This is amazing news! Thank you so much for the update. I have an appointment with my financial aid office tomorrow, and I'll definitely mention this specific guidance document. It's such a relief to know they're aware of the issue and trying to fix it.

I'm so glad you found this thread and that there's some progress being made! As someone who's been through the appeals process before (though not for FAFSA), I'd recommend keeping detailed records of every conversation you have with your financial aid office - dates, names, what was discussed, etc. It really helps if you need to follow up or escalate later. Also, don't be afraid to ask for a timeline on your appeal - they should be able to give you at least a rough estimate of when you'll hear back. Wishing you the best of luck with your appointment tomorrow!

I'm a college freshman whose mom went through cancer treatment during my senior year, so I understand exactly what you're dealing with. Here's what I wish someone had told me: 1. Start a medical expense tracker RIGHT NOW - include everything: gas for appointments, parking, co-pays, prescriptions, even meals you had to buy at the hospital. I used a simple Google sheet and it saved me when financial aid offices asked for documentation. 2. Don't wait until after acceptance to mention your situation. I included a brief note about our family's medical circumstances in the "additional information" section of applications. Several schools proactively reached out to discuss financial aid options. 3. The FAFSA formula is really rigid, but individual schools have way more flexibility than you'd think. I got completely different aid packages from schools with similar sticker prices because some were much more understanding about our circumstances. 4. Look into your state's cancer support resources - many have financial navigators who help with exactly this situation. In my state, they even had a list of colleges known for being flexible with medical hardship cases. 5. When you talk to financial aid offices, use specific terms like "professional judgment review" and "special circumstances adjustment" - it shows you know the system and often gets you connected to someone who can actually help. Your situation is tough, but there are people who want to help. Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself and your family. Wishing your mom the best with her treatment.

I'm a recent college graduate who went through a very similar situation - both my parents were over 65 when I applied, and my dad was dealing with prostate cancer while on a fixed retirement income. Here are some practical tips that really helped us: 1. For FAFSA reporting: Your mom's SSDI will be reported as untaxed income, but retirement account withdrawals that go back into qualified accounts (like required minimum distributions that get reinvested) may not count as income. Double-check this with a financial aid counselor. 2. The age factor actually works in your favor - the Asset Protection Allowance for parents over 65 is substantial. For the 2024-25 year, it was over $90,000 for couples where the older parent was 65+. This gets automatically calculated into your EFC/SAI. 3. Create a "hardship portfolio" with medical documentation, disability award letters, and a clear timeline of how your family's financial situation changed due to the cancer diagnosis. I made copies of everything and sent the same package to each school. 4. Consider community college for your first two years if your aid packages aren't sufficient. Many have excellent transfer agreements with 4-year schools, and the financial breathing room helped my family focus on dad's treatment without the stress of massive college bills. 5. Look into cancer-specific scholarships - organizations like Scholarships for Cancer Survivors, The National Children's Cancer Society, and even local cancer centers often have funds specifically for students in families affected by cancer. The system definitely isn't designed for families dealing with serious illness, but there are ways to work within it. Stay persistent and don't be afraid to appeal initial aid decisions.

UPDATE: I spoke with my program director today and she confirmed they have several assistantships available that cover tuition plus a small stipend! She said they use FAFSA data as part of their decision process, so I'll be filing ASAP. Thanks everyone for the advice - I went from thinking I couldn't afford grad school to feeling like it might actually be possible!

Congratulations on finding those assistantship opportunities! That's exactly what I was hoping to hear when I read your original question. As someone who's been through the graduate financial aid process, I wanted to add a few tips for when you apply for those assistantships: 1. Apply early - most programs have limited spots and they go fast 2. Highlight any relevant experience (even from undergrad coursework or part-time work) 3. Be prepared to commit to the time requirements (usually 10-20 hours/week) 4. Ask about multi-year commitments - some programs guarantee funding for your entire degree if you maintain good standing Also, don't forget to still file your FAFSA even with the assistantship possibility. Having that backup loan eligibility can be helpful for unexpected expenses, and some schools require it for any institutional aid. Best of luck with your applications!

Just following up - were you able to receive the invitation? If it's been more than 5 business days now, I would definitely have your daughter log in to resend the invitation or contact FSA directly. With your school's priority deadline coming up in less than 3 weeks now, you don't want to wait too much longer.

Great to hear you finally received it! The "updates" or "promotions" folder is actually a common place where these emails end up, especially with Gmail. For anyone else reading this thread - definitely check ALL your email folders, not just spam. The subject line is usually something like "Complete Your FAFSA Contribution" from studentaid.gov, so you can also search for that specifically. Good luck with completing your section and meeting that priority deadline!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm in the exact same situation with my son - we got his SAI of 8,200 last week and I've been panicking trying to figure out what it actually means for our finances. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has been more informative than hours of trying to navigate the studentaid.gov website. I had no idea about things like net price calculators, CSS Profile requirements, state grant programs, or the difference between need-blind and need-aware schools. One thing I'm still wondering about - has anyone here dealt with the situation where parents are divorced? We filed the FAFSA with just my income (as the custodial parent), but I'm worried that some schools might require information about my ex-husband's income too through the CSS Profile or other forms. Did anyone run into complications with divorced parent situations affecting their aid calculations? Also, @Micah Trail, I hope you post an update once your daughter starts receiving her aid packages! It would be really helpful to see how the real offers compare to all these estimates we're trying to figure out. Thank you to everyone who has shared their knowledge and experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating this confusing process!

As someone new to this community, I'm so grateful for this incredibly detailed thread! My daughter and I are in the exact same boat - we just received her SAI of 9,200 and had no clue what it actually meant in terms of real financial aid dollars. Reading through everyone's experiences has been eye-opening. I had no idea about net price calculators, the difference between need-blind and need-aware schools, or that state grants might require separate applications. The tip about creating a spreadsheet to track everything sounds brilliant - I'm definitely going to set that up this weekend. One question I haven't seen addressed yet: for families right on the border of different aid brackets, is there any benefit to delaying enrollment by a year if family income is expected to drop significantly? My husband's contract position ends in December, and our income for 2025 will likely be much lower than what we reported on this year's FAFSA. Would it make sense to have my daughter take a gap year and reapply with a much lower SAI, or do schools frown upon that kind of strategic planning? Also, has anyone had success with the professional judgment adjustments that were mentioned? I'm curious how receptive financial aid offices typically are to reviewing cases where income has changed after the FAFSA was filed. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge - this community is such a valuable resource during this stressful process!