<p>My best friend's husband JUST died. Their daughter has already enrolled in college for this fall. The problems are: 1) He was the sole breadwinner in the family; 2) He had no life insurance; 3) He was a professor at the university where the child is enrolled, and as such, she was supposed to get to go for 1/2 price, but now that he has died, that will no longer be possible. </p>
<p>The questions I have are: 1) Since the FAFSA is based on last year's income taxes, and last year, the family was just fine, how can my friend get financial aid for her daughter? 2) Is there any kind of change of circumstance form that can be filled out that would override the income based on last year's taxes? 3) Are there any funds available for people in this type of situation?
Thanks!</p>
<p>They’re pulling her tuition remission NOW…how awful and cold is that?! Has she actually received a final determination on that or is she making the assumption that they will (they may not, for the first year anyway). Your friend should definitely peitition FA for a special circumstances adjustment for this year and enlist the help of the Dean if necessary. In the meantime, wouldn’t he have life insurance to help with the transition?</p>
<p>Totally agree. Your friend should immediately have a conversation with finaid and enlist help from her husband’s department head. If the college can maintain the status for this year it would give your friend a year to figure out her life and future financial situation. Since the tuition cost adjustment is a professional courtesy situation they may have leeway in a determination given the timing. My heartfelt condolences to your friend.</p>
<p>Your friend needs to file a special circumstances appeal. The husband’s income can be removed per professional judgment. If the mom doesn’t earn any money, this could result in Pell eligibility (and all the good grants that can come with that). I would hope that the school would have a heart & help this family!</p>
<p>My condolences to your friend (and to you, as well, for losing someone close to you).</p>
<p>P.S. No life insurance through the university? Most provide a minimum amount for all employees free of charge. Your friend should check with the Human Resources office to see if he did have some coverage.</p>
<p>Your friend should also check if the tuition remission from her dh really does end if he dies. I was looking at the policy of tuition remission for faculty children of one school on the web yesterday, and it specifically says that children of deceased faculty still get benefits if the parent had worked at the school for a set period of time.</p>
<p>I also agree with kelsmom that it would be unusual for the dh not to have at least some amount of life insurance through the school.</p>
<p>Best wishes to all of them in this difficult time.</p>