Hi! So I just submitted my FAFSA for the 2019-2020 year. This is my second time submitting the fafsa and I’m kind of freaking out because by EFC is 015213, which is about $8,000 higher than my EFC last year which was around $7,000. I think it’s because 1. my mom made more money in 2017 than in 2016 (I have a single mom) and 2. this year the FAFSA asked for the amount in our savings and checking accounts and combined we have about $60k in savings and checking. It didn’t ask for that last year. I go to UCSB and I’m hoping that I still qualify for the blue and gold opportunity plan which covers your tuition and fees with grant and scholarship money if you make under $80,000 in income and qualify for aid (my mom and I make a combined $75,000 with her income, my income, and the child support she gets). We’re also under the cal grant income and asset ceilings. I think we’ll be okay, but I can’t help but be worried because my EFC is so much higher and if I don’t get full tuition in grants then I can’t afford to keep going to UCSB next year. Do you guys think I’ll be okay?
Your thoughts?
@klarinets: Have you run the NPC on UCSB again just to see if your estimated aid will be the same? Also you might want to check with UCSB’s financial aid office to confirm you will be receiving similar aid.
@thumper1: I may be UC Forum Champion but when it comes to financial aid, I am a novice and most of the information/knowledge I have acquired has been from posters like you. Maybe @kelsmom could weigh in on this.
Being a full pay parent for both UC and CSU’s, I only filled out the FASFA the first year for both my son’s and that was the extent of my FA abilities.
I do want to comment that I have noticed many posters this year stating their EFC’s have increased so has there been a change in the EFC formula vs. last year?
“2. this year the FAFSA asked for the amount in our savings and checking accounts and combined we have about $60k in savings and checking. It didn’t ask for that last year.”
This may be the culprit. FAFSA has always required this information, so I wonder if you made an error last year by not including it.
@suzy100 - There is skip-logic in the FAFSA. If income is low enough or certain tax forms are filed, then assets are not called for.
Ah, got it. Thanks for clarifying.
That would be my guess…mom’s higher 2017 income pushed the family above the limits for simplified means and assets were counted. Sorry, I have no experience with or knowledge of California’s state aid.
Thanks for the replies! I talked to the UCSB financial aid office today and they did say that I probably had an income last year that was below the threshold where it didn’t ask for assets. If I don’t get blue and gold, they also told me that I can try to appeal because our situation has changed since 2017 (my mom lost her second job that provided extra income and her child support dropped by half because I went to college and technically don’t live with her anymore). Maybe that will help, but it might not even be an issue. I’ll probably wait until I see my award letter.
@klarinets - Look for the Special Circumstance paperwork at the UCSB financial aid webpage. That is likely to indicate the additional information you might need to have ready when you ask for your aid package to be re-evaluated.