FAFSA appeal process - Do student loans impact SAI calculations?

Congrats on your daughter's acceptance! I've been through the appeal process twice with my kids. First, student loans are NOT counted in your SAI calculation. SAI is based on income, assets, household size, and number in college - existing debt isn't factored in. For the appeal, you'll need to write a letter explaining any special circumstances not reflected in your FAFSA. Common reasons include: - Job loss or reduced income since tax year used - Unusual medical expenses not covered by insurance - Supporting extended family members not counted in household size - Divorce or separation since filing FAFSA Make sure to include documentation for EVERYTHING. Pay stubs, medical bills, termination letters, etc. The more evidence, the better your chances.

my son got denied his first appeal BUT got approved second time. biggest tip: be SUPER specific with numbers and dates. don't just say "we had medical expenses" say exactly how much and when. also, call the financial aid office before submitting to ask exactly what they look for!!!

Just wanna add that each school has their own appeal process so make sure ur following THAT schools exact process. My daughter's school had a specific form we had to use, but my son's school wanted a letter. Also loans definitely dont count toward SAI, thats only based on the tax info and assets u reported. Good luck!!

I worked in financial aid for 6 years. The appeal process varies by school, but here are some universal tips: 1. Student loans (past or present) are NEVER part of SAI calculations. SAI is based on income and assets reported on your FAFSA, not debt. 2. Appeals require documented change in circumstances from what's reported on FAFSA. Examples: job loss, medical expenses, family emergencies, or one-time income that inflated your reported income (like retirement distribution). 3. Always call the financial aid office directly to discuss your situation before submitting anything. 4. If you're getting nowhere with phone calls to the financial aid office, check out Claimyr.com - they can get you through to a real person at many financial aid offices much faster than waiting on hold. They have a good video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ that shows how it works. 5. Be extremely specific about your numbers and provide ALL documentation. Vague appeals get denied. 6. Follow up weekly (politely) on your appeal status.

The financial aid appeal process is most successful when you focus on circumstances that have changed since the tax year that was used for the FAFSA. The SAI calculation uses specific components: - Parent income (and student income if applicable) - Assets (with some protections for retirement accounts) - Family size and number in college - State of residence Existing student loans are NOT considered in the SAI calculation. They don't help or hurt your SAI score. When writing your appeal letter, focus on these elements: 1. Begin with student's name and ID number 2. Clearly state you're requesting a professional judgment review 3. Outline specific circumstances that weren't captured in the FAFSA 4. Include supporting documentation 5. Quantify the financial impact when possible 6. Be concise but thorough 7. Include contact information And most importantly - follow up! Many appeals get delayed simply because they're waiting for additional information.

I went through this SAME EXACT THING last year with my son!!!! The schools make this INTENTIONALLY CONFUSING and don't tell you that they have discretion to adjust your aid package! The whole system is rigged against middle class families who make too much for full aid but not enough to actually afford these ridiculous prices. FYI - we appealed to 3 schools and got additional aid from 2 of them. The one that didn't budge was actually the most expensive one. Don't get your hopes up too much because these schools are GREEDY.

my daughter got an extra $7500 after appeal cuz we showed her dad got laid off after taxes were filed. definitely worth trying! good luck

btw one thing nobody mentioned is that sometimes they switch some of ur grant money to loans in the revised package so read the new offer CAREFULLY before celebrating!!!!

I want to clarify something important: the appeal process takes time. Most schools try to process appeals within 2-4 weeks, but during busy periods it can take longer. If your daughter's deposit deadline is coming up soon, call the financial aid office and ask about their appeal timeline. Many schools will extend the deposit deadline if you have a pending appeal - but you need to ask specifically. Also, be prepared for the possibility that they might only adjust the loan portion of her package rather than grant money. It's still helpful, but not as beneficial as more grant funding.

Hi there! I'm new to this whole financial aid process and this thread has been incredibly helpful. My son is a junior in high school and I'm trying to get ahead of this process. Can I ask - when you're gathering documentation for an appeal, do you need original documents or are copies okay? Also, should I start keeping track of any unusual expenses now in case we need to appeal next year? I'm thinking things like unexpected car repairs, home maintenance costs, etc. would those types of expenses count or is it mainly medical/job loss situations?