<p>The unfortunate thing about SSS (as compared to CSS Profile) is they ask what your house payment is what your car payment and then make your EFC more than you have left over (LOL). </p>
<p>Seriously, managing cash flow is a big part of making BS work with FA.</p>
<p>One tactic (not advisible as a long term strategy) is to re-fi the house and pay off all other debt. Given the same interest rate as on your current mortgage, addint $20K of car debt may add only about $130 to your mortgage payment (albeit for 30 years) in comparison to the $400 per month that your 5 year note currently dings you for. That $270 per month will get you over $3K more in cash flow for meeting that EFC.</p>
<p>People who have to drive as a part of their employment are better off getting the company to reimburse them for the mileage on their own (hopefully economical) car rather than taking the use of a company vehicle (which you are supposed to indicate on the SSS form). For the effort of tracking mileage, the typical reimbursement rates (37 to 44 cents per mile) usually outpace the actual marginal cost (fuel, maintenance, depreciation) on your car especially if it is an older model with higher mileage already. Those mileage checks are not accounted for as income or any thing else on the SSS form, they are reimbursing you for the “damage” to your vehicle and fuel you supply.</p>