FAFSA after spouse's death - where to report change in income?

I'm so sorry for your loss. This is definitely a situation that can be addressed through a process called Professional Judgment (PJ) or Special Circumstances review. The FAFSA itself doesn't have a specific section to explain your circumstances, but here's what you should do: 1. Complete the FAFSA with the information it asks for 2. After submitting, contact each college's financial aid office directly 3. Ask about their "special circumstances" or "professional judgment" process 4. They'll likely have a form for you to complete and will request documentation (death certificate, updated income information) Each school handles these situations independently, so you'll need to work with each one where your daughter applies. The financial aid administrators have the authority to adjust the SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation to better reflect your current financial reality.

sry about ur husband. my mom went thru this when my dad died right b4 i started college. u need 2 call each school financial aid office. they made us fill out extra forms + send death certificate. got way more aid after that.

The schools will want a copy of the death certificate and probably your most recent tax return or pay stubs to show current income. But each school has different forms and processes for special circumstances - annoying but true. They call it "professional judgment" and it's basically asking the financial aid office to recalculate your aid based on current circumstances instead of past tax info.

Everyone here is giving good advice about contacting the financial aid offices directly. One thing to add - when your daughter completes her FAFSA for 2025-2026, she'll likely only need to include YOUR income information since your husband has passed. The FAFSA has changed significantly in recent years, and for dependent students with a single living parent, only that parent's information is required. This is different from the old FAFSA which had different rules about this. Still, the professional judgment process will be important because the FAFSA will still use prior-prior year tax information (so 2023 taxes for the 2025-2026 FAFSA), which would include your husband's income from when he was still with you.

Had a similar situation when my wife died right before my son started college. The financial aid process was HORRIBLE!!! Called the federal aid number like 20 times and kept getting disconnected or waiting FOREVER!!! Completely frustrating when you're already dealing with grief. Colleges were slightly better but each one wanted different documentation and had different forms. Complete mess.

Financial aid administrator here. Just to add some clarity - this situation is EXACTLY what Professional Judgment (PJ) was designed for. Some key points: 1. The 2025-26 FAFSA will use 2023 tax data (the prior-prior year system) 2. Each institution has its own PJ forms and procedures 3. You'll need documentation (death certificate, current income proof) 4. Contact schools ASAP after FAFSA submission, don't wait for aid offers 5. The adjusted SAI calculation can significantly increase grant eligibility Also worth noting: PJ adjustments at one school don't transfer to others. You'll need to complete the process separately at each institution.

btw my brother just went thru this same thing at his college and the finacial aid office gave him way more grant money after they knew about our dad. Like doubled his pell grant i think

I just want to thank everyone for the incredibly helpful advice. I've made notes about the Professional Judgment process and will prepare the documentation (death certificate, current pay stubs, etc.). I'll contact each school's financial aid office directly after submitting the FAFSA rather than waiting. It's a relief to know there's a process for situations like ours, even if it requires extra steps. This has been such a difficult time, and worrying about how to pay for my daughter's education has been adding to the stress. Your guidance has given me a clear path forward.

One more important note: If your daughter is applying to schools with CSS Profile requirements (mostly private colleges), that form DOES have a section specifically for reporting special circumstances like parent death. So for those schools, you can document the change in both the CSS Profile and through their PJ process.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Fatima. What you're going through is heartbreaking, and it's completely understandable to feel overwhelmed by the financial aid process on top of everything else you're dealing with. As others have mentioned, the Professional Judgment process is definitely your best option here. I'd also suggest reaching out to your daughter's high school guidance counselor if they're knowledgeable about financial aid - they might be able to help you navigate this or connect you with resources in your area. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: some colleges have emergency aid funds or hardship grants specifically for situations like yours. When you contact their financial aid offices about the Professional Judgment review, ask if they have any additional emergency assistance programs for families who have experienced the death of a parent. These are often separate from the regular aid process and can provide additional support. Also, don't hesitate to ask the financial aid offices to walk you through their process over the phone if any of their forms or requirements seem confusing. Most aid administrators understand that families going through these situations are dealing with a lot, and they're usually willing to provide extra guidance. You're being such a strong advocate for your daughter during an incredibly difficult time. She's lucky to have you fighting for her future.