<p>I tried asking this on another thread, but it went unanswered, so I'll try this way. (I've also posted it on the financial aid forum, but I know there must be good information here.) </p>
<p>Our son has had an income from Social Security, and it is the reason his EFC is too high to be realistic for us. It will end this June and be of no use to him next year though we have saved some of it. (Much of it has gone to--very expensive, as you know--gifted ed and health care.)</p>
<p>We sent letters to each of his colleges explaining this loss of income when we filled out the FAFSA. Do you think they will alter their evaluation of his need, which really is great, or will they just go by the FAFSA and Profile?</p>
<p>Did you call and ask them? I would call fi aid at these colleges and ask.
I was under the impression at one time s. s. payments to youths continued to 21 if the youth was a full time college student. Is that not so?</p>
<p>Thanks for your response. It used to continue to 19 if the child remained a full-time student, I know, but that changed a few years ago, more's the pity. Nothing after 18 under any circumstances now. Not that I'm complaining. He wouldn't have been able to afford to use the program I teach for if he hadn't had it this long!</p>
<p>However, we will make those calls after he's accepted to the schools. At this point, he's been accepted to only one and deferred at two, waiting for the other three RD.</p>
<p>No, social security incomes ends at 18. When son's SS ends, that will be considered a major loss of income. The FA offices will take that into consideration especially should you request a review of your FA package. By the time April rolls around you will have a better pciture of things, so you willbe able to deal withthe school directly. This is a common situation in the FA office and they will know how to handle it.</p>
<p>Gee, how can anyone say life is getting better in ther U.S.? Not that one should rely on governmental benefits, but when you look at other countries and how they take care of their citizens. Benefits instituted for good reasons here, and all being stripped away, I just don't know.....the privatizing of S.S. will be a disaster, this I know.</p>
<p>Situations like that should be brought to the attention of financial aid. FAFSA uses 2004 info. Your EFC and the federal aid you are entitled to get is based on the 2004 income. So any changes that occur in 2005 are not going to be reflected in this number. It is difficult enough to get 2004 information together in time for financial aid! So when things happen, like a parent loses a job, illness, loss of assets, it is reflected in the next year's FAFSA. But colleges have discretionary funds that they use to help out those who have an unforeseen situation. Social Security benefits always end at age 18, so that is not exactly unforeseen, and the drop in income will be adjusted next year. But do let the colleges know, as very few go strictly according to the EFC. The federal aid does have to go strictly by formula, but any school money can be distributed as the college sees fit, and they often take into account known dips in income.</p>
<p>social security used to continue as long as you were in school full time till 21 at least.
I used mine to help pay for my tuition and my living expenses as I had been out of the house since 17 ( you would think I would have known I could have applied for financial aid as well) When I stopped attending school ( cause I had too much on my plate with paying rent and writing papers, duh!) my mother still had dependent children at home and her survivors benefit was increased.</p>
<p>I wasn't aware they cut back on that benefit. Not that it matters to the OP, but I received a survivor's benefit as a fulltime student until age 22. I was already 21 when my father died and the monthly check during my senior year of college was very helpful.</p>
<p>This ended in 1981. I believe student benefits end at the earlier of age 19 or when the student is no longer in school. so for the OP that would be upon highschool graduation unless the student turns 19 before that.</p>
<p>Many colleges have their own evaluation form for financial need; using CSS profile AND their own application and FAFSA. They would be sensitive to this situation where the social security income stops at 18. It also does not hurt to tell them about it.</p>
<p>Achat, in my experience financial aid offices are not sensitive to any situation. If there is going to be a dip in income for any reason it is the responsibility of the family to let the financial aid office know, and MAYBE they will adjust. Even colleges that do not use PROFILE nor do they have their own apps, have some leeway in using the numbers FAFSA provides. However, many of such schools do not provide 100% beyond EFC to very many students, and they are not likely to take into account an anticipated event. You are supposed to be preparing for college with your income the calendar year before along with savings based on that one year income over your child's lifetime. Not realistic given many people have had rough years, but this is considered the quick way to come up with need. There has to be a line drawn as to what the process entails or kids would need a full year just for colleges to compute true need taking into account all relevant family finances. So most of the time, it is just tough luck if you just happen to have a high blip in income that year that is not bankeable or if you run into issues after the end of that year. Now I am not talking about the heavily endowed schools that have their own forms, use profile and pretty much give 100% of need and are needblind to boot. They have enough resources to swing wide and open the coffers when things like this happen. Not so schools who have trouble meeting most of the demonstrated need and who resort to heavy loans to do so.</p>
<p>"Normally, benefits stop when children reach age 18 unless they are disabled. However, if the child is still a full-time student at a secondary (or elementary) school at age 18, benefits generally can continue until the child graduates or until two months after the child becomes age 19, whichever is first."</p>
<p>My husband had some small DIS stipend due to his bioparent's disability, it helped him through university. Two years after we married (5+ years after graduation) SS demanded it be repaid for some obscure reason....I do not recall why, but it was not fun as we had just purchased out first home at early 1980s interest rates and we were maxed out. They cut us no slack whatsoever.</p>
<p>I had no idea that benefits eligibility had changed.
I received SS benefits many years ago while attending college and probably would not have been able to continue without them. What a shame.</p>