I applyed for fafsa online and it asked me for all my moms income and information... but I am married and i did put I was married but they still asked for all my moms stuff at the end my EFC was 6023 I know that is really high. but are they using both my mom and mine and my husbands income to determine that? I can not afford to pay college right now and i was expecting to get a lower EFC. Between my husbands and I our income was 27000 last year which i dont think is enough to pay for rent and car and monthly living expenses plus hospital bills. OKAY I SEE WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT... WHEN I WENT THROUGH TO SEE WHO IS AUTOMATICALLY GIVIN A 0 EFC IT SAID A MARRIED COUPLE WITH A JOINT INCOME OF 20,000 WOULD RECIVE AN AUTOMATIC 0. SO FOR 7,000 MORE THAT I MADE IT JUMPED MY EFC TO 6023 I REALLY DOUBT IT. IF THE GOVERMENT EXPECTS 1/4 OF EVERYONES INCOME TO GO TO EDUCATION THEN PEOPLE GETTING PAID 20,000 WOULD HAVE TO PAY 5000 INSTEAD OF 0. Tinkerbell (loved your work in Peter Pan, by the way):
I'm not convinced that your EFC score is incorrect. If you and your husband had $27,000 in income last year, the government expects a certain percentage of that income to be devoted to your educational expenses.
Let me explain the basic EFC formula for an "independent student" in your situation.
Take your total household income (approximately $27,000 you said), and subtract income taxes and social security taxes that you and your husband paid. Now subtract $9,970 if you are enrolled at least 1/2 time in school.
Now divide what's left in half.
That's approximately your expected family contribution (EFC)
A quick calculation - working backwards -
Double your EFC, which was 6023 - that's 12,046. Add $9,970. That's $22,016. Add back your income and social security taxes - this takes us pretty close to your stated income of $27,000.
Listen - I understand that your family income is spent on a lot of things that you need - you won't get any argument from me. But the government expects you to be able to contribute about 1/4 of that $27,000 you guys made last year towards the cost of this year's college expenses.
If you're not working next year, because you're in school full-time, your household income will decline, and your EFC will go down next year.
Remember this - when you completed FAFSA question 50, asking about your marital status, you were directed to skip the sections about your mom's income. If you didn't fill that in, there is no way the government could have used that info to compute your EFC anyway.
As it is, though, your EFC of 6023 makes reasonable sense if you reported a household income of $27,000 last year. I don't think they based this on anything other than the income that you and your husband earned.
Sorry for the "bad" news.
Edit: Sorry again. The 'automatic zero' EFC only applies to independent students with dependents other than a spouse.
If you are providing more than 50% of the financial support for a child or children of your own or, if you're providing more than 50% of the financial support for a non-child dependent who lives in your home, your EFC is automatically zero IF:
1. At least one member of your household is receiving means-tested Federal benefits (SSI, food stamps, reduced price school lunches, etc.) OR you and your husband filed a 1040A or 1040EZ tax return (in other words, if you didn't itemize your deductions)
AND
2. You and your husband had an adjusted gross income of less than $20,000.
The $20,000 is the magic figure, because $20,000 falls below the "poverty line" figure used for financial aid (which may, or may not have anything to do with the poverty line figures used for any other forms of government benefits)
However - as I explained, the 2 part test that I just described for the automatic zero EFC does not apply to families that consist only of a student and a spouse. There must be at least one additional dependent who you and your husband provide more than 50% of the financial support for.
As you can see, this means households with $20,000 that are supporting 3 people or more - you're "supporting" two people with $27,000, which is a significant difference.
Again, you'll get no argument from me about the costs of living BUT the government still expects that your second priority (after minimal food, clothing and shelter expenses) is to pay your college bills. Keep in mind that the money that you're hoping the government will give you is taxpayer money. The taxpayers will ASSIST you, but they expect you to make great sacrifices first. Setting aside 1/4 of your household income for your college expenses is the kind of sacrifice the government (and the taxpayers) are looking for. Make corrections to your FAFSA. For instructions on how to make corrections, go to: http://www.mycollegecalendar.org/explore...
Because you are married, you are an "independent" student, so designate yourself as an independent student on the FAFSA and get rid of your Mom's info.. With an income of $27,000, you will have much lower EFC and will qualify for lots of federal financial aid. Good luck. They should not be asking for your moms income if you are married, unless you are living with her. Find a number on the fafsa site and call them. |
