I'm in a similar boat as a single parent trying to figure out FAFSA for my kid! One thing I wanted to mention that I don't think anyone brought up yet is the simplified needs test. With your income around $63k and being divorced/single parent, you might qualify for this which could actually exclude your assets from the SAI calculation entirely if you filed certain tax forms or received means-tested benefits. Also, definitely look into whether your daughter qualifies as an independent student for any reason - sometimes there are circumstances that aren't immediately obvious. And if she's planning to take summer classes, make sure you understand how that affects her aid eligibility since community colleges often have different summer aid policies. One last tip from my research - some community colleges have "completion grants" for students who are close to finishing their degree but running short on funds. Even though your daughter is just starting, it's good to know these exist for later if needed!

Hi! I'm new to this community but wanted to chime in since I just went through something very similar with my younger brother. One thing that really helped us was connecting with the college's financial aid office BEFORE submitting the FAFSA to ask about their specific policies for divorced parents. Some schools have additional documentation they prefer to have on file, and getting ahead of that saved us from delays later. Also, I'd recommend checking if your state has any special programs for community college students - ours had a "last dollar" scholarship that covered whatever wasn't paid by federal grants, which was a game-changer. And don't forget to have your daughter apply for work-study positions early since those fill up fast at community colleges! Your situation with being the custodial parent and your ex being on disability should definitely work in your favor for the SAI calculation. Best of luck with the process!

Just wanted to add one more tip since you mentioned this is your first time - make sure to submit the FAFSA as early as possible! Even though the federal deadline isn't until June, many states and colleges have much earlier deadlines for their own aid programs. Some are as early as February or March. Since aid is often awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, submitting early can make a big difference in the amount of aid your daughter receives. Good luck with the process!

I just went through this process last month with my son! One parent FSA ID is definitely the way to go. I'd also suggest setting up a dedicated folder (physical or digital) with all your FAFSA documents now - tax returns, W-2s, bank statements, investment records, etc. Having everything organized in one place will make the actual application process so much smoother. Also, if your daughter doesn't have her own FSA ID yet, she'll need to create one too since students need their own account to sign the FAFSA electronically. Don't stress too much though - the new simplified FAFSA is actually much easier than the old version!

Just wanted to add something that might help with your planning - make sure to look into whether your state university participates in any tuition assistance programs for in-state students. Some schools have automatic tuition reductions or caps for students with certain SAI ranges that aren't technically "grants" but still reduce your overall costs. Also, if you end up needing to take out some loans, prioritize federal subsidized loans first (if you qualify), then federal unsubsidized, and avoid private loans if at all possible. The federal loans have much better terms and repayment options. With your SAI of 3,400 and the aid you're likely to receive, you should be able to keep your total borrowing pretty reasonable. You've got a solid approach to this whole process!

Hey! I'm actually a financial aid counselor at a state university and wanted to add a few things that might help. With your SAI of 3,400, you're definitely looking at around $4,500-$5,200 in Pell Grant funding for 2025-26, assuming full-time enrollment. A couple of additional tips: 1. Apply for FAFSA as early as possible each year - some state and institutional funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis 2. Consider starting at a community college for gen eds if cost is a major concern - you can often complete 1-2 years much cheaper then transfer 3. Look into emergency grants if you hit financial bumps during the semester - most schools have small emergency funds for students facing unexpected expenses Also, don't forget that work-study earnings don't count against your financial aid eligibility for the following year, unlike regular employment income. So if you qualify for work-study, definitely take advantage of it! You sound like you're taking a really smart, comprehensive approach to this. The fact that you're planning ahead and exploring all options puts you way ahead of many students. Best of luck!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - AGI is definitely what they use for FAFSA calculations. I went through this exact confusion when my son applied two years ago. I kept focusing on our taxable income because it had dropped significantly due to some legitimate business deductions, but the financial aid offices only cared about our AGI which had actually increased. One thing that helped me understand it better was thinking about it this way: the FAFSA is designed to measure your family's actual ability to pay for college based on your total income before you make choices about deductions and tax strategies. Your AGI represents that "real" income level better than your final taxable income after all the write-offs. Since your AGI went up from 2022 to 2023, even with the business write-off helping to keep it lower than it could have been, you probably won't benefit from an appeal. Save your energy for making sure all the other parts of your FAFSA are filled out accurately!

I'm new to this whole FAFSA process and reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly educational! My family is in a similar boat - my husband's business had some significant equipment purchases last year that created deductions, but our overall income still went up. Based on what everyone is saying about AGI being the key factor, it sounds like we shouldn't expect those business deductions to help us much with financial aid since they're already factored into our AGI calculation. One quick question for those who've been through this - when you filled out the FAFSA, did you find any sections particularly confusing or easy to mess up? I want to make sure I don't make any errors that could delay our aid processing. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource!

Just want to add another tip for anyone else dealing with this - if you're still having trouble finding the specific errors after checking the SAI worksheet, try accessing your FAFSA from a computer instead of mobile. The mobile interface sometimes doesn't display all the error flags properly. Also, clear your browser cache before logging in - I've seen cases where old cached data interferes with the correction interface. The FAFSA system has definitely had more glitches this year than usual, but most issues can be resolved once you know where to look!

I'm so glad you found the SAI worksheet - that's exactly where those hidden errors usually lurk! For future reference, if anyone else runs into this issue, you can also try logging out completely and logging back in. Sometimes the system needs a fresh session to display all the correction flags properly. Also, if you're still having trouble after making corrections, don't wait until the last day of your deadline to follow up. The processing can take 3-5 business days even for simple corrections, and you don't want to miss your deadline because of system delays. Good luck with your corrections!