FAFSA grants and loans disappearing after Leave of Absence - Spring financial aid question

Sorry ur going thru this!! Im not an expert but my brother took a LOA last yr and lost his pell grant for that semester, it just went poof. He could reapply for next yr tho. The loans were canceled for the LOA semester, so he didnt have to pay them back or anything.

The school's verification error causing an $8,200 increase is concerning and worth appealing. For your specific questions: federal grants like Pell are semester-specific and unused portions will not carry over - they effectively disappear for that term. For federal loans, any undisbursed amounts for the Spring will be canceled and returned to your borrowing limit (not counted as used). When your daughter returns, she'll need to ensure her FAFSA is active for that academic year and verification is properly completed. Be aware that a Leave of Absence exceeding 180 days may trigger loan repayment timing issues.

this happened to my daughter and IT SUCKED!!!! the financial aid office messed up her verification too and we ended up with a HUGE bill!! they told us the same thing about taking a semester off. the worst part is she lost her housing guarantee because of it and had to find an apartment when she came back which cost WAY more than dorms

As someone who works in financial aid, I can provide some clarity: 1. Federal grants (Pell, SEOG) are term-specific and unused portions won't carry over to future terms. They'll need to be re-awarded when she returns. 2. Federal loans that weren't disbursed will be canceled, so you won't owe for the Spring amount. The good news is this doesn't count against her lifetime loan limits. 3. Institutional scholarships may have different policies - some schools allow a one-semester deferment of scholarships while others require reapplication. 4. For Fall 2026 return, she'll need the 2026-2027 FAFSA (available October 1, 2025). 5. Most importantly, get the verification error documented and appeal the additional charges. The school should have a formal appeals process for administrative errors.

Can I just say this whole FAFSA system is GARBAGE?? Schools make "errors" that cost us thousands while we jump through hoops sending the same documents over and over! My son is going through something similar and we can't get ANYONE on the phone at financial aid. It's like they're avoiding us on purpose because THEY messed up.

I'm dealing with something similar with my son right now. Double-check what kind of Leave of Absence they're offering. There's a difference between an official LOA (which can preserve some aid eligibility) and simply withdrawing and re-enrolling. Also, get EVERYTHING in writing from them about what will happen with her aid package when she returns. The verbal promises and written policies can be very different!

One more important thing: if your daughter received any refund from her financial aid package for Fall (money that exceeded direct costs and was paid to her), make sure you understand if any of that will need to be returned. Sometimes when aid is retroactively adjusted due to verification issues, previously disbursed funds may need to be repaid.

Has she used up all her SAP appeals? My cousin was in a similar boat and he was able to file a satisfactory academic progress appeal instead of taking a LOA and they let him stay without paying the extra immediately

This is such a frustrating situation, and I'm sorry you're dealing with this! I went through something similar with my nephew last year. One thing that really helped us was escalating beyond the financial aid office - we contacted the Dean of Students office and they were able to put pressure on financial aid to actually respond and resolve the verification error. Also, make sure to check if your daughter's school has an ombudsman or student advocate office. They often have more power to cut through red tape when administrative errors cause financial hardship. Document EVERYTHING with dates and times - every email, every phone call, every document you submitted. This paper trail was crucial when we had to appeal. Don't let them push you around just because they made the mistake!

I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar nightmare right now! My daughter's school also had verification issues that led to a massive tuition increase mid-semester. What really helped us was filing a formal written complaint with the school's compliance office (not just financial aid) and also submitting a complaint to our state's higher education agency. Sometimes external pressure gets faster results than just working within their system. Also, if your daughter has any merit scholarships, make sure to ask specifically about their renewal policies during a LOA - some schools will hold them while others won't. The whole system feels designed to confuse families and make us give up, but don't let them wear you down!

I'm so sorry you're going through this mess! As someone who just went through a similar verification nightmare with my son, I wanted to add that you should also check if your state has a Student Loan Ombudsman office - they're separate from the school and can sometimes intervene when schools make administrative errors that hurt families financially. Also, when you're documenting everything for your appeal, make sure to include the financial impact this delay has caused (like potential loss of housing guarantees, having to find alternative funding, etc.). Schools sometimes offer emergency aid or payment plans when their errors cause genuine hardship. One last thing - if your daughter is planning to return in Fall 2026, start the FAFSA process early (it opens October 1, 2025) and submit verification documents immediately to avoid this happening again. The whole system is broken but you're doing everything right by fighting for her!