<p>I was recently laid off in 2009. I chose the "displaced" worker box, however the family contribution returned to me is very high. I do not have any funds available to pay for my child's tuition. How is checking the "displaced" worker category helping to determine our contribution? Will the school take that into consideration?</p>
<p>You can let the school know that you have lost your job and ask for a consideration. I will tell you that EFC is meant to be paid out of SAVINGS, income and loans. Each school handles this differently, you have to ask the specific school your child is going to attend</p>
<p>On some other threads, Financial Aid offices will not adjust EFC until August. They say you can find a job between now and then.</p>
<p>kelsmom posted: "From what I can tell of the dislocated/displaced worker question, the only help it provides is the ability to bypass the 1040A/1040EZ or federal means-tested benefits clause for auto 0 or simplified means test. I think if the family is making over $50k, it doesn't make any difference."</p>
<p>Since that post, I have indeed verified that the only thing checking that box does is allow a family with a 2008 AGI of less than $50,000 to exclude assets from the needs calculation.</p>
<p>You can contact your school & ask how to apply for special circumstances consideration. I will caution you - you may very well be told that you will have to wait until closer the the fall semester. We will not look at loss of income requests yet, because there are too many months between now & school. The parent could very well get a job tomorrow. Whenever you do the request, you will be asked for documentation that the loss of job was not voluntary (my school does not consider buyouts voluntary, although some may) and documentation of earnings for a set period of the school's choosing.</p>