FAFSA's new SAI calculation skyrocketed after adding stepparent - our Pell Grant at risk?

The Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation has changed significantly with the new FAFSA. Adding a stepparent definitely impacts your calculation, even if their income isn't substantially higher than yours. The formula considers both incomes, assets, household size, and number of college students. With combined income of $81K, an SAI of 23783 is actually in the expected range. A few questions that might help identify if there was an error: - Did you correctly report your household size as 4? - Are there any substantial assets like savings or investments? - Does your husband have other children he supports?

OMG the same thing happened to my sister!!! she got remarried last year and her sons SAI went from like 6000 to over 20000 even tho her new husband doesnt make that much!! its like they WANT to punish people for getting married or something smh

I work with families on FAFSA appeals, and this is actually a common issue. The SAI calculation treats a stepparent's income almost identically to a biological parent's. Here's why your number likely jumped: 1. Combined income of $81K puts you in a higher contribution bracket 2. The protection allowance for a family of 4 is lower proportionally than for a family of 3 3. Any assets your husband brought (retirement accounts don't count, but savings do) With an SAI of 23783, your daughter may still qualify for some Pell Grant, depending on the cost of attendance at her school, but it would be reduced. If there are special circumstances (medical expenses, job loss, etc.), you can file a Professional Judgment appeal with the financial aid office.

this is why people shuldnt get married till kids r done with college lol. u litterally get PUNISHED for having 2 incomes. my cousins mom and stepdad lived together for 6 yrs but didnt marry till after he graduated for this exact reason!!!

The new FAFSA formula is BRUTAL for blended families. It's like they designed it specifically to reduce aid for people who remarry. I've been fighting with the financial aid office for months trying to get them to understand our situation is more complicated than their stupid formula allows. Has anyone actually had success with an appeal based on having a new spouse? The system is rigged!

Have you tried calling the Federal Student Aid office directly to explain your situation? My daughter had a similar issue with her SAI calculation, and we were actually able to get some clarification by speaking with an agent. Getting through to them was impossible though until we used Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have this service that gets you past the hold times - saved us hours of frustration. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

Regarding your medical expenses for your younger son - yes, absolutely include those in a Professional Judgment appeal! Schools have the authority to adjust your SAI based on unusual expenses like ongoing medical costs. You'll need to: 1. Contact your daughter's financial aid office specifically (not FSA) 2. Ask about their Professional Judgment process (sometimes called a "Special Circumstances Appeal") 3. Provide documentation of all medical expenses 4. Explain how these costs impact your ability to contribute to education Also, make sure you're looking at the full financial aid package, not just Pell. With your SAI, your daughter might still qualify for work-study and subsidized loans, even if the Pell amount is reduced.

One important thing to understand about the new FAFSA SAI formula is that it actually eliminated the "marriage penalty" that existed in the old EFC calculation for student parents who got married. However, it did not eliminate the impact of adding a stepparent's income to a dependent student's calculation. For dependent students (like your daughter), the formula still considers the income and assets of all parents in the household, including stepparents. The theory is that your household has more total resources available, even if your new husband doesn't directly contribute to your daughter's education. I'd recommend using the Federal Student Aid Estimator tool to double-check your numbers. Sometimes small errors in how assets are reported can make a big difference.

After reviewing the information you've shared, I believe your SAI calculation is likely correct based on the formula, but that doesn't mean you're out of options: 1. Definitely pursue the Professional Judgment appeal based on medical expenses 2. Check if your daughter qualifies for any state grants that use different formulas 3. Look into private scholarships that aren't based on the FAFSA 4. Consider whether your husband might take on additional education loans in his name if needed The good news is that with an SAI of 23783, your daughter should still qualify for subsidized loans and potentially a reduced Pell Grant depending on the cost of attendance.

I'm going through something similar right now! My mom remarried last year and even though my stepdad makes less than my mom, our SAI still went up significantly. What I learned from our financial aid counselor is that the new formula looks at your "available income" differently when there are two adults in the household - they assume you have more disposable income because you're sharing living expenses. One thing that might help is to make sure you reported your household size correctly. If your husband supports any other dependents (even if they don't live with you), that should be included. Also, retirement contributions and certain taxes can reduce your available income in the calculation. Don't give up on the appeal process! Our school was actually pretty understanding when we explained our situation. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and wanted to share what I've learned through this frustrating process. When my mom remarried two years ago, our SAI jumped from around 7,000 to over 20,000 even though my stepdad's income was modest. What helped us was being very thorough with the Professional Judgment appeal. Beyond medical expenses, we included documentation showing: - My stepdad's existing debt obligations from before the marriage - Proof that he wasn't financially supporting me before they married (bank statements, etc.) - A letter explaining that their marriage was recent and household finances weren't fully integrated The financial aid office reduced our SAI by about 4,000, which brought back some Pell Grant eligibility. It wasn't perfect, but it made a real difference. The key was being persistent and providing lots of documentation. Also, don't overlook your state's grant programs - some have different income calculations than the federal FAFSA and might be more generous for blended families. Worth checking into!