Income change from quitting job

Paying for College
1

Hi,

Hoping I can get some answers here. So I’m a 25 year old undergraduate. I decided to go back to college in August 2018, and to do so ended up quitting my job around the same time. So because I was making $40,000 before quitting, that’s what’s being shown on my FAFSA and not my current income of $0. I told my financial aid office this, but they said that because it was voluntary that I don’t qualify for the Pell Grant. Is this accurate, and if so can I do anything about it regarding financial aid? Could I have just lied and said I was fired? It seems to me like I’m being punished because I wasn’t fired from my job lol. Anyways, I know next to nothing about FAFSA so any help is appreciated.

2

The financial aid office has told you they will not make an adjustment. What was your FAFSA EFC?

How much did you actually earn in 2017? 2018?

3

Why did you quit? How did you pay for August '18 onwards? Most students like you would have worked and studied. Did you get Pell for 2018-19 academic year?

4

Yes, the financial aid office specifically said, “The events that cause a decrease in income must be involuntary.”

My EFC for 2019-2020 is 9956.
For 2018-2019 it was 10021.

In 2017 I was earning $40,000 before taxes.
In 2018, because I stopped earning as of September 1st, I earned roughly $26,500 before taxes.

Why I quit isn’t relevant, it was for various reasons.

My parents have been covering my cost of college so far, but once I transfer from the community college I’m currently attending they won’t be able to.

I did not receive Pell at any point so far.

5

Then you should still try and work some, because the 4 yr university probably costs much more than community college.

I believe you can borrow $12,500 in loans a year.

You don’t qualify for Pell because your income in the year used for FAFSA was too high.

I don’t know if you would qualify for Pell with the 2018 income.

6

The 2018 income will be used for the 2020-2021 financial aid form. That will be available for filing in October.

The Pell is $6000. Do you have a way to earn that amount if you don’t qualify for it?

7

Right, I understand all that. What I’m questioning is that “The events that cause a decrease in income must be involuntary.” I can’t find anything that supports this claim online, while I have read a few articles that state a change in income, regardless of whether it’s voluntary or not, can be changed on FAFSA, like this one:

“Since you will be quitting
your job, last year’s income will not be reflective of your ability to
pay during the academic year. You should ask your college for a
professional judgment review to make an adjustment for the drop in
income. Some colleges call this a special circumstances review or
financial aid appeal. Most colleges will make an adjustment to the
income figures on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA), switching you from last year’s income to an estimate of this
year’s income.”
https://www.fastweb.com/financial-aid/articles/should-i-work-my-way-through-college-or-quit-my-job-to-enroll-full-time

I also want to be clear: It’s not like I quit my job to try to get a free ride through college like the person in the article is, my choice to quit was unrelated.

8

You need to understand…professional judgment is done on a case by case basis and some colleges don’t make these adjustments at all. It sounds like your college doesn’t.

9

Okay, that’s what I wanted to to confirm. I guess it makes sense seeing as its a smaller college. Thanks for the help!

10

Try to find a job before next year, goodluck.

11

Did you complete any paperwork requesting professional judgement? Ask your school what you need to do…then do it…and see what happens.

12

What college? Can you work PT and study 3 semesters?? Look for work at places with tuition reimbursement. Your parents will let you live at home for free?