FAFSA only covers 1/5 of cost - supporting son alone despite being married

have u looked into a Parent PLUS loan? its not ideal cuz it adds debt but it covers what FAFSA doesnt. also some schools have payment plans so u can spread out payments over 10-12 months instead of 2 big semester bills. good luck!!

You should absolutely file a special circumstances appeal with the financial aid office at your son's school. Your situation - being married but financially independent - is exactly the kind of scenario these appeals are designed for. When I went through this, I had to provide documentation showing I was solely responsible for expenses despite being legally married. Here's what you'll need: 1. A detailed letter explaining your circumstances 2. Documentation of separate finances (separate bank accounts, bills in your name only) 3. Proof you're covering all education expenses 4. If applicable, any legal documentation about financial arrangements between you and your spouse Most schools have a form for this on their financial aid website called "Professional Judgment Review" or "Special Circumstances Appeal.

the system is SO BROKEN ugh! they use both incomes on FAFSA but dont care if one spouse isnt contributing??! i went thru this EXACT thing last year and the financial aid office basically said "too bad, the govt sees you as married" its INFURIATING. ur best bet is private loans or ur son should maybe consider community college for 2 yrs then transfer. saves SO MUCH $$$

There are several options that might help in your situation: 1. **Special Circumstances Appeal** - As others mentioned, this is your best first step. Financial aid offices have discretion to adjust your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on unusual circumstances. Being the sole financial provider despite being married qualifies. 2. **Work-Study Programs** - Has your son checked if he qualifies for Federal Work-Study? This can provide part-time employment to help with educational costs. 3. **Institutional Aid** - Many schools have their own grants and scholarships beyond what FAFSA shows. Your son should speak directly with the financial aid office about school-specific opportunities. 4. **Outside Scholarships** - Beyond the big national scholarships, look at local organizations (Rotary Clubs, community foundations, employers), which often have less competition. 5. **CSS Profile** - If the school uses the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA, it can sometimes provide a more detailed financial picture that benefits situations like yours. Remember that your SAI (Student Aid Index) from FAFSA is just the starting point - there are many ways to improve your financial aid package through appeals and supplemental applications.

After struggling with FAFSA for 2 years when my daughter started college, I finally discovered Claimyr when trying to get someone on the phone at Federal Student Aid. I kept getting disconnected or waiting forever, but with Claimyr they got me connected to an actual person at FSA in about 10 minutes! The agent was able to explain all my options for our complicated family situation and help us file a special circumstances review. Seriously worth checking out their video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ and their site claimyr.com - saved me hours of frustration.

Hey there, going through something similar with my stepson. Just wanted to add that you should also check if your son qualifies for any tuition waivers or state-specific grants. These aren't always obvious from the FAFSA results. For example, our state has a grant program for students with certain GPA requirements regardless of family income. Also, don't overlook religious organizations, ethnic/cultural associations, and professional organizations related to his intended major - they often have smaller scholarships with less competition. We cobbled together about $8,000 from these sources that weren't on any of the major scholarship websites.

i forgot to mention - if ur husband literally provides NO support whatsoever, u might qualify for a dependency override where they only consider YOUR income. its super rare tho and u usually need like legal separation docs. worth asking about tho!

when my son was applying we went thru this whole process and i ended up just taking a parent plus loan. the interest rate wasnt great but it covered what we needed. im also a single mom (divorced) so it was all on me. make sure ur son takes the full stafford loan amount before u take parent plus tho, the rates are better for him

To address your follow-up question about documents for a special circumstances appeal, here's what you should gather: 1. Personal statement detailing your situation (be specific about financial separation while legally married) 2. Documentation showing you pay household expenses (mortgage/rent, utilities, insurance) 3. Documentation showing you'll be solely responsible for education costs 4. Tax returns with a statement explaining why the joint return doesn't reflect your actual situation 5. Budget worksheet showing your income and expenses separately 6. If applicable, any documentation regarding why your spouse cannot contribute (medical issues, etc.) Regarding Work-Study: Even if it wasn't initially offered, during your appeal process you can request to be considered for it. Many schools have additional work-study funds they can allocate during appeals. One last suggestion - see if your son's school offers any tuition installment plans. These don't reduce the cost, but they break payments into smaller monthly amounts that might be more manageable than lump-sum semester payments.

btw my neighbor's kid got like 5k more in aid after appealing so it def works sometimes! also dont forget to fill out FAFSA again next january, sometimes sophomore yr they give more aid (happened for my daughter).