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Just as an update - the Department of Education actually issued a formal apology about those erroneous forgiveness emails. They've implemented new verification procedures to prevent similar mistakes. I want to address a misconception I'm seeing in this thread - Parent Plus loans DO have some flexibility, but you need to be proactive. After consolidation into a Direct Consolidation Loan, you can access Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR), which caps payments at 20% of your discretionary income. It's not as generous as the plans available for student borrowers, but it's something. Also, check if you might be eligible for the SAVE plan, which has replaced REPAYE for many borrowers and can offer better terms depending on your situation.
One important distinction to make: Parent Plus loans themselves aren't directly eligible for the SAVE plan. However, once you consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan, you can use the Income-Contingent Repayment plan, which is different from SAVE but still provides some income-based relief. The studentaid.gov site has a loan simulator tool that can help you see what your payments might look like under different plans. You'll need to log in with your FSA ID. If you're having trouble navigating the site or understanding your options, calling FSA directly is your best bet for personalized guidance.
This happened to my FAFSA too. My school financial aid office told me it could change my SAI calculation by quite a bit depending on my family's specific financial situation. In my case, it actually lowered my SAI by about 2000 points which meant I qualified for more aid! So this recalculation might actually be good news for you.
That would be amazing if it worked out that way for us too! Did your school wait for the recalculated version before sending you an aid package, or did they send one based on the original calculation?
Just want to update - my son's corrected FAFSA was sent to his school yesterday, and they've already updated his financial aid package. The whole process took about 10 days from when we got that email. The good news is his SAI actually went down by about $3,500, which means more grants! So definitely wait for the recalculation before making any decisions.
This information isn't accurate. The issue isn't that FAFSA "doesn't help" - it's that FAFSA itself isn't designed to handle appeals. The Federal Student Aid office calculates your SAI based on the information provided, but it's the individual schools that have the authority to make adjustments based on special circumstances. So your appeal should always go to the schools, not to FAFSA directly.
One more important point: make sure you document the specific dates of your unemployment period (7.5 months in 2023) and calculate the total income difference between 2022 and 2023. Financial aid offices appreciate when families provide clear, organized information that shows exactly how significant the change was. Some offices even have specific income threshold changes they look for (often 20% or more) to qualify for adjustments.
After you appeal, make sure to ask about payment plans too. Many schools offer monthly payment options that can make the out-of-pocket portion more manageable than paying each semester. And always be careful about loans - federal loans have better protections than private ones.
Update: I called the financial aid office today and got a counselor who was actually helpful! She said they might be able to convert one of the unsubsidized loans to a grant based on our circumstances, and suggested I submit a formal appeal letter detailing our specific financial constraints. She also mentioned they have some departmental scholarships I could apply for as a biology major. It's still going to be a stretch financially, but potentially more manageable if the appeal works. Thanks everyone for your advice!
Noah Torres
Excellent news! Make sure to follow up with your financial aid office now to confirm they've received your information. They should start preparing your aid package within the next few weeks.
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Alexis Robinson
congrats!! now the fun part of waiting for your financial aid package begins lol
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