my cousin had like a 0 SAI and still had to take out loans so the whole system is BS anyway lol

Hey Amara! First off, congratulations on getting through the FAFSA process as a first-gen student - that's no small feat! Your SAI of 4444 is actually pretty encouraging news. As others have mentioned, it puts you in a good position for need-based aid. Just to add to what's already been shared - since you mentioned your parents can't contribute much, make sure to look into your state's grant programs too. Many states have their own need-based grants that use your FAFSA info, and with your SAI you'd likely qualify for several of them. Also, don't forget about community scholarships! Local organizations, businesses, and foundations often have scholarships specifically for first-gen students or students with financial need. Your high school guidance counselor might have a list, or check with your local community foundation. You're doing great advocating for yourself and asking the right questions. Keep that energy when you talk to the financial aid offices - they're there to help you navigate this!

One last thing I want to mention - make sure you're ready for the new FAFSA process. The form was completely redesigned for the 2024-2025 aid year, and there will be some additional changes for 2025-2026 (when your daughter is starting college). The big change is that they no longer use the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and instead calculate a Student Aid Index (SAI). The good news is that the rules about which parent completes the FAFSA in divorce situations haven't changed - it's still the custodial parent, which is you.

I just went through this exact same situation last year with my son! You're absolutely right to fill out the FAFSA as the custodial parent since your daughter lives with you 98% of the time. Don't stress about your ex's higher income - it literally doesn't matter for federal aid eligibility. One tip that saved me a lot of headache: make sure you have all your child support documentation organized before you start the FAFSA. You'll need to report the total amount you received in the tax year, not just the weekly/biweekly amounts. I calculated it wrong the first time and had to make corrections later. Also, if your daughter is considering any private colleges, definitely start that conversation with your ex about the CSS Profile NOW. Even though you don't get along great, frame it as "this could help our daughter get more money for college" - that usually gets their attention! Good luck, you've got this!

One additional point that hasn't been mentioned: For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, make sure your daughter selects "working on bachelor's degree" rather than "working on graduate/professional degree" in the education level question - at least until she completes all undergraduate requirements. This is a common mistake for students in accelerated programs and can automatically disqualify them from Pell Grants. Also, ensure her enrollment intensity is correctly reported. The combined credits (15) should qualify her as full-time, but sometimes systems don't automatically combine the undergraduate and graduate credits when determining enrollment status.

This is such valuable information for families navigating accelerated programs! I'm actually considering a similar path for my daughter who's a junior now. Can I ask what field her accelerated master's is in? I'm wondering if certain programs are more accommodating with these financial aid arrangements than others. Also, did the school provide any upfront information about how financial aid would work in the accelerated program, or did you have to figure this all out on your own? It sounds like getting clear documentation is absolutely crucial based on everyone's experiences here.

@OP we didn't need to provide any medical docs to FAFSA directly - just to the school for their records. The school already had everything on file from when he took the leave, so we just had to remind the fin aid office about his situation when we asked about 5th year scholarships.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's navigating this right now! My daughter is also in her 5th year after taking a medical leave, and we've found that staying in close communication with the financial aid office has been key. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - some schools have "return from leave" checklists that include financial aid steps, so definitely ask if your daughter's school has one of those. It helped us make sure we didn't miss any deadlines or requirements. Also, if her SAI was around 4500 before, that should put her in a good position for continued Pell Grant eligibility assuming your family's financial situation hasn't changed dramatically. The medical leave actually worked in our favor because it "paused" her progress toward the lifetime limits everyone mentioned. Hang in there - it's stressful but totally manageable with the right information!

To summarize for anyone else with this question: - If you're 24 or older as of January 1, 2025 (for the 2025-2026 FAFSA), you're automatically independent - Independent students DO NOT need parent/grandparent signatures or information on FAFSA - Only the student (and spouse if applicable) signs an independent student's FAFSA - The FAFSA system won't even allow contribution information from parents for independent students - Some colleges may still request parent info for institutional aid (separate from FAFSA) - Your SAI calculation for federal aid will be based solely on your information The redesigned FAFSA actually makes this much clearer than previous versions. Your grandmother is likely remembering the old process from when you were a dependent student.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this transition a few years ago! When I turned 24 and became independent, my mom was equally confused and kept asking if she needed to do anything. The key thing that helped me explain it to her was showing her my FAFSA dashboard where it clearly states "Independent Student" at the top. One tip: if your grandmother is still worried, you could have her look at the FAFSA itself - there literally won't be any sections asking for parent/grandparent information once you're classified as independent. The form structure completely changes compared to when you were dependent. It's actually pretty reassuring to see how the system automatically adjusts based on your status! Also, congrats on the independent status - it really does make a huge difference in aid eligibility. Your Pell Grant eligibility will be calculated purely on your income now, which should work in your favor if you're supporting yourself.