Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I just submitted my school's summer aid application and specifically mentioned I need funding for both Summer 1 and 2, and that I qualify for Year-Round Pell since I'll be taking 6 credits each term. I also made an appointment with financial aid for next week to make sure everything is on track. Fingers crossed this works out - I really need these summer classes to graduate on time!

Good luck with your summer aid application! Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me - when you meet with financial aid next week, ask them to walk through your specific aid timeline. Have them show you exactly how much of your annual limits you've used for fall/spring and what's remaining for summer. Also ask about payment due dates for summer terms - sometimes Summer 1 and Summer 2 have different payment deadlines, and you want to make sure your aid is processed and disbursed in time. The fact that you're taking 6 credits each term puts you in a good position for aid eligibility. Hope everything works out for your graduation timeline!

Just wanted to add that if your son is applying to multiple schools, it's worth reaching out to each financial aid office individually after submitting the FAFSA. Different schools have varying policies on how they handle disability income in their aid calculations, and some are more generous with professional judgment reviews than others. Also, some schools have special emergency aid funds or disability-related grants that aren't tied to the FAFSA at all. It's extra work but could make a real difference in his final aid packages!

One more thing to consider - if your son ends up not qualifying for as much need-based aid due to the SSDI income, make sure he still applies for merit-based scholarships at his schools and through outside organizations. Many scholarships specifically target students from families dealing with disabilities or financial hardships. Also, some states have special grant programs for students whose parents receive disability benefits. It's worth checking with your state's higher education agency to see what might be available in your area.

One last bit of advice: Keep documentation of all communication regarding this situation. If you call financial aid offices, write down who you spoke with, when, and what they told you. If you email, save copies. If you submit appeal documents, keep copies with proof of submission. The FAFSA process for 2025-2026 should be smoother than this year's rollout (which had numerous delays), but still prepare for potential follow-up. Financial aid offices are often understaffed and paperwork can get misplaced. Remember that you can always request a professional judgment review AFTER aid packages are offered if you feel your special circumstances weren't adequately considered. Good luck with both your home purchase and your son's college journey!

I'm a recent college graduate who went through a similar situation with my parents' assets affecting my FAFSA. One thing that really helped was creating a timeline document showing when the funds were committed vs. when they were actually spent. When my mom had to appeal, she included: 1. The original purchase agreement with earnest money dates 2. Bank statements showing the progression of the down payment process 3. A simple letter explaining the timeline Even though the initial aid offer wasn't great, the appeal worked at 2 out of 3 schools I attended. The key was being proactive - don't wait until after you get disappointing aid packages to start this conversation. Reach out to financial aid offices as soon as you submit the FAFSA and let them know about your situation. Also, since you're a single parent with that income level, you might qualify for simplified needs test or automatic zero EFC (now called Student Aid Index) depending on other factors. Ask about that too when you call!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately dealing with this exact same situation! We also checked yes for the Premium Tax Credit question and our SAI came back at $17,650 for a family income of $87,000 (family of 4). Like so many others here, this was significantly higher than what we expected based on old EFC calculators. What's really frustrating is that we received about $5,800 in premium tax credits last year because my employer's family health plan would have cost us nearly $1,300/month - completely unaffordable on our salary. Now we're essentially being double-penalized: first by having to navigate expensive healthcare costs, and then by having that assistance count against us in financial aid calculations. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both validating and concerning - it's clear this is a widespread issue affecting many middle-class families who are caught between making too much for Medicaid but not enough to easily afford marketplace insurance without subsidies. @Diego Vargas, I'm definitely going to look into that Claimyr service since I've also been stuck in endless phone queues with Federal Student Aid. The professional judgment appeal route that several people have mentioned sounds like it might be our best hope for getting some relief. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it really helps to know we're not alone in navigating this confusing and seemingly unfair system!

I'm new to this community but experiencing this exact same frustrating situation! We also checked yes for the Premium Tax Credit question and our SAI came back at $19,425 for a family income of $93,000 (family of 4). Like everyone else here, this was WAY higher than what we expected based on old EFC estimates. What's particularly maddening is that we received about $7,800 in premium tax credits last year because our employer's family coverage would have cost us over $1,500/month - completely unaffordable for us. Now we're being penalized for trying to keep our family insured through the marketplace. It feels like such a catch-22 situation! Reading through all these responses has been both eye-opening and concerning. It's clear this is hitting so many middle-class families who are stuck in that gap between Medicaid eligibility and being able to afford full-price insurance. @Diego Vargas, I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service because I've also been completely unable to get through to Federal Student Aid after multiple attempts. The professional judgment appeals that several people have mentioned sound like they might be our only realistic option for getting some relief. Thank you to everyone for sharing your experiences - it's both comforting and alarming to know we're not alone in dealing with this seemingly unfair system!

Just to summarize the key points so you have everything in one place: 1. Your total financial aid ($9,750) will be split across terms, not given all at once 2. Each school handles disbursements differently, but it's typically proportional to your enrollment intensity 3. You must maintain at least half-time enrollment to receive most federal aid 4. Loans have origination fees deducted before disbursement 5. Schools typically apply aid to your bill first, then refund any remainder 6. Disbursement often happens a week or two after classes start 7. First-time borrowers may experience a 30-day delay Making an appointment with your financial aid office is definitely your best next step to understand your specific situation!

Just wanted to add something that helped me a lot as another first-gen student - make sure to check if your school has a "financial aid hold" system. Some schools will put a hold on your account if there are any issues with your aid package, which can prevent you from registering for classes or getting transcripts. I found out about this the hard way when I tried to register for spring classes! Also, if you're planning to live on campus, the housing payment timeline might be different from when your aid actually disburses. My school required housing payments before aid was released, so I had to work out a payment plan. Your housing office and financial aid office should be able to coordinate on this if needed. One last tip - download your school's mobile app if they have one! Mine sends push notifications when aid is disbursed to my account, which is way more reliable than waiting for emails that sometimes end up in spam.