I learned that there was a certain amount of money a student is allowed to make before the income is factored into EFC. I’m not sure what the exact allowance is (if someone could inform me that would be great!) but I am pretty certain my income will be over $7000 this year. I looked at some FAFSA info and found the automatic zero EFC calculation. There are guidelines regarding parent income but I did not see anything about student income. Does this mean my income will not affect my eligibility for the automatic zero EFC? Thanks 
If you qualify for the auto $0’EFC, you probably also qualify for the simplified needs test…(although if your EFC is automatically $0, I’m not sure you need it).
For simplified needs test, your income needs to be below a certain threshold, and you need to have one of the following…receipt of a means tested benefit (like free or reduced lunch), or ability to file a 1040EZ or 1040
A tax form…or having a parent who is a dislocated worker (I think that is one of the qualifying items).
Anyway…if you qualify for the simplified needs test, I don’t believe the student income is counted at all.
But I could be wrong.
Hoping someone clarifies.
If you qualify for automatic zero efc based off of parents income, then no. You could make 100k a year and it wouldn’t matter for federal aid.
Auto zero does not count student income and does not count any assets (parent or student). So student income will not affect it.
Simplified needs does not count assets. It does take student income into account.
Thanks for the replies! Yikes I just double-checked though and my parents’ income is just a little bit over the automatic zero EFC limit… Does anyone happen to know what the student income allowance is before it’s factored into the EFC? @swimcatsmom @vanillathunder @thumper1 I can’t seem to find it anywhere. Thanks again!
Have you printed out the formula to work through it on paper? Do that. It will help you better understand how each factor affects your EFC. http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/090214EFCFormulaGuide1516.pdf
Student income allowance: $6,310.