<p>My EFC is about 15,000 and last year it was about 3,000. My dad's adjusted gross income was high due to the fact that he had to take out money from his pension to purchase a new car since our old one died. He's currently unemployed and has been for a while now. Our investments went down this year as well. He also just paid a high amount on taxes because of the new car. We never would have taken out this money if we didn't have to, and his employment and working income is no different than last year. Is this reason to call the school as a special circumstance? I got almost 2/3 of my tuition paid for last year, but now I won't be eligible for any of this. This is all going to be loans that I have to take out. I'm doing my best to look for scholarships, but who knows if I'll even get them.</p>
<p>I have to say...you can try. BUT the college will wonder why a less expensive car was not a better choice (i.e. something used and inexpensive).</p>
<p>always worth the effort.</p>
<p>It is worth asking them -- but I have the same concerns as thumper, I can't imagine withdrawing so much money money from a pension fund that the AGI increases to the point that the EFC is $15,000. It just doesn't make sense. </p>
<p>That type of EFC increase (since you said last year's was 3000, I am assuming few assets -- and with no employment, those assets wouldn't have increased) would indicate a significant increase in income.</p>
<p>for the EFC to increase that much, your parent's AGI would have to have increased from about $40,000 to about $80,000. Something doesn't add up.</p>
<p>Are you positive you complete the information on the FAFSA correctly?</p>
<p>I suppose they could have taken 40K out to buy a car.....</p>
<p>If so, I doubt the college will care much about that.....</p>
<p>that is what I was thinking -- but who in their right mind withdraws $40,000 to purchase a car when you are unemployed?</p>
<p>I am thinking that there is a possiblity that the FAFSA was filled out incorrectly -- perhaps the income was double counted or something?</p>
<p>It just doesn't add up.</p>
<p>hsmom is right, double check your fafsa, make sure the numbers were all entered correctly, There is one place where it is easy to enter income twice by accident. I did it on my Ds FAFSA the first time through and I have been doing this for years, i just read it too quickly and doubled her income :eek: by entering it in both spots</p>
<p>I am not exactly sure the amount that was taken out from the pension fund for the car. I know my dad had surgery on his heart earlier this year, so I don't know if he took money from the fund for that as well. I will have to double check with him.</p>
<p>While my dad is unemployed, he is also considered retired. My parents adopted me when they were much older than most, so this pension is what they're living on for the rest of their lives. It can't be used to pay for my college tuition. They're both in their 60s right now.</p>
<p>You can certainly submit those medical expenses as a special circumstance</p>
<p>Amanda it is difficult for us to say whether this would be considered grounds for a special circumstances adjustment. Money withdrawn for medical costs almost certainly would be with documentation proving the out of pocket expenses. Buying a new car - well it seems somewhat unlikely to me that a financial aid officer would consider an adjustment for that. Having said that I am not a financial aid officer and your circumstances with the withdrawal being a one off withdrawal from a retirement account are unusual. The best thing to do is have your parents put the numbers together and then ask the financial aid department. They are the ones who have the last say. </p>
<p>By the way we are old parents as well and living on SS retirement income and withdrawals from our 401k. I am very aware of the impact any withdrawals over what we need to live on may have on our daughter's financial aid so keep close tabs on it as we simply cannot afford to lose the financial aid she has and have to withdraw it from our retirement. As you say the money has to last us the rest of our lives so we keep a close eye on it anyway as we hope to live to a good age. Currently I am driving a car with @165,000 miles, my husbands truck has well over 200,000 and my daughter is driving a really old Beretta we bought from a friend for $100 (hers is the ghetto car in her dorm parking lot with bunjee cords holding the trunk closed and piece of string poking out from the hood that you pull on to open the hood). Even if one of the cars dies we would have to go for a used one at this point in our lives. Our financial aid office were wonderful in helping us with a special circumstances adjustment for medical expenses and loss of benefits. I don't know tht they would be so helpful if we asked for an adjustment because we got a new car. Can't afford a new car anyway but, in case one of ours finally does and I have to buy a 'new to me' car, I would be interested to hear the response from your FA people.</p>
<p>I just wanted to give an update. I went to my counselor, and was able to get the special circumstance papers. I've turned those in, and now I'm just waiting to hear back.</p>
<p>Thanks for the update AmandaLee. Let us know how it goes.</p>
<p>I know that it has been a very long time since I've updated this thread, but you told me to let you know how things go.</p>
<p>Well, I just heard yesterday that my appeal was approved. They have lowered my EFC enough so I am eligible for work study and other need based aid like before.</p>
<p>Thanks for the update. I'm glad that things worked out.</p>
<p>So glad to hear that everything worked out for you!</p>
<p>Wow Amanda - it took 4 1/2 months for them to let you know! You must have been pretty anxious. Glad it all worked out for you.</p>
<p>I can't believe how long it took either. I couldn't believe I'd turned it in so early until I checked out the date of my original post.</p>
<p>Honestly, from the responses here, I expected the worst, so getting that email was a really nice surprise.</p>