That's really encouraging to hear. I've been looking mostly at state schools because I assumed private would be way more expensive, but maybe I should apply to a few private ones too.

Definitely apply to some private schools! I was in a similar boat last year with an SAI around 32,000. I almost didn't apply to any private colleges because of the sticker shock, but ended up getting way better aid packages from them than the state schools. One private college offered me $22,000 in institutional grants, bringing my net cost below what the in-state public would have been. Private schools often have larger endowments and more flexibility with aid - they look at your whole situation, not just the SAI number. The worst they can say is no, but you might be pleasantly surprised!

As someone who just went through this process with my older daughter, I totally understand your worry! But honestly, you're overthinking it. The income protection allowance gives students a pretty decent buffer, and the fact that FAFSA uses prior-prior year tax info means there's no immediate impact anyway. My daughter worked retail through college and it was one of the best decisions she made. Not only did she have spending money, but she learned time management and responsibility that honestly helped her grades. Plus, having work experience on her resume when she graduated was huge for landing her first job. I'd say go for it! Just keep track of his earnings and maybe aim for work-study positions when they become available since those are even better for financial aid purposes. The benefits of working far outweigh any minor future adjustments to aid calculations.

As a newcomer to this community, I really appreciate reading through all these responses! I'm in a similar situation with my daughter who's starting college in the fall. It's such a relief to see so many parents sharing their positive experiences with student employment. The explanation about the income protection allowance and the timing of FAFSA reporting really helps clarify things. I was also worried about her potentially losing aid, but it sounds like as long as students stay reasonable with their work hours and earnings, the benefits far outweigh any minor impact on future aid calculations. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has been incredibly informative!

UPDATE: It WORKED! I used that Claimyr service to get through to an actual person at Federal Student Aid. The agent said there was a flag on our account because our phone number had too many failed verification attempts. She reset something on their end and we were able to log in right away after that. Application is FINALLY submitted! If anyone else is dealing with this, definitely try to speak with an actual agent. Thank you all for the help and commiseration!

So relieved to see this update! I've been following this thread because we're dealing with the exact same issue with my daughter's FAFSA. Going to try Claimyr today - it sounds like getting through to an actual agent is really the key here. Thanks for posting the follow-up, it gives me hope that we can get this resolved before her scholarship deadlines!

I'm in a somewhat similar boat - not divorced but dealing with a major income discrepancy that doesn't reflect our current reality. What I learned from my financial aid counselor is that you should also consider reaching out to your state's higher education agency. Some states have additional grant programs that use different criteria than the FAFSA and might be more flexible about unusual circumstances. Also, when you're gathering documentation for the professional judgment review, include a written timeline of events with dates - when you separated, when the retroactive payment was received, when divorce proceedings began, etc. Financial aid offices love clear timelines because it helps them understand the full picture quickly. One more thing - if your daughter qualifies for any merit-based scholarships at her schools, those aren't affected by FAFSA complications at all. It might be worth having her apply for as many of those as possible as a backup plan while you work through the need-based aid issues.

I went through almost exactly this situation two years ago - separated but not divorced, with complicated income from my ex that made our FAFSA look terrible. Here's what I wish I had known earlier: 1. Start gathering your documentation NOW, even before you file the FAFSA. Bank statements showing separate accounts since March 2023, lease agreements, utility bills - everything that proves you've been living as separate households. 2. The retroactive payment issue is actually pretty common and financial aid offices know how to handle it. Make sure you get documentation from your husband's employer or benefits office explaining that it was a one-time retroactive payment, not ongoing income. 3. Don't just rely on the online forms for professional judgment appeals - call and ask to speak to a financial aid counselor at each school. Some schools have informal pre-screening processes where they can tell you upfront if your situation would likely qualify for an adjustment. 4. If possible, file your FAFSA as soon as it opens (October 1st) even with the complicated numbers, then immediately start the appeal process. The earlier you get in the queue, the better your chances of getting adjustments processed before aid is distributed. Your daughter will get through this - the system has ways to handle these situations, they're just not obvious or easy to navigate. Hang in there!

I'm going through a very similar situation right now! My parents have been separated for about 10 months but no legal paperwork either. What I've learned from talking to my school's financial aid office is that they really want to see a pattern of separate living - not just that they moved apart recently. One thing that helped me was getting a letter from my mom's landlord confirming when she started her lease and that she's the only one on it. Also, if your parents filed taxes separately this past year, that's huge documentation to include. My parents still filed jointly which made things a bit more complicated. The professional judgment process isn't as scary as it sounds once you get started. Most financial aid offices deal with these situations pretty regularly. Just be prepared to tell your story clearly and provide as much documentation as possible. And start the process early - it can take a few weeks to get everything sorted out! Good luck with your FAFSA! It's stressful but definitely manageable with the right documentation.

As someone who just went through this exact process last year, I want to emphasize how important it is to be completely honest and transparent with your financial aid office from the start. Don't try to hide the joint tax filing - they're going to see it anyway during verification, and being upfront about it actually helps build trust. What worked for me with the joint filing issue was providing a detailed breakdown of how expenses were actually split between households, even though they filed together. I created a simple spreadsheet showing things like: mom pays rent at her place + utilities, dad pays his rent + utilities, who pays for groceries where, etc. This helped show the financial aid officer that even though they filed jointly (probably for tax advantages), they were genuinely living and spending as separate households. Most schools do have a specific form for professional judgment - mine called it a "Special Circumstances Appeal." But even if yours doesn't, they'll walk you through exactly what they need. The key is starting that conversation early and being prepared with your documentation. The financial aid staff have seen these situations many times before and generally want to help you get the aid you're eligible for. One last tip: if your first contact at the financial aid office seems unsure about the process, don't hesitate to ask to speak with someone who specializes in professional judgment reviews. Not everyone at the front desk will be familiar with all the nuances of these cases.