<p>I am posting this here because many parents who have already filed for aid before may miss this info if you don't follow the financial aid forum threads. There are some changes in the federal methodology used to determine EFC for 2009-10. You will see these changes when you fill out the FAFSA early next year. Here is a link to the changes - the Simplified Needs and Definitions Changes section may have info that affects some of you (in a positive way this time):</p>
<p>This didn't look like anything new for the points that I've done the most research on (mainly 529 ownership definitions), and then I noticed that the date at the bottom is 10/03/07. But it was interesting to surf around this site a bit (database matches? one has to wonder exactly where our personal information is ending up these days...)</p>
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Provide an overview of the various database matches used to verify that a student meets certain general student eligibility criteria, highlighting recent changes.
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<p>FAFSA processing goes through database matches for SSN, Selective Service Registration, Citizenship (homeland security), and possibly others that don't jump to mind as quickly. If things don't match, a code pops up & financial aid administrators ask for documentation.</p>
<p>The changes that I can see as relevant to folks on these boards might be untaxed social security income not being part of the formula, changes in treatment of 529s in the formula, dislocated worker status/treatment, $10k raise in income threshold for Automatic 0 EFC, and changes in independent definition (many here advise students who may qualify as an independent without all the hoops to jump through now).</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I don't think it will do anything for me.</p>