<p>I just wanted to see if anyone had some insight because I think the financial aid rep I spoke with at my school was pulling an answer out of thin air, because she didn't know why this happened.</p>
<p>My husband started school earlier this year and when he filed his FAFSA, it was only with one student attending college. Now that I'm starting back to college in the Spring, I filled my FAFSA out with two students attending. Somehow, my EFC was 1048 when only a couple of months prior, my husbands was in the 300 range (can't remember the exact amount and I'm not home to double check). My husband is 26 and I am 23... any ideas? Thanks!</p>
<p>One of you has likely made a mistake. </p>
<p>Are you saying that your H filled out FAFSA earlier this year using 2010 income, 2 in household, and 1 in college and EFC was 3xx.</p>
<p>And, now you’ve filled it out using 2010 income, 2 in household, 2 in college and EFC is now 3 times larger??? 1048</p>
<p>Go over the two forms and see what else is different.</p>
<p>We went over our forms and they were identical. I was just reading through the EFC formula from a link posted on another thread and I think I found the problem. </p>
<p>Apparently when you are married students, if there are two in college then your protected income is only $7xxx while if your the sole student in college, your protected income is $12xxx. So when my husband filed as the sole student he had more of our income protected than I did when I filed as both of us attending. </p>
<p>Seems unfair that they do that to independent students, while dependents get lower EFCs with each additional student. But oh well, that’s the way the cookie crumbles.</p>
<p>*Apparently when you are married students, if there are two in college then your protected income is only $7xxx while if your the sole student in college, your protected income is $12xxx. *</p>
<p>Maybe the idea is that now with both adults in school, YOUR living expenses are now part of your COA? </p>
<p>I guess they think with both of you in college, more of your income should go towards your COAs. That makes sense - you don’t have dependents…you’re both in school, so most of your money should go towards that goal.</p>
<p>The total amount of Pell grants will be more than before.</p>
<p>What was your income?</p>
<p>I suppose it does make sense but it’s still frustrating since my schooling is more expensive. Our income was somewhere in the 17000 range. Our income will be even lower this year as my husband has had a period of unemployment, so theoretically I could go through the hassle of documenting my lower income for this year with the FA office, but I haven’t decided if I feel like dealing with the hassle.</p>
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<p>The COST of your schooling has no bearing on the financial aid formulas at all.</p>
<p>I am aware of that. I was just venting.</p>
<p>Why don’t you get a job for the next few months…like for Christmas help…to bridge the gap since your H was unemployed.</p>
<p>I already work 50 plus hours a week. I’m a nanny though so my pay isn’t exactly high. Thanks guys.</p>