FAFSA SAI calculation showing 3977 with minimal assets - why only partial Pell Grant?

Assets shouldn't impact ur Pell that much. Did u include all household members correctly? Also double check if you accidentally reported retirement savings as regular assets. Lots of ppl make that mistake and it can mess up ur SAI bad

The SAI calculation changed significantly for the 2025-2026 aid year. The formula now weighs certain factors differently than in previous years. A few things that could be affecting your calculation: 1. Number of family members in college simultaneously 2. Protected income allowance thresholds changed 3. Income protection allowances were adjusted 4. How much of your income comes from work vs. other sources Also check if you correctly reported any untaxed income or benefits. That's often overlooked but can significantly impact your SAI calculation.

the same exact thing happened to me last year!!! i was SO CONFUSED because our family income was def under the cutoff for full pell but we only got partial. turns out i messed up and included my moms small business assets that weren't supposed to be reported. you might want to check if you accidentally included something similar?? the asset questions are super confusing

You should DEFINITELY call Federal Student Aid to ask for a detailed breakdown of your SAI calculation!!! I had almost the EXACT same issue and it turned out there was a random error in how they processed my information. They fixed it and my daughter got the full Pell Grant she deserved!!!! Don't give up!!!!

To directly answer your question: No, $3,000 in assets alone would not cause such a significant reduction in Pell Grant eligibility. The asset protection allowance shields a portion of assets from consideration, and even beyond that, only a small percentage (around 5.64% max) of reportable assets impacts the SAI calculation. Based on what you've shared, I suspect one of these issues: 1. The untaxed disability benefits you mentioned ($4,800) 2. The business inventory you included that might be exempt 3. Potential errors in reported household size or number in college 4. Miscategorized retirement assets Request an official SAI calculation breakdown from FSA when you can reach them. In the meantime, check with your daughter's school's financial aid office - they can often provide insights into the calculation as well.

everyones talking about the calculation but has anyone stopped to think that maybe its just a GLITCH?? the new fafsa has been a total disaster this year! my cousins SAI was completely wrong at first then magically fixed itself after a system update in march. maybe just wait a few weeks and check again?

I just wanted to follow up on something important - you mentioned having a high school student as well. Make sure you correctly answered the question about the number of family members who will be in college during the 2025-2026 academic year. If you accidentally included your high school student as a college student, that would significantly impact your SAI calculation by splitting the parent contribution between two students instead of focusing it on just your daughter.

UPDATE: I was finally able to speak with someone at Federal Student Aid! Turns out it was multiple small issues adding up. We did incorrectly report our small business inventory, included a small inherited IRA as a regular asset, AND there was a system error that doubled-counted some of our income. They're having me submit a correction form and said my daughter's Pell Grant amount should increase significantly once it's processed. Thank you all for your helpful suggestions!

Wow, thank you so much for sharing this update! This is incredibly helpful for anyone else who might be dealing with similar FAFSA issues. It's crazy how multiple small errors can compound to create such a big discrepancy in the SAI calculation. The fact that there was also a system error that double-counted income just shows how buggy the new FAFSA system has been this year. I'm so glad you persisted and didn't just accept the initial calculation. This is a great reminder for everyone to carefully review each section of the FAFSA and not hesitate to question results that don't seem right. Hope the correction gets processed quickly so your daughter can get the full Pell Grant she deserves for fall semester!