less than 0, and you already are likely at 0 already. What does being a dislocated worker get you? nothing, I think. </p>

<p>how much did you borrow for your first degree?</p>

4

<p>I agree that it probably doesn’t make any difference. However, I would consider OP to be a dislocated worker. Of course, all this does is allow assets to be ignored … and I am guessing there probably isn’t much left in the way of assets after being unemployed for a long period of time.</p>