Hey, so lately i have been running a few fafsa calculators on some of the UCs i am thinking of applying to. According to them, my dad (only working member of my family) make too much money to get any aid at all. However, my dad lost his job earlier today. How does this affect fafsa The taxes from 2015 are still too high to apply for aid, is there like a box to check off on the application and would they provide me with aid now? Enough to go to a UC with housing (the only ucs i can get into are the ones far away from my home). Or do i have to start looking at other options? BTW, my dad was laid off with 3 months pay if that affects anything.
You have to complete the FAFSA with the information requested, including 2015 taxes. There is no place to include extra information. You can then appeal the award with the school. There might be an appeal form on the FA webpage, and it will include instructions and any documents they’d like. Usually they’ll ask for a letter of termination, the final paystubs, if he’s getting any severance or unemployment, other assets, etc.
The school’s expectation is that your father will find a new job. That’s why it’s a Professional Judgement call.
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BTW, my dad was laid off with 3 months pay if that affects anything.
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Sorry to hear that your dad lost his job this morning. Isn’t he likely going to be looking for another job? With 3 month of pay, and the likelihood that he’ll get a new job within the next few months, why would a school, AT THIS POINT, give you aid?
I am sorry to hear about your dad’s job loss. Today is September 27. Even with 3 months severance, he will be paid until the end of the year. Even though you will be using income for 2015, you probably will not be eligible for aid in the appeal process because when from an income standpoint your dad worked and was paid for the 2016 tax year with no loss of income.
Hopefully by the time you get your package in 2017, your dad will have employment.
Also, it’s unlikely you would have gotten enough need based aid at a UC to cover tuition, room, board, fees, personal expenses, and books anyway…even with no income. The UCs expect students to contribute somehow.
@mom2collegekids or @ucbalumnus what would be the max Calgrant award for someone attending a UC? Would,it cover the FULL cost of attendance?
And as noted, your dad will have a full year of income in 2016 as well…so you will be asking for some kind of professional judgment for 2018-2019 as well.
CalGrant covers “system wide” tuition…which is about $15k per year.
At this point, there won’t be any professional judgement. No way would he get granted a Cal Grant or similar right now. If by, maybe, next March, the dad still hasn’t secured a job, then maybe PJ would come into play.
Schools aren’t stupid. They’re not going to adjust the EFC down right now, award aid, and then dad gets a new job in the next few weeks. It’s not like the family is going to call up the school and say, “uh, never mind, take that grant away, dad just got a new job.”