FAFSA SAI doubled unexpectedly - aid offer dropped to almost nothing - need verification help

This is actually pretty common with the new FAFSA formula. A lot of families are seeing drastic SAI changes because they significantly altered how they calculate things for 2024-2025. Several things could cause your SAI to double: 1. They changed how they account for siblings in college (it's less beneficial now) 2. They changed the income protection allowance amounts 3. Asset protection formula got adjusted 4. They're counting more types of untaxed income now And yes, there is a way to verify this. You should call your son's school's financial aid office directly and request an "aid reconsideration" or "professional judgment review." They can walk you through exactly what changed in your calculation and potentially adjust if there are special circumstances.

OMG the EXACT same thing hapened to me!!! My daughter's SAI went from 12k to 26k and we got NOTHING this year. Its complete BS the way they calculate this stuff. I think the whole system is rigged to just deny aid to middle class families.

The drop from two students in college to one is almost certainly the main factor here. Under the old FAFSA, having multiple students in college was a HUGE benefit that essentially cut your EFC in half or more. The new SAI calculation eliminated that benefit entirely. You should absolutely request a detailed breakdown from the financial aid office. Here's what to do: 1. Contact the financial aid office and request a "professional judgment review" 2. Ask specifically for them to explain the SAI calculation components 3. Bring copies of both years' SAR (Student Aid Report) for comparison 4. If your income only went up 8%, make sure that's accurately reflected 5. Check if there were any retirement distributions or other one-time income events that might have been counted Sometimes there are legitimate errors in the FAFSA data that can be corrected. Other times, you might qualify for special circumstances adjustments based on your specific situation.

anybody else notice that the federal pell grant is basically impossible to get now too? my cousins SAI went from 2500 to 7800 and she lost her entire pell grant. they living in same apartment with same jobs making same money!!! makes zero sense

The 401k withdrawal you mentioned is likely a significant factor too! The FAFSA counts retirement distributions as income, even if they were for necessities like home repairs. This can artificially inflate your income for aid purposes. When you speak with the financial aid office, specifically mention that the $7,000 was a one-time withdrawal for essential home repairs. This is exactly the type of situation where professional judgment can help - they have the authority to exclude one-time income events from your calculation. Also, I know how frustrating it can be to try reaching the financial aid office. If you're having trouble getting through on the phone (which is common this time of year), I recently discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to my son's financial aid office after days of trying. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ - saved me hours of hold time.

havent yall been paying attention?? they completely changed how FAFSA works this year!! its all over the news. they basically eliminated the sibling discount and now middle class families are getting crushed. welcome to the new system lol

To follow up on my earlier comment - your 401k withdrawal AND the change from 2 students to 1 together would absolutely explain the dramatic change you're seeing. Based on the old formula, if you had an EFC of $10,000 with one student, it would become roughly $5,000 with two students. Now with the new formula: 1. You lose that multiple student benefit completely 2. Your $7,000 retirement withdrawal counts as income 3. Your regular income increased by 8% All three factors combined could easily double your SAI. When you meet with financial aid, be sure to emphasize the one-time nature of the retirement withdrawal. This is exactly the type of situation professional judgment was designed for.

does anyone know if ur SAI can change mid-year if ur financial situation gets worse? my husbands getting laid off next month and im freaking out about how were gonna pay tuition now that we have no financial aid!!!

I went through something very similar last year when my oldest graduated and we went from 2 to 1 student in college. The shock of losing that multiple student benefit is real! What really helped me was creating a spreadsheet comparing both years' FAFSA data line by line to see exactly where the differences were. One thing I learned is that even small changes get magnified when you lose the sibling discount. That 8% income increase plus your 401k withdrawal probably wouldn't have mattered much under the old system with two students, but now every dollar counts more heavily. Also, when you do your professional judgment appeal, ask if they can project what your aid might look like for future years assuming no more one-time withdrawals. Some schools will give you an estimate so you can plan better. The whole process is frustrating but you're definitely on the right track getting that review!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - the FAFSA changes this year have been devastating for so many families! Reading through all the responses, it sounds like you've gotten some excellent advice about the professional judgment process. One additional thing I'd suggest is to also check if your son's school offers any institutional aid that might not be tied to the federal SAI calculation. Some schools have their own need-based grants that use different formulas, especially for continuing students who've had their aid unexpectedly reduced due to the FAFSA changes. Also, when you submit your professional judgment documentation about the 401k withdrawal, include a brief letter explaining that this was a one-time necessity for essential home repairs and that you don't anticipate needing similar withdrawals in the future. Financial aid officers appreciate when families provide context that helps them understand the full picture. Keep us updated on how the appeal goes - your situation could really help other families who are dealing with similar SAI shocks this year!

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! My daughter's SAI jumped from around $8,000 to $18,000 and her aid package went from $12,500 down to just $2,100. Like you, we only had modest income changes but lost the multiple student benefit when her older brother graduated. What's been really helpful for me is gathering ALL the documentation before calling financial aid - both years' tax returns, SAR reports, and detailed notes about any one-time income events. I also created a simple timeline showing exactly what changed between the two years to make it easier for them to understand our situation. The financial aid office was actually really understanding once I explained everything clearly. They said the FAFSA changes have created a lot of these situations and they're trying to help families navigate the transition. Definitely push for that professional judgment review - it sounds like you have a strong case with the retirement withdrawal being a one-time necessity. Good luck and don't give up! The whole system feels overwhelming right now but there are people who want to help once you get through to the right person.