Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I've contacted the trustee to get a formal letter stating the terms and restrictions. I'll make sure it clearly states she has zero access until 25 and that no distributions of any kind are permitted. I'm feeling much better about completing the FAFSA now, though I'll be prepared for possible verification. If they do incorrectly count it initially, I'll follow the advice about requesting a Professional Judgment review with all documentation. Thanks again for the guidance!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact situation two years ago. My daughter had a similar trust from her deceased father that she couldn't access until 26. Initially, our school's financial aid office counted it and drastically reduced her aid package. However, after submitting the trustee documentation and requesting a Professional Judgment review, they reversed their decision completely. The key was having that official letter from the trustee that explicitly stated "no access to principal OR income" - apparently some trusts allow income distributions even if principal is restricted, so they need to see both are off-limits. Don't get discouraged if you hit roadblocks initially - the appeal process really does work when you have proper documentation!

Wow, this thread is so helpful! I'm a new member here and just started my FAFSA application yesterday. Reading through all these responses makes me realize I need to be super careful with those dependency questions. I'm 20 and definitely dependent on my parents, but now I'm paranoid I might accidentally click the wrong thing and mess up my whole application. @Andre Moreau glad you got it figured out! And thanks @Amara Adeyemi for that checklist - I'm bookmarking this whole thread for reference while I work through my application. Quick question for everyone: is there a way to preview or double-check your answers before moving to the next section? I want to make sure I don't make the same mistake!

Hey everyone! I'm new here and just want to say thank you for this incredibly helpful thread. I'm about to start my FAFSA application next week and after reading through all of this, I feel much more prepared to avoid the dependency status mistakes that seem to trip up so many people. @Andre Moreau - so glad you got everything sorted out! @Amara Adeyemi that dependency checklist is gold, definitely saving that. And @Chloe Anderson thanks for the tip about the review feature - I had no idea that existed. One follow-up question: if someone does accidentally submit with the wrong dependency status, how difficult is it to correct after submission? Is it just a matter of going back in and making changes, or do you have to start completely over?

So glad you got it figured out! The mobile vs desktop issue with studentaid.gov is such a common problem that catches so many families off guard. It's honestly ridiculous that in 2025 we still have to deal with a government website that doesn't work properly on phones. Your experience will definitely help other parents who run into the same frustrating situation - the distinction between "View FAFSA" and "View Processed FAFSA" is something that trips up a lot of people!

This entire thread is a perfect example of why the FAFSA website desperately needs better user experience design! As a newcomer here, I'm taking notes on all these workarounds for when I inevitably run into the same issues with my own kid's FAFSA next year. The fact that there are THREE different types of summaries and the mobile site doesn't work properly is just mind-boggling for a federal website that millions of families depend on. Really appreciate everyone sharing their solutions - this is exactly the kind of community help that makes navigating these bureaucratic systems bearable!

I'm really sorry for your loss and what you're going through. One thing I want to add that might help immediately - if your son's school participates in the Federal Work-Study program, that income doesn't count against next year's FAFSA the same way other student income does. Even if he didn't qualify this year, it's worth asking if there are any work-study positions still available or if he can get on a waitlist. Also, since you mentioned you're renting out the family home, make sure when you report it on the FAFSA that you're only reporting the NET equity (market value minus what you still owe), not the full property value. And if the property has depreciated since your husband's death, you might want to get a current appraisal. One more thought - some schools have "emergency aid" or "crisis grants" that are separate from the normal financial aid process. These are typically for unexpected situations and might be worth asking about given your circumstances.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the stress you're dealing with. As a financial aid counselor, I want to add a few points that might help: First, definitely pursue the Professional Judgment review that others mentioned - but when you do, emphasize that your investment withdrawals are for basic living expenses, not discretionary spending. The fact that you're using them to help with your son's housing costs actually strengthens your case since it shows the money is going toward educational expenses. Also, consider having your son file as an independent student if he meets any of the criteria (age 24+, married, has dependents, etc.). If not, there's also something called a "dependency override" for unusual circumstances, though it's harder to get approved. One strategy for next year: if possible, consider paying down any debts or prepaying expenses before the FAFSA snapshot date. This can reduce your reportable assets without actually reducing your financial security. Finally, many states have their own grant programs with different eligibility rules than federal aid. California's Middle Class Scholarship program, for example, might be worth looking into even if you didn't qualify for other aid. Don't give up - I've seen families in very similar situations find pathways to make college work.

update?? did anything work?? im curious because we're having similar issues now with my younger daughter's fafsa

Wow, thank you so much for sharing that update! I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now and was getting really frustrated. My spouse has been trying to access the contributor section on his phone for days with no luck. I'm going to have him try on our desktop computer tonight instead. It's ridiculous that the mobile version doesn't work properly - so many parents probably only have their phones available. Really glad you got it sorted out before your daughter's deadline!