<p>So I'm currently a full time, independent student going into my junior year. Since I've been full time, currently my income and EFC is 0 and because of that I have a good financial aid package with the maximum in grants and the minimum in loans. I'm sort of in a conundrum, since I have an opportunity to receive some income while in school but I'm afraid it might jeopardize my financial aid package. The last thing I want to do is to make some money to start chipping away at my loans but end up chipping away at my grants in the process. Does anyone know how much income you can have before it starts becoming a problem?</p>
<p>For an independent single student with no dependents, the income protection allowance is $9,330.</p>
<p>Hmm so if I make under that I should still have an EFC of 0? Do you know if universities look at (or even have access to) anything other than the EFC? Like would they see that I have an income on my FAFSA now (and maybe subtract that from my total aid award) or do they just go off the EFC number?</p>
<p>Yes, they can see your SAR which has all the information you enter on FAFSA, income & assets - everything. They have to have that in order to verify the accuracy of the data you supply. Federal aid would be based on your EFC.</p>