As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how amazing this discussion has been! I'm currently dealing with this exact same situation - my daughter's FAFSA is due next week and we're waiting on Medicaid approval after submitting our application 6 weeks ago. We got confirmation that our income qualifies, but still no final approval letter. Reading through everyone's real experiences here has been so much more helpful than trying to decipher the official FAFSA instructions alone. The distinction between "eligibility" vs "enrollment" that multiple people have clarified is crucial - I never would have understood that nuance without this community's guidance. Based on all the shared experiences, especially @Zara Rashid's official confirmation from Federal Student Aid and @PixelWarrior's successful firsthand account, I'm confident about marking "Yes" since we've verified our income eligibility. I'm also implementing everyone's documentation strategy - creating a dedicated folder with all our application confirmations, income verification emails, and status screenshots just in case we get selected for verification. It's reassuring to know this approach can actually help maximize aid through the automatic zero EFC calculation. Thank you all for making this overwhelming process feel so much more manageable with your practical, real-world advice!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so relieved to have found this incredibly helpful discussion! I'm currently facing this exact same Medicaid/FAFSA timing challenge with my son's application. We submitted our Medicaid application about 4 weeks ago and received confirmation that our income meets the eligibility requirements, but we're still waiting for the official approval documentation. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - the distinction everyone has made between "eligibility" and "enrollment status" is something I never would have understood from reading the FAFSA instructions alone. Based on all the shared experiences here, particularly @Zara Rashid's official confirmation from Federal Student Aid and @PixelWarrior's successful real-world experience, I feel much more confident about marking "Yes" since we've already verified our income qualifies. I'm also taking everyone's excellent documentation advice to heart - I've already started organizing all our application confirmations, income verification emails, and status updates into a dedicated folder for potential verification. It's reassuring to know that this approach not only answers the question correctly but can also help maximize aid eligibility through the simplified needs test. Thank you all for creating such a supportive environment where families can navigate these complex overlapping government programs with practical, real-world guidance!

What an incredible thread to read as someone new to this community! I'm 31, independent student, and facing almost the exact same situation - planning to marry someone who makes significantly more than my part-time income while I finish my degree. This discussion has been absolutely invaluable in helping me understand that this isn't just about "losing financial aid" but rather strategically managing a major life transition. The professional insights from actual financial aid advisors, combined with real experiences from people who've been through this, creates such a comprehensive picture that you just can't get from official FAFSA documentation. The strategic timing approach that emerged here - marrying right after graduation but before the next FAFSA filing period - is brilliant! It maximizes current aid eligibility while still achieving relationship goals in a reasonable timeframe. I'm definitely going to use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to run scenarios for my own situation. I also love how this thread emphasized considering the full financial picture - health insurance savings, shared expenses, potential employer tuition benefits - rather than just focusing on the grant money loss. Sometimes the overall financial situation actually improves despite the FAFSA changes. @Zara Malik - congratulations on finding such a thoughtful solution! Your approach of involving your fiancée in the planning process and treating this as a partnership decision rather than just your individual problem is exactly right. This community really came through with amazing support and practical wisdom. Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource for those of us navigating the intersection of love and financial aid! 💕

As a newcomer to this community, I have to say this entire discussion has been absolutely incredible to read through! I'm 28, independent student, and facing a remarkably similar situation - engaged to someone who makes about $75K while I earn around $16K part-time. I was honestly losing sleep over the FAFSA implications until I found this thread. What's been most enlightening is seeing how this conversation evolved from initial panic about "losing aid" into a comprehensive strategic framework. The professional insights from actual financial aid advisors, combined with real experiences from people who've navigated this successfully, provides exactly the kind of practical wisdom you can't find in official documentation. The strategic timing approach that emerged here is brilliant - marrying right after graduation but before the next FAFSA filing period seems to maximize current aid while achieving relationship goals in a reasonable timeframe. I'm definitely planning to use that Federal Student Aid Estimator to run scenarios for my specific situation. I also appreciate how many people emphasized looking beyond just the aid loss to consider health insurance savings, shared expenses, and potential employer tuition benefits. The overall financial picture can actually improve despite FAFSA changes, which is reassuring to realize. @Zara Malik - your thoughtful decision-making process has been inspiring to follow! The way you approached this as a partnership decision with your fiancée, rather than just your individual financial problem, really shows the right approach. Congratulations on finding a solution that works for both of you! Thank you to this amazing community for turning what felt like an impossible choice into a manageable planning process. This thread will definitely help many others facing similar decisions! 💙

wait so do we have to apply every year for fafsa? i thought it was just once when u start college???

Just wanted to add that if your daughter is considering the graduate school route for independence, make sure to check the specific program requirements at her school. Some programs have application deadlines that might be coming up soon for Fall 2025 admission. Also, even if she doesn't qualify as independent this year, it's still worth filing the FAFSA as a dependent student - she may still be eligible for federal loans and some aid programs regardless of your family income. The earlier you file after October 1st, the better chance you have at state and institutional aid that's distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

I'm completely new to this community but unfortunately dealing with this exact same devastating situation! Just got our SAI results today - $51K for my sophomore and $48K for my incoming freshman, totaling nearly $99,000 they expect us to contribute annually. I'm honestly still processing the shock of these numbers. Like so many others here, our old EFC would have been around $26K each after the sibling adjustment, so we're looking at almost a 90% increase with absolutely no change in our financial circumstances! What makes this even more frustrating is that we specifically planned our family finances around having overlapping college years to take advantage of the sibling discount that had existed for literally decades. Now that responsible planning has completely backfired on us. I've already reached out to both schools but got the predictable dismissive responses from general financial aid staff - just the standard "that's the new system" brush-off. However, after reading through all the incredibly valuable advice shared in this thread, I'm going back tomorrow with proper documentation and demanding to speak specifically with Directors of Financial Aid about special circumstances appeals. The consistency of everyone's experiences here is both validating and absolutely terrifying - this clearly isn't affecting just a handful of unlucky families, it's systematically destroying responsible middle-class families who saved diligently and planned ahead according to the rules that existed for decades. Thank you all for creating this supportive community and sharing your hard-earned strategies and insights. It's both comforting and infuriating to know we're not alone in fighting against this fundamentally broken system!

I'm brand new to this community but unfortunately all too familiar with this exact nightmare! Just received our SAI results yesterday and I'm still reeling from the shock - $50K for my daughter (junior) and $49K for my son (incoming freshman), totaling $99,000 they apparently think we can just magically afford each year. Like everyone else here, our old EFC would have been around $26K each with the sibling adjustment, so we're facing nearly a 90% increase overnight with zero change in our actual financial situation! What really stings is that we specifically timed our kids' college years to overlap, thinking we'd benefit from the sibling discount that had been part of the system for decades. We saved in 529 plans, lived below our means, and did everything financial advisors recommended - only to have the rug completely pulled out from under us by this "simplification." I've already made initial calls to both schools and gotten the predictable "that's just how the new formula works" responses from general staff. But after reading through all the invaluable advice shared in this thread, I'm going back tomorrow armed with documentation showing old vs new calculations and demanding to speak specifically with Directors of Financial Aid about special circumstances appeals. The consistency of everyone's experiences here is both validating and absolutely terrifying - this isn't just affecting a few unlucky families, it's systematically devastating responsible middle-class families who played by the rules. Thank you all for creating this supportive community and sharing your strategies. It helps tremendously to know we're not fighting this broken system alone!

I'm new to this community but have been reading through this entire thread with great interest since I'm facing a very similar situation with my son who's eligible for Chapter 35 benefits. The level of detailed analysis and real-world experience shared here has been absolutely incredible! One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful - have you considered asking the school if they have any emergency or hardship funds that could help bridge any remaining costs if you go the Chapter 35 route? Many universities have discretionary funds set aside for unexpected situations, and a conflict between VA benefits and scholarships might qualify. Also, I noticed someone mentioned the importance of timing for Certificate of Eligibility - I'd recommend calling the VA's education hotline (1-888-442-4551) to ask about current processing times in your region. When I called for my son's situation, they told me it was taking 4-6 weeks in our area, which helped us plan accordingly. Based on all the math breakdowns everyone has provided, the Chapter 35 route seems like an obvious choice financially. The combination of in-state tuition, monthly payments, book allowance, and housing allowance really does add up to significant savings compared to the out-of-state scholarship option. Plus, the guaranteed nature of VA benefits versus potential GPA requirements for scholarships gives you more security over the long term.

I'm new to this community but have been following this discussion closely as someone who will likely face similar decisions with my own child who qualifies for Chapter 35 benefits. This thread has been incredibly informative! One resource that hasn't been mentioned yet is reaching out to your state's Department of Veterans Affairs - many states have education benefit counselors who specialize in helping families navigate exactly these kinds of conflicts between federal VA benefits and institutional scholarships. They often know about state-specific programs or have relationships with in-state schools that can provide additional options. Also, I'd suggest asking the Colorado school if they have any "Yellow Ribbon" funding available, even though Chapter 35 typically doesn't qualify for Yellow Ribbon benefits. Sometimes schools have similar institutional funds that can help cover gaps for veterans' dependents in unique situations like yours. The math everyone has worked out clearly favors the Chapter 35 route, but exploring every possible avenue for additional funding could make either option more attractive. The fact that you're asking these questions now rather than after enrollment gives you so much more leverage to find creative solutions. Best of luck with your decision - your daughter is fortunate to have such a thoughtful advocate helping her navigate this complex process!