Pell Grant

Paying for College
1

<p>Hello, Our EFC on the FAFSA was calculated as $6K even though my parents' AGI was only $28,000. A good portion of the EFC (about $4K) came from the monthly SSI payments that I receive for disability since i've been unable to work. None of the three colleges to which I applied have given me any need-based aid. All of it is in the form of loans. One person told me we just barely missed the cut-off for Pell Grant eligibility. As a result, between my parents' amount and the loan amount, the best financial aid award that one of the three colleges has given still leaves me with about $12,000 a year to pay out of pocket. </p>

<p>Is there any way to have the Pell Grant eligibility reviewed in light that my parents' income is so little and that most of the amount of the EFC is due to the SSI I get, which also eats up most of the SSI payments I receive? Who could I speak to in order to have this reviewed, and do you think it's possible that they would make an exception? It would help a lot even if we only qualified for the minimum, which is only $500 or so.</p>

2

<p>if you, the student, are the one receiving the SSI payments -- then those will continue while you are in school. As student income -- they expect you to use that for school expenses. </p>

<p>loans are need-based aid.</p>

<p>I don't think you are going to have much luck getting a review of the EFC since your SSI payments will continue and can be used to pay that. It might, however, be worth writing an appeal based on the fact that you are going to have difficulty earning money during the summers because of your disability.</p>

<p>Keep in mind before taking out loans -- will your disability prevent you from working after college and paying back those loans?</p>