FAFSA SAI score suddenly much higher for 2026-2027 - free lunch program affecting eligibility?

Yes, the new SAI formula for 2026-2027 treats free lunch programs differently, but that's not likely the main cause of such a large jump. Several other major formula changes happened this year that could explain it: 1) They lowered the protected income allowance for many family types 2) Asset protection allowances were reduced significantly 3) The income assessment rates changed, especially for families with multiple college students 4) State tax allowances were adjusted downward in many regions Also, remember the FAFSA Simplification Act fully implemented this year changes how they calculate everything. Did you have multiple children in college last year? That's one of the biggest changes - they no longer divide the family contribution by the number of students.

this happened 2 my cousin to!! her SAI went up like 9k and nothing changed with there income. its insane how they expect families to just come up with extra thousands!!! the whole system is rigged against middle class families tbh

Financial aid counselor here. The FAFSA Simplification Act made several important changes that are fully implemented for 2026-2027. The most significant change is the removal of the multiple-student-in-college adjustment, which previously divided your Expected Family Contribution. Now with the Student Aid Index (SAI), each student is evaluated individually. Other major changes: - More stringent assessment of small business and farm assets - Changed income protection allowances - Different treatment of untaxed income - New formula for calculating asset contributions I'd recommend scheduling an appointment with your daughter's financial aid office to discuss professional judgment options. They can sometimes make adjustments for special circumstances not reflected in the FAFSA.

I've been trying to reach Federal Student Aid for THREE WEEKS about my daughter's similar SAI increase! Impossible to get through on the phone. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to a real FSA agent in 20 minutes. They explained everything about the formula changes and helped me start a professional judgment review. There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Definitely worth it because the agent told me things I hadn't found anywhere else about how to document our case for reconsideration.

LOL everyone blaming the lunch program when its OBVIOUSLY the government trying to squeeze more $$$$ from the middle class as usual. They change these "formulas" every year to make sure fewer people qualify. My brother-in-law works in financial planning and says these changes were DESIGNED to increase family contributions by pretending families have more "available income" than they actually do.

A couple things to consider beyond what others have mentioned: 1) Did you have any unusual one-time income last year? (Capital gains, retirement withdrawal, etc) 2) Did your student's income change significantly? Remember student income is assessed at a higher rate 3) Check if you reported assets differently - sometimes small reporting changes have big impacts 4) Verify your student's dependency status is still the same If you're sure nothing significant changed, definitely appeal through professional judgment at your school's financial aid office. Each school handles these differently, but most have a process for significant SAI increases.

i dont get why their making this so complicated!!! my cousins applying this year and we have NO IDEA how to even start figuring out these calculations. like what does SAI even actually mean??? and why does it change so much each year?

Going back to your original question about free lunch programs - there's an important distinction in how they're counted now: - Individually qualified free/reduced lunch still counts as a qualifying factor for the simplified needs formula - School-wide or district-wide universal free lunch programs (Community Eligibility Provision) no longer automatically qualify students So if your family specifically qualified for free/reduced lunch based on your income last year, but this year you're only receiving it through a school-wide program, that could contribute to the formula change. However, as others mentioned, the multiple students in college change is likely the bigger factor here.

my SAI went up by $12,000 this year!!!! called financial aid office and they basically said "sorry thats how it works now" 🤬 considering taking a gap year honestly bc no way we can afford this

One more thing to check - look at line 45 on your SAI calculation. If you had college savings in a parent-owned 529 plan, those are now assessed differently. Previously they were counted as parent assets (assessed around 5.64%), but now they may be calculated differently depending on your specific situation. Also, definitely request a detailed breakdown of your SAI calculation from the financial aid office. Sometimes there are actual errors in how information was processed - I've seen cases where income was accidentally doubled or assets miscategorized.

After using Claimyr to reach an FSA agent, I learned you can also request a special circumstances review specifically related to the multiple children in college change. The agent told me they've been instructed to help families who were adversely affected by this policy change. You'll need to provide documentation of both children's enrollment for the previous year and current enrollment for your daughter. The process takes 3-4 weeks but can result in significant adjustments if approved.

I'm dealing with a similar situation - my SAI jumped by $6,500 this year and it's completely overwhelming. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening, especially about the multiple students in college change. I had no idea they eliminated that provision! For anyone else struggling with this, I found it helpful to create a spreadsheet comparing last year's FAFSA inputs to this year's line by line. Sometimes small differences in how you report things can have big impacts. Also, if you're having trouble reaching financial aid offices, try calling right when they open - I finally got through at 8:00 AM after weeks of busy signals. The whole process feels so unfair to families who are already stretching every dollar. Hang in there everyone - it sounds like there are some appeal options worth exploring.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress and uncertainty must be overwhelming. As someone new to navigating FAFSA changes, I've been following this thread closely and it's clear that the elimination of the sibling-in-college adjustment is hitting families really hard. A few things that might help while you're working through appeals: - Document everything: keep records of all your communications with financial aid offices - Consider reaching out to your state's financial aid agency too - they sometimes have additional grant programs for families facing unexpected increases - Look into your daughter's school's institutional aid programs - many colleges have emergency funds or additional merit scholarships for continuing students facing financial hardship The suggestion about using Claimyr to reach FSA sounds really promising, especially for the special circumstances review related to multiple children. It's frustrating that these services exist because the regular system is so hard to navigate, but if it helps families get the support they need, it seems worth trying. Hoping you find a path forward that keeps your daughter's college dreams on track. The fact that you're advocating so hard for her education shows what an amazing parent you are.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to FAFSA stress! Reading your post really resonates with me as I'm preparing for my first child to start college next year. The complexity of these changes is overwhelming even for someone just starting the process. From everything I've been researching and what the experts here have shared, it sounds like the elimination of the multiple-student adjustment is probably the biggest factor in your SAI increase. That policy change seems to have blindsided so many families who were counting on similar aid packages. I wanted to add that some colleges have started creating "transition funds" specifically to help families affected by the FAFSA Simplification Act changes. It might be worth asking your daughter's financial aid office if they have anything like that available. Also, don't forget to check if your state has any need-based grant programs that might help fill the gap - some states have expanded their programs in response to the federal changes. The fact that you're fighting so hard for your daughter's education is inspiring. I hope the appeal processes and special circumstances reviews that others mentioned here provide some relief for your family!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation! As someone new to this community but currently helping my younger sister navigate similar FAFSA issues, I wanted to share what we've learned from her financial aid counselor. The $8,400 increase is definitely significant, and based on what others have shared here, it sounds like the multiple-student adjustment elimination is likely the primary culprit rather than the free lunch program change. That's a huge policy shift that many families weren't adequately warned about. A few additional suggestions that might help: - When you call the financial aid office, ask specifically about their "special circumstances" or "professional judgment" process - many schools have streamlined procedures this year due to the volume of families affected by these changes - If you have any documentation of unexpected expenses (like that roof repair you mentioned), gather those receipts as they can be helpful for appeals - Some schools are also accepting letters explaining how the formula changes specifically impacted your family's ability to pay The whole situation feels overwhelming, but it sounds like there are definitely paths forward. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the appeal processes work out for you and your daughter can continue her education without disruption!

I'm new to this community but unfortunately very familiar with FAFSA stress! Reading your post and all these responses has been both heartbreaking and educational. The $8,400 increase you're experiencing sounds absolutely devastating, especially when your financial situation hasn't really changed. From what I'm learning here, it seems like the elimination of the sibling-in-college adjustment is hitting families incredibly hard. The fact that so many people are experiencing similar massive increases shows this is a systemic issue with the new formula implementation. I wanted to add a resource that might help - many libraries now offer free financial aid counseling sessions, especially during FAFSA season. The counselors there often have updated information about state programs and local scholarships that could help bridge the gap while you're working through the appeals process. Also, don't forget to check if your daughter's school offers payment plans that could help spread out any increased costs over the academic year rather than requiring everything upfront. Sending you strength during this incredibly stressful time. Your daughter is lucky to have such a dedicated advocate fighting for her education!

I'm new to this community but dealing with a very similar situation! My SAI increased by $7,200 this year and like you, we had two kids in college last year but only one this year. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the elimination of the sibling adjustment until now. What's been most frustrating is how little communication there was about these major changes. We budgeted based on last year's aid package and now we're scrambling to figure out how to cover the gap. I'm definitely going to try some of the suggestions mentioned here, especially contacting FSA through Claimyr and asking about the special circumstances review. Thank you for posting this - it's reassuring to know we're not the only family blindsided by these formula changes. I hope the appeal processes work out for both of us. Your daughter is lucky to have you advocating so hard for her education!

I'm new to this community but reading your story has me really concerned about what's coming for my family. My eldest is starting college next year and I've been trying to understand all these FAFSA changes, but honestly it's been overwhelming trying to figure out what they all mean in practice. The $8,400 increase you're experiencing sounds absolutely terrifying, especially when your financial situation hasn't fundamentally changed. From everything everyone has shared here, it really seems like the elimination of the sibling-in-college adjustment is the biggest factor rather than the free lunch program changes. What strikes me most is how many families seem to have been caught completely off guard by these formula changes. It feels like there should have been much clearer communication about what these policy shifts would actually mean for families' financial aid packages. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and follow the suggestions about Claimyr and the special circumstances reviews. Even though I'm just starting this process, it's clear I need to understand these changes now rather than being surprised later. Thank you for sharing your experience - it's helping families like mine prepare better, even though I'm so sorry you're having to go through this stress. I really hope the appeal processes work out and your daughter can continue her education without disruption!

I'm new to this community but your situation really resonates with me - I'm currently going through the FAFSA process for the first time with my oldest child and these formula changes are incredibly confusing and stressful to navigate. Reading through all the responses here has been eye-opening, especially learning about the elimination of the sibling-in-college adjustment. It's shocking that such a major policy change wasn't communicated more clearly to families who were counting on similar aid packages year to year. Your $8,400 increase sounds absolutely devastating, especially when you're already doing everything you can to make college affordable. The fact that so many families in this thread are experiencing similar massive increases really shows this is a systemic issue with how the new SAI formula was implemented. I wanted to add one resource that might help - some states have created emergency financial aid programs specifically to help families affected by the FAFSA Simplification Act changes. It might be worth checking your state's higher education agency website to see if they have any bridge funding available while you work through the appeals process. Also, don't forget that many colleges have emergency aid funds for current students facing unexpected financial hardship. Even if it's not a permanent solution, it might help cover immediate needs while you navigate the special circumstances review process that others mentioned. Thank you for sharing your experience and starting this discussion. It's helping so many families understand what's happening and find potential solutions. I really hope the appeals and reviews work out for you and your daughter can continue her education without disruption!

I'm so sorry you're going through this incredibly stressful situation! As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all these responses and I'm honestly shocked by how many families are dealing with massive SAI increases this year. Your $8,400 jump is devastating, especially when your financial circumstances haven't really changed. From everything I'm learning here, it sounds like the elimination of the sibling-in-college adjustment is likely the biggest factor in your increase rather than the free lunch program changes. The fact that your son graduated and your family contribution is no longer being split between two students could easily explain most of that difference. It's infuriating that such a major policy change wasn't communicated clearly to families who were budgeting based on previous aid packages. I'm definitely going to follow this thread closely and try some of the suggestions others have mentioned - especially the Claimyr service to reach FSA and asking about the special circumstances review for families affected by the multiple-student policy elimination. The detailed advice from the financial aid counselor and others who've successfully navigated appeals gives me hope that there are paths forward. Thank you for sharing your experience and starting this important discussion. Even though I'm just beginning to navigate FAFSA myself, it's clear that families like yours are dealing with real hardships due to these formula changes, and the community support here is invaluable. I'm rooting for you to find a solution that keeps your daughter's education on track - she's lucky to have such a dedicated advocate fighting for her!

I'm new to this community but your story hits close to home - we're facing a similar nightmare with our FAFSA this year. Reading through all these responses has been both educational and heartbreaking to see how many families are getting blindsided by these formula changes. Based on everything shared here, it really sounds like having your son graduate (so no longer splitting the contribution between two students) is likely the biggest factor in your $8,400 increase rather than the free lunch program change. The fact that they eliminated this sibling adjustment without clearly communicating the impact to families is just cruel. I wanted to add one suggestion that helped us - when you do get through to the financial aid office, ask specifically about their "emergency financial hardship" programs in addition to the professional judgment review. Some schools have separate funds for students whose aid changed dramatically due to policy shifts beyond family control. Also, if you have any documentation of your son's college expenses from last year (tuition payments, etc.), keep those handy as proof that your family was genuinely supporting two students and budgeted accordingly. This whole situation is so unfair to middle-class families who are already stretching every dollar. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the appeals process works out for you. Your daughter is lucky to have such a fierce advocate - don't give up!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation! As someone new to this community, I've been following this thread closely and it's clear that the FAFSA Simplification Act changes have really blindsided many families this year. From everything that's been shared here, it sounds like the elimination of the sibling-in-college adjustment is likely the primary cause of your $8,400 increase rather than the free lunch program changes. That policy shift seems to be hitting families particularly hard when they go from multiple students to just one. I wanted to add a suggestion that might help while you're working through the appeals process - check if your daughter's school participates in any tuition payment plan programs. Even if you can't reduce the actual SAI amount, spreading the payments over 10-12 months instead of paying per semester can make a huge difference for family cash flow. Also, don't forget to look into your state's grant programs. Many states have expanded their need-based aid in response to these federal changes, and some have specific programs for continuing students facing unexpected financial hardship. The advice about using Claimyr to reach FSA and asking about the special circumstances review for the multiple-student policy change sounds really promising. I hope those options provide some relief for your family. Your dedication to your daughter's education is inspiring, and I'm rooting for you to find a solution that keeps her college dreams on track!