FAFSA appeal for income change - appeal to school or FAFSA directly with 2 kids in college?

You need to appeal to each school directly, not FAFSA. FAFSA just collects your information and calculates your SAI, but it's the individual financial aid offices that actually have the power to adjust your aid package based on changes in circumstances. Each school will have their own "Professional Judgment" or "Special Circumstances" form - look for that on their financial aid websites or call their offices directly.

my son just went thru this!!! we had 2 appeal with each school seperately. took FOREVER just sayin

Financial Aid Administrator here. This is a common situation. You'll need to request what we call a "Professional Judgment" review from each school individually. The income change from 2022 to 2023 is exactly the type of circumstance that qualifies. Here's what you'll need: 1. Documentation of your unemployment (severance letter, unemployment benefits) 2. 2023 tax returns showing the lower income 3. Current pay stubs if you're working again 4. Each school's special circumstances form (they all have different forms) Some schools will require the CSS Profile for this process, others won't. It depends entirely on the institution. The good news is that for changes this significant, most schools prioritize these reviews, especially with a second child entering college.

I Think they grdauate before u get the $$$ lolol thats how slow this stuff is 😂

We were in a similar situation last year with my twins. My 2021 tax info looked good but I got laid off in early 2022. I called the financial aid offices at both their schools and they were actually pretty helpful once I got someone on the phone. The schools had different forms but wanted basically the same documentation. One school adjusted their aid in about 3 weeks, the other took almost 2 months but they both eventually came through with better packages. The professional judgment review made a HUGE difference - like $11k more in grants for each kid.

If ur trying to reach the financial aid office, good luck lol! I spent WEEKS trying to reach someone at my daughter's school. Every time I called I waited for hours only to get disconnected. So frustrating!

To answer your question about the CSS Profile: it depends on the school. Generally, if a school requires the CSS Profile for their regular financial aid process, they'll want it for the appeal too. The CSS Profile collects more detailed financial information than FAFSA and is used primarily by private colleges and some state institutions. It's not required for all schools, so check each school's financial aid website to confirm.

Protip: CALL first dont just email!!! when we did the appeal for my sons colleges we tried email first and NEVER heard back. Finally called and they were like "oh yeah we need you to fill out these forms" which werent even on their website!!!

The timing isn't as bad as you might think. Once you submit all the documentation, most schools will process the appeal within 3-6 weeks. Since your second child is starting in Fall 2025, you have plenty of time if you start the process now. The key is being persistent and following up regularly.

dont bother with fafsa appeal they NEVER help anyone!!!

One more important point: make sure you document the specific dates of your unemployment period (7.5 months in 2023) and calculate the total income difference between 2022 and 2023. Financial aid offices appreciate when families provide clear, organized information that shows exactly how significant the change was. Some offices even have specific income threshold changes they look for (often 20% or more) to qualify for adjustments.