Legal guardians of former foster child can't get Parent PLUS loans - how to cover college costs?

You're caught in a frustrating loophole that affects a lot of legal guardians. Your foster daughter is technically independent for FAFSA purposes (which qualifies her for higher Federal Direct loan amounts than dependent students), but you're correct that legal guardians can't access Parent PLUS loans. Here are some options to explore: 1. The financial aid office might have an institutional loan program or emergency funding for special cases 2. Even though she doesn't qualify for Chafee, check with your state's foster youth education programs - many have scholarships specifically for students who were in foster care at any point 3. Ask the financial aid office about a "professional judgment" review based on her unique circumstances 4. Look into work-study opportunities to reduce the overall amount needed 5. Some colleges have special funds for students with foster care backgrounds regardless of when they were in care

my sister was a legal gardian and ran into this same thing!! its so stupid the way the system is set up. have u tryed looking into private loans? there expensive but at least its something. also maybe community college for 2 years would be cheaper??

The system completely fails kids in this situation! My husband and I became legal guardians for my nephew who was briefly in foster care, and we faced the exact same problem. What ended up working for us was reaching out to the university's financial aid director directly (not just the front desk staff) and explaining the situation. They found institutional funds to cover part of the gap and connected us with three specific scholarships for former foster youth. Also, go to your state's education website - almost every state has specific grants for students who were ever in foster care, even if only briefly. The forms are usually buried on some obscure government website, but the money is there! Lastly, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center directly. When we called, we got completely different (and more helpful) information than what the university told us. Just be prepared to wait on hold FOREVER.

ya the hold times for fafsa are INSANE right now!! i give up after like 20 mins everytime lol

THE ENTIRE FINANCIAL AID SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! Foster kids get screwed at every turn. My cousin was a foster kid (adopted eventually) and even WITH parent plus loan access, the system is designed to FAIL these kids!! The colleges don't care, the government doesn't care, nobody but the actual families trying to help these kids care. I'm so angry on your behalf because I watched my aunt and uncle go through this nightmare. The worst part is that these kids already faced trauma and instability, and then the message they get is "sorry, education isn't for you unless you want crippling debt." DISGRACEFUL!!!!

To answer your earlier question about the professional judgment review - yes, you need to formally request it. Ask for the "Special Circumstances" or "Professional Judgment" form from the financial aid office. Document EVERYTHING about her foster care history and your legal guardianship status. Include a detailed letter explaining why her situation warrants special consideration. Also, look into these resources specifically for former foster youth (even those who don't qualify for Chafee): 1. Foster Care to Success scholarships 2. Together We Rise scholarships 3. National Foster Parent Association scholarships 4. iFoster's TAY AmeriCorps program (provides education award) 5. The DREAM.US scholarship (if applicable) Many state universities also have specific support programs for students with foster care background - sometimes called "Guardian Scholars" or "Renaissance Scholars." These often include special financial aid packages.

can she get a roomate to save money on housing? dorms are sooooo expensive!

Have you talked to the Ombudsman? When I had an unusual FAFSA situation (not this exact one but also a guardianship issue), I contacted the FSA Ombudsman Group and they were able to review our case. They can't change the rules but they can sometimes find exceptions or connect you with programs that the regular financial aid officers don't know about.

Update on my nephew's situation that might help you: After getting nowhere with the regular financial aid channels, we finally connected with our university's "Guardian Scholars" program coordinator. Even though my nephew wasn't technically eligible for their program (he wasn't in foster care long enough), the coordinator advocated for him with the financial aid office and helped secure a special institutional grant. The key was finding the right person who understood these unique situations. Ask specifically if your university has any support programs for former foster youth or students with non-traditional family structures. Sometimes these programs aren't well-advertised.

I work in higher ed financial aid, and I want to clarify something important: while legal guardians cannot take out Parent PLUS loans, your foster daughter's independent status means she qualifies for higher Direct Unsubsidized loan limits than dependent students. Independent students can receive up to $9,500 for freshman year ($3,500 subsidized + $6,000 unsubsidized) compared to $5,500 for dependent students. For special cases like yours, many institutions have the authority to make additional unsubsidized loans available to students in exceptional circumstances. This is different from professional judgment and isn't advertised widely. Specifically ask about "additional unsubsidized loan eligibility for students whose parents cannot obtain PLUS loans" - this provision exists but many front-line financial aid staff don't know about it.

Yes, exactly! Under certain circumstances, financial aid administrators can offer the same additional unsubsidized loan amounts that would normally be available when a parent is denied a PLUS loan. It's addressed in the Federal Student Aid Handbook, but not all financial aid advisors are familiar with applying this to guardian situations. Since your foster daughter is already independent, the financial aid office might not have considered this option automatically. Be persistent and specifically reference the provision for "additional unsubsidized loan eligibility when parents cannot obtain PLUS loans due to exceptional circumstances." Also, reach out to your state's higher education agency - many states have supplemental grants specifically for former foster youth that operate separately from the federal Chafee program and have different eligibility requirements.