My parents’ income is less than $24k and I receive Free/Reduced lunch, so for 2015-2016 we have an automatic 0 EFC. For scholarships and need-based aid, this is great for me.
However, I was thinking about next year when I go to fill out the FAFSA again. Presumably, my parents’ income will still be the same. However, as I would be in college, and not high school, I wouldn’t be able to receive Free/Reduced lunch benefits. Would this mean that we wouldn’t have an auto 0 EFC, assuming we don’t meet any of the other qualifiers (“any of the designated means-tested federal benefit programs: the SSI Program, SNAP, the Free and Reduced Price School Lunch Program, the TANF Program, and WIC”) currently or in the future?
I don’t use the F/R benefits, I’m registered essentially to qualify for fee waivers and this. Financially, I would still be eligible, but I wouldn’t be in hs, so I couldn’t. No school aged children, either, so would we just fill out all the FAFSA and end up with a low, but not 0, EFC?
For 2016-2017 FAFSA, if you received Free/Reduced Lunch in last 24 months (i.e. 2015 or 2014,) you still qualify for auto 0 EFC. Also, you could still qualify for auto zero EFC if your parents could or filed 1040EZ/1040A, or if at least one of your parents was a dislocated worker.
Otherwise, like you said, depending on your family’s incomes and assets, your EFC may still be 0 or a low number.