FAFSA: Significance of $21,300 & $43,100?

[4kidsdad]

^The asset protection has been lowered over the years. See http://www.forbes.com/sites/troyonink/2015/08/10/dept-of-education-corrects-asset-protection-allowance-still-hurts-middle-class-college-aid/

If you had a child entering college four years ago the asset protection allowance for a 45 year-old married parent was $41,300 for the 2012-2013 academic year. The recent update published in the Federal Register for the 2016-2017 academic year (when rising high school seniors will enter college), is only $6,300 (a paltry $3,600 if the parent is single)…

For 2016-2017 FAFSA, its asset protection for the older parent age of 53 is $21,300