FAFSA aid for married couple both attending college with zero income?

You're actually in a potentially favorable position for financial aid! With zero income, your Student Aid Index (SAI) will likely be quite low, which is good for aid eligibility. However, your savings will factor into the calculation as assets. For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, married independent students have an asset protection allowance, but $42,000 will still partly count against you. Since you're both independent students (by virtue of being married), you'll each need to file your own FAFSA, but you'll report the same household information. Your combined zero income should qualify you both for Pell Grants if your SAI is low enough. You might also qualify for subsidized loans where the government pays the interest while you're in school. The FAFSA doesn't just look at current income - they'll use your prior-prior year tax information (so 2023 taxes for the 2025-2026 academic year). Did you have income then?

I was in a similar situation with my wife three years ago. The FAFSA absolutely uses your prior-prior year tax info, so your 2023 taxes will be what counts regardless of your current employment status. However, this is exactly the type of situation where you should request a Professional Judgment review (sometimes called a Special Circumstances review). Basically, after you complete your FAFSA, contact the financial aid office at both your schools and explain your significant change in income. They'll have you complete special forms and provide documentation of your job loss and current financial situation. They can then adjust your SAI calculation to reflect your current zero income rather than your 2023 earnings. In our case, this turned us from receiving minimal aid to qualifying for significant grants and subsidized loans. Don't skip this step - it made a $12,000+ difference for us!

You'll need to do it separately at each school. The Professional Judgment is done at the institutional level, not at the federal FAFSA level. Each school will have their own forms and specific requirements, but generally you'll need: 1. Documentation of your job termination (letters, final pay stubs) 2. A written statement explaining your situation 3. Current bank statements showing your savings 4. Any documentation of your current expenses Just be aware that each school might handle it differently - some might be more generous with adjustments than others. The key is to get started on this process as soon as you submit your FAFSA.

My brother and his wife were in this EXACT situation last year! They both got Pell Grants after doing the professional judgment thing, but it took FOREVER. They kept calling the Federal Student Aid number and couldn't get through for like 3 weeks when they had questions about their professional judgment documentation.

DONT COUNT ON GETTING APPROVED FOR PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT!!!! Me and my husband tried this last year and got DENIED at 2 out of 3 schools we applied to!!!! They said our savings (which was only like $30k) was "sufficient resources" even though that was literally all our money for LIVING EXPENSES for the whole year!!! The whole system is designed to punish responsible people who save money!!!

Quick question - are you both attending the same school or different ones? This makes a difference for married students. If you're at different schools, each school only sees half of your assets on your individual FAFSAs, which can sometimes work in your favor.

Yes, for married independent students, your assets and income are generally split between both FAFSAs. This sometimes creates a slightly more favorable situation when you're at different schools. Regarding your original question about the types of aid you might receive: 1. Pell Grants (if your adjusted SAI qualifies) - up to $7,395 per person for 2024-2025 2. Subsidized Direct Loans where interest doesn't accrue while in school 3. Unsubsidized Direct Loans (all independent students qualify regardless of need) 4. Possibly state-specific grants depending on your state 5. Institutional aid from your specific schools With the Professional Judgment adjustments reducing your income from $78,000 to $0, you have a good chance at qualifying for significant need-based aid, including Pell Grants. Just make sure you submit all documentation promptly and follow up regularly with both financial aid offices.

cant believe no one mentioned that if your married and BOTH in school full time you can claim educaiton tax credits for BOTH of you on your taxes!!!! american opportunity credit AND lifetime learning credit!!!!! this got us like $4500 back on taxes when me and my wife were both in school! not direct financial aid but helps with $$$

When I was filling out FAFSA with my husband we got confused about the household size question... do we put 2 or do we count ourselves as students not in the household? The form was really confusing about this.

Thank you everyone for all the amazing advice! I'm feeling much more confident about our options now. I've already gathered our job termination documentation and started drafting our explanation letters for the Professional Judgment reviews. Will be contacting both financial aid offices next week to get their specific forms. I'm still nervous about whether we'll qualify for enough aid to make this work, but at least now I have a clearer picture of what to expect and how to maximize our chances. The tip about the tax credits is great too - I'll keep that in mind for future years when we might have income again. Wish us luck!

Best of luck with your financial aid journey! As someone who's been through the FAFSA process multiple times, I'd recommend creating a timeline for yourself with all the deadlines for both schools. Professional judgment reviews can take several weeks to process, so the earlier you submit everything, the better. Also, don't forget to check if your state has any additional grant programs for married students or career changers - some states have specific funding for people entering high-demand fields like nursing and computer science. Your state's higher education agency website should have info on these programs. You're being really smart by planning ahead and gathering all your documentation now. That preparation will definitely pay off when you're working with the financial aid offices!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also look into work-study opportunities once you're enrolled. Even though you're planning to focus on school full-time, many work-study positions are designed to be flexible around class schedules and can provide some income to help with living expenses. Also, don't overlook potential scholarships specifically for non-traditional students or career changers. Many organizations offer scholarships for people returning to school later in life, and there are often specific ones for nursing students and computer science students. Sites like Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and your schools' scholarship databases are good places to start. The fact that you've planned ahead financially and saved up shows you're already thinking strategically about this transition. That same planning approach will serve you well in navigating the financial aid process!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through this process recently! One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records of all my communications with the financial aid offices. I created a simple spreadsheet tracking which documents I submitted to which school, when I submitted them, and who I spoke with. The professional judgment process can involve a lot of back-and-forth, and having that paper trail saved me when one school claimed they never received a document I had submitted. Also, don't be afraid to politely follow up if you haven't heard back within their stated timeframe - sometimes things get lost in the shuffle, especially during busy periods. Another tip: when you're writing your explanation letter for the professional judgment review, include specific dollar amounts for your monthly expenses (rent, utilities, groceries, etc.) and how long your savings will realistically last. Financial aid officers respond well to concrete numbers rather than general statements about financial hardship. You've got this! The fact that you're being so proactive puts you ahead of many students who wait until the last minute.

Also wanted to mention something about loan limits since you asked earlier - being married doesn't actually increase your individual federal loan limits, but as independent students you do qualify for higher limits than dependent undergrads. For 2024-2025, independent undergrads can borrow up to $9,500 in their first year ($3,500 subsidized, $6,000 unsubsidized), compared to $5,500 for dependent students. One more thing to consider: if you're both starting school in fall 2025, make sure you submit your FAFSAs as early as possible after October 1st, 2024 (when the 2025-2026 FAFSA opens). Some aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, especially state grants and institutional aid. Given that you'll need to do professional judgment reviews on top of the regular process, getting your initial FAFSAs in early will give you more time to work through any adjustments before school starts. The nursing program at your state university might also have its own scholarship opportunities - many nursing programs have partnerships with local hospitals that offer scholarships in exchange for work commitments after graduation. Worth asking about during orientation!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's currently going through a similar situation! My wife and I are both in school (she's in her second year of nursing, I'm finishing up my teaching degree) and we went through the professional judgment process last year. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to also check with your schools about emergency aid funds. Many colleges have small emergency grants (usually $500-2000) that can help bridge gaps while you're waiting for your professional judgment review to be processed. These are often overlooked but can be a lifesaver for immediate expenses. Also, don't forget about food assistance programs while you're students - many areas have food banks specifically for college students, and you might qualify for SNAP benefits with your current zero income situation. It's not glamorous but every bit helps when you're stretching savings. Your savings amount sounds very reasonable for what you're planning. We had about $35k when we started and it's definitely tight, but doable with careful budgeting and the aid we received after our professional judgment was approved. You're making a smart investment in your futures!

Great thread with lots of valuable information! As someone who works in financial aid, I wanted to add a few additional points that might help: 1. **Asset Assessment Rates**: Your $42,000 in savings will be assessed at about 20% for FAFSA purposes, meaning roughly $8,400 would be considered available for educational expenses. This is factored into your SAI calculation. 2. **Professional Judgment Documentation**: In addition to what others mentioned, consider including a letter from your previous employers confirming your voluntary resignation to pursue education. This helps distinguish your situation from involuntary job loss. 3. **State Residency Considerations**: Make sure you understand your state's residency requirements for in-state tuition, especially if you've been out of work. Some states require a certain period of non-student residency. 4. **Verification Process**: With zero income and significant assets, your FAFSAs will likely be selected for verification. Start gathering tax transcripts and bank statements now to avoid delays. The professional judgment process really can make a significant difference in your aid eligibility. I've seen cases where it increased a family's Pell Grant eligibility from $0 to the full amount. Stay persistent and provide thorough documentation!

This is such a comprehensive and helpful thread! I'm in a somewhat similar situation - my partner and I are both considering going back to school next year, though we're still in the early planning stages. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has been incredibly valuable. A couple of questions for those who've been through this process: How far in advance did you start planning your transition from work to school? It sounds like having all your documentation organized early is crucial, especially for the professional judgment reviews. Also, for those who successfully got professional judgment adjustments - how long did the process typically take from submission to final decision? I'm trying to understand the timeline so we can plan appropriately if we decide to move forward with this path. Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences and practical advice. This community is amazing for providing real-world insights that you just can't get from official websites and brochures!

As a newcomer to this conversation, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm actually in a very similar situation to the original poster - my spouse and I are planning to both return to school full-time next year, and I had so many of the same concerns about FAFSA with zero current income but some savings. Reading through all the detailed advice about Professional Judgment reviews, asset assessment rates, verification processes, and timeline planning has given me a much clearer roadmap for our own journey. The practical tips like keeping detailed records in a spreadsheet, gathering employer termination letters, and submitting FAFSAs early are exactly the kind of real-world guidance you can't find in official resources. I'm especially grateful for the insights from those who've actually been through this process recently - knowing that Professional Judgment reviews can make such a significant difference (like the $12,000+ impact mentioned earlier) gives me hope that our situation isn't as hopeless as it initially seemed. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, both positive and negative. This is exactly why I love this community - getting honest, practical advice from people who've walked this path before!

As someone who just went through a very similar situation last year, I wanted to add a few things that really helped us navigate this process successfully! First, regarding your $42,000 in savings - while it will impact your SAI calculation as others mentioned, don't let that discourage you from pursuing aid. We had about $38,000 saved and still qualified for substantial Pell Grants after our Professional Judgment reviews were approved. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to make sure you understand the difference between how each school processes Professional Judgment requests. Some schools have dedicated staff for these reviews and move quickly, while others treat them as lower priority. When you contact the financial aid offices, ask specifically about their timeline and what you can do to ensure your request gets processed promptly. Also, consider reaching out to both schools' veteran/non-traditional student services if they have them. Even though you're not veterans, these offices often have additional resources and can sometimes advocate for students going through career transitions. They helped us identify several small scholarships we wouldn't have found otherwise. The stress you're feeling is completely normal - this is a big financial leap! But the fact that you planned ahead and saved responsibly puts you in a much better position than many students. You've got this!