I'm so glad I found this community! I'm completely new here but going through the exact same frustrating situation with my twins who are both starting college in the fall. They got SAI scores that are $600 apart (5,234 and 5,851) even though they filled out their FAFSAs with identical family information, and I was absolutely panicking thinking this meant they'd only qualify for loans. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea that different SAI scores for siblings was now completely normal under the new FAFSA system! The detailed explanations about how the Simplification Act changed everything really helped me understand what's happening. What's giving me the most hope is hearing from so many parents who received substantial institutional aid even with SAIs in our range. I was definitely in full panic mode assuming we'd get nothing but loans, but it sounds like each school really does have their own approach to converting SAI into actual aid packages. I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice about being proactive with financial aid offices rather than just waiting around anxiously. The suggestion to contact them now with specific information (both kids' SAI numbers, enrollment details, overlap timeline) while framing it as wanting to understand their policies for families with multiple students makes so much sense. Has anyone had experience with appealing aid at both public and private institutions? I'm wondering if one type tends to be more flexible than the other when it comes to considering multiple kids in college under the new system. Thank you all for sharing such detailed and encouraging experiences - this community is a lifesaver for navigating these confusing changes!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this discussion incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a very similar situation with my two kids - they received SAI scores of 5,612 and 5,289, and I was completely baffled by the difference since we used identical family financial information. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a relief. I had no idea the FAFSA Simplification Act changed how siblings are treated in the calculation. The old system of dividing the family contribution made so much more sense to me as a parent! What's really encouraging is hearing from families who still received significant institutional aid despite SAI numbers in our range. I've been assuming we'd only qualify for loans, but it sounds like I need to wait for the actual aid packages before drawing any conclusions. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about contacting financial aid offices proactively. My daughter is already established at her university, but my son is choosing between four schools, so I should probably reach out to all of them to understand their policies for families with multiple students in college. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've been through the appeal process, how long did it typically take schools to review and respond to requests for additional consideration based on having multiple kids in college? I want to make sure I'm allowing enough time before enrollment deadlines. Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences and practical advice. This community has been invaluable for understanding these confusing new changes!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My grandmother is 79 and we're looking at options for me to help with her finances. After reading through all these responses, I'm definitely leaning toward the power of attorney route. It sounds like that's the safest way to avoid FAFSA complications while still being able to help when needed. Has anyone here actually gone through the POA process? I'm wondering how complicated it is to set up and whether banks are generally cooperative with this arrangement for day-to-day account management.

Just wanted to add my experience here - I went through almost the exact same situation two years ago with my father-in-law. We ended up doing the durable power of attorney route and it's been perfect. The bank was super helpful once we brought in the POA documents, and I've been able to handle all his bills and banking without any FAFSA complications for my kids. One tip: make sure to ask the bank specifically about their POA requirements when you call ahead - some want the documents notarized in a certain way or need specific language included. Also, if your mom is still mentally sharp (which it sounds like she is), having her present when you set everything up makes the whole process smoother. The peace of mind knowing I can help him financially without messing up my kids' college aid has been worth every penny we spent on the lawyer!

I'm new to this community and going through the exact same situation with my son who just turned 18 last week! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and honestly a huge relief. I was panicking thinking that reporting the child support I received this year would completely mess up his financial aid eligibility, but now I understand the process much better. It sounds like the key is being thorough and proactive - report everything accurately on the FAFSA first, then immediately start the professional judgment process with each school once we get the aid offers back. I'm going to start gathering all my documentation now (court orders, payment records, etc.) so I'm ready to move quickly. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's so reassuring to know that other families have successfully navigated this situation and that the appeals process actually works when you follow the right steps!

I just went through this exact situation with my daughter last year! The child support ended right when she started her senior year of high school, but I still had to report what I received during the tax year on her FAFSA. Here's what I learned: definitely report everything accurately on the initial FAFSA (you have no choice there), but then be prepared to work with each school's financial aid office on a professional judgment review. I submitted my special circumstances forms within two weeks of getting our aid offers, and included court documentation showing exactly when payments ended, bank records of the last payment, and a detailed letter explaining our situation. Four out of five schools adjusted her SAI, and the improvements to her aid packages were substantial - we're talking thousands of dollars in additional grant aid at some schools. The process took about 3-4 weeks on average, but it was absolutely worth the effort. Don't let the initial FAFSA results discourage you - the system does have ways to account for these timing issues, you just have to advocate for yourself!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to echo what others have said - this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm in a nearly identical situation with my small home-based bookkeeping service and was completely overwhelmed by the FAFSA business asset question. The family business exemption that Daniel explained is exactly what I needed to know, and I love how everyone provided actual sources and real-world examples rather than just guesses. What really impressed me is how the discussion evolved from the initial confusion to providing multiple solutions and verification tips. I'm definitely going to use the Federal Student Aid Handbook reference and document everything carefully as suggested. It's such a relief to find a community where people actually help each other navigate these complex financial aid requirements instead of just sharing horror stories. For other newcomers who might find this thread - definitely save all the resources and official language that were shared here. The documentation advice about keeping records for potential verification is spot on. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences!

As a newcomer to this community, I just have to say how incredible this thread has been! I'm dealing with the exact same situation - my spouse and I run a small dropshipping business from home and I was completely lost on how to handle the FAFSA business valuation. Like William, we have minimal physical assets and no inventory, just our laptop and some basic office supplies we'd own anyway. The family business exemption that Daniel explained is absolutely life-changing information - I had no idea this existed and it seems like it would apply perfectly to our situation since it's just the two of us with no employees. What really stands out to me is the quality of advice here - people providing actual Federal Student Aid sources, sharing real experiences from verification processes, and giving practical documentation tips. I especially appreciate Lauren's detailed breakdown of what constitutes business assets and Andre's advice about keeping detailed records. This is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes navigating FAFSA manageable instead of terrifying. I'm definitely going to research the family business exemption further and document everything carefully as suggested. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge - this community is a lifesaver for confused parents like me!

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I've contacted the trustee to get a formal letter stating the terms and restrictions. I'll make sure it clearly states she has zero access until 25 and that no distributions of any kind are permitted. I'm feeling much better about completing the FAFSA now, though I'll be prepared for possible verification. If they do incorrectly count it initially, I'll follow the advice about requesting a Professional Judgment review with all documentation. Thanks again for the guidance!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact situation two years ago. My daughter had a similar trust from her deceased father that she couldn't access until 26. Initially, our school's financial aid office counted it and drastically reduced her aid package. However, after submitting the trustee documentation and requesting a Professional Judgment review, they reversed their decision completely. The key was having that official letter from the trustee that explicitly stated "no access to principal OR income" - apparently some trusts allow income distributions even if principal is restricted, so they need to see both are off-limits. Don't get discouraged if you hit roadblocks initially - the appeal process really does work when you have proper documentation!