Understanding my son's 58017 SAI score with veteran disability - any chance for aid?
Just got my son's FAFSA results and his SAI is 58017. I'm completely lost on what this means for his college options. We make decent household income (around $142k combined), but I'm also a 100% disabled veteran. I thought maybe my disability status would help with financial aid eligibility, but now I'm not sure if we'll qualify for anything with that SAI. The FAFSA calculator is confusing me more than helping. Does anyone know if there's any hope for need-based aid with an SAI this high? Do colleges look at veteran disability status separately from the FAFSA? My son has good grades but not exceptional enough for major merit scholarships. Starting to panic about how we'll afford his top choices!
24 comments
Join the conversation
Seraphina Delan
With an SAI of 58017, you're likely not going to qualify for federal need-based aid like Pell Grants. However, your disabled veteran status might qualify you for other types of aid not related to your FAFSA. Have you looked into the Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program through the VA? Also, many colleges have their own institutional aid that considers factors beyond your FAFSA SAI score. I'd recommend contacting the financial aid offices at your son's preferred schools and specifically mentioning your 100% disabled veteran status.
0 coins
Niko Ramsey
•Thank you for this information. I haven't checked into the DEA program yet - I'll look that up today. Do you know if I need to submit additional paperwork to the colleges to let them know about my disability status, or will they automatically see that through the FAFSA somehow?
0 coins
Jabari-Jo
my daughter had a simlar SAI (like 56000 i think) and we didnt get any federal grants. but some schools gave us money anyway! def contact each college financial aid office, some have special scholarships for military families!!
0 coins
Niko Ramsey
•That's encouraging to hear! Did you have to submit any special forms or documentation to those schools that ended up giving you money?
0 coins
Kristin Frank
As a disabled vet myself (70%), I went through this with my kid last year. Your SAI is definitely too high for Pell Grants or federal subsidized loans, but your status opens up other doors. Here's what you need to do: 1. Apply for Chapter 35 benefits (DEA program) - your 100% rating qualifies your son 2. Contact each college's Veterans Affairs office (not just financial aid) 3. Ask specifically about institutional scholarships for veterans' dependents 4. Some states also have tuition waivers for children of disabled vets Many schools have veterans' liaisons who can help navigate this. The FAFSA SAI isn't the end of the story for us vets!
0 coins
Niko Ramsey
•This is incredibly helpful - thank you! I didn't realize I should be talking to the Veterans Affairs office at the colleges. I'll start with Chapter 35 benefits and then reach out to the schools. Do you happen to know how much the DEA program typically covers? Is it a significant amount?
0 coins
Kristin Frank
•The DEA benefit is around $1,400/month paid directly to your son while he's in school (not to the school). It's not enough to cover full tuition at most places, but it definitely helps with living expenses or can offset some costs. Some schools will also count this as outside scholarship money and might reduce their own aid package, so always ask how they handle Chapter 35 benefits. The monthly payments add up to about $12,600 for a 9-month academic year.
0 coins
Micah Trail
wait im confused about SAI vs EFC... i thought they replaced EFC with SAI? is 58017 good or bad? does lower mean more aid?
0 coins
Seraphina Delan
•Yes, SAI (Student Aid Index) replaced EFC (Expected Family Contribution) in 2023-2024. They're similar but SAI can actually go as low as -1500 while EFC couldn't go below 0. Lower is better for both - it means you qualify for more financial aid. An SAI of 58017 is relatively high, which is why the original poster is concerned about not qualifying for need-based aid. For reference, you typically need an SAI below 7000 to qualify for a Pell Grant.
0 coins
Nia Watson
The system is COMPLETELY RIGGED against middle-class families!!! We make too much to qualify for need-based aid but nowhere near enough to actually pay these RIDICULOUS tuition prices!!! And the calculators are intentionally confusing to hide how little help they actually give. My son had a similar SAI and got NOTHING from FAFSA despite my husband's military service. The only "aid" we qualified for was the privilege of taking out massive unsubsidized loans that start accumulating interest immediately. What a joke.
0 coins
Alberto Souchard
•I feel this so much. Our SAI was 62000 and all we got offered were Parent PLUS loans that would have put us in debt until retirement. The middle class squeeze is real. We ended up having our daughter go to community college for 2 years first to save money.
0 coins
Niko Ramsey
•I'm starting to feel the same frustration. We're definitely caught in that middle ground where we make too much on paper but not enough to actually cover these costs without serious financial strain. Community college might be something we need to consider more seriously now.
0 coins
Katherine Shultz
I've worked in financial aid for 15 years, and I can tell you that your 100% disabled veteran status is something you definitely want to highlight to schools. The SAI from FAFSA is just one part of the equation. Here's what I recommend: 1. You won't qualify for federal need-based aid with that SAI 2. File the CSS Profile for private schools (many use this for institutional aid and it considers factors differently than FAFSA) 3. Submit a copy of your VA disability documentation directly to each financial aid office 4. Ask about a "Professional Judgment" review based on your disability status 5. Research Yellow Ribbon schools if you're eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits transfer Many schools have significant institutional aid that operates outside the federal methodology. I've seen students with high SAIs receive substantial packages when special circumstances are considered.
0 coins
Niko Ramsey
•Thank you for this detailed advice! I didn't know about the Professional Judgment review option. I do have some GI Bill benefits I could transfer, but I was saving those in case my son wants to pursue graduate school. Is the CSS Profile something we should fill out even for state schools, or just private colleges?
0 coins
Katherine Shultz
•The CSS Profile is primarily used by private colleges and a handful of public universities. You can see the complete list of participating schools on the College Board website. I'd only complete it for schools that require it. Regarding the GI Bill - that's a tough decision many veteran parents face. If you haven't already transferred any benefits, be aware there are service obligations that come with transferring GI Bill benefits. If you've already completed the transfer process, you have more flexibility. Some families use a portion for undergrad and save the rest for grad school. It really depends on your specific situation and which schools your son is considering.
0 coins
Marcus Marsh
I've been trying to call Federal Student Aid for WEEKS about my son's SAI calculation because I think they made a mistake with my income. Either busy signals or 2+ hour wait times, then they hang up! SO FRUSTRATING!!!
0 coins
Kristin Frank
•I had the same problem last month! I finally used this service called Claimyr that got me through to an FSA agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They basically hold your place in line and call you when they get an agent. Saved me so much frustration! Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Totally worth it for peace of mind, especially when dealing with something as important as FAFSA issues that have deadlines.
0 coins
Micah Trail
my cousin is a veteran and his kids got free college in texas. maybe check your state benefits?
0 coins
Niko Ramsey
•That's a good point - I should look into our state's specific programs. We're in Michigan, so I'll check what they offer for veterans' families. Thanks for the suggestion!
0 coins
Seraphina Delan
One more thing to consider - while your SAI might be too high for need-based aid, make sure your son applies for every scholarship he qualifies for. There are specific scholarships for children of disabled veterans that don't consider your income at all. The American Legion, VFW, AMVETS, and Disabled American Veterans organizations all offer scholarships. Also check with your state's veterans affairs department and your son's prospective schools for veteran-dependent scholarships.
0 coins
Niko Ramsey
•I hadn't thought about veteran organizations having their own scholarships - that's a great idea! I'll start researching these options immediately. My son is applying to schools now, so we need to get on top of all these scholarship applications right away. Thank you for pointing me in this direction!
0 coins
Camila Jordan
I'm new to this whole FAFSA process and seeing all these responses gives me hope! My husband is also a disabled veteran (80% rating) and we're just starting to look at colleges for our daughter. Our household income is similar to yours around $135k, so I'm expecting our SAI to be high too. Reading about all these veteran-specific benefits like Chapter 35 and state programs makes me realize there's a lot more to research beyond just the FAFSA. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it's really helpful to see what options are actually available for military families!
0 coins
Hugh Intensity
•Welcome to the process! It can definitely feel overwhelming at first, but you're getting started at the right time. With your husband's 80% disability rating, you'll have access to many of the same benefits mentioned here. I'd recommend starting with the VA's Chapter 35 program since that's a guaranteed benefit for children of disabled veterans with ratings of 20% or higher. Also, definitely look into your state's specific programs - some states are incredibly generous with veterans' families. The key thing I'm learning from everyone here is to not just rely on the FAFSA but to reach out directly to colleges and veteran organizations. Good luck with your daughter's college search!
0 coins
Keisha Johnson
As someone who went through this exact situation two years ago, I want to reassure you that an SAI of 58,017 doesn't mean your son won't get any financial assistance! My family had a similar income level and SAI, and while we didn't qualify for federal Pell Grants, we were still able to make college affordable through a combination of strategies. Here's what worked for us: 1) Applied for every veteran-dependent scholarship we could find (there are hundreds!), 2) Contacted each college's financial aid office directly to explain our veteran status - many schools have separate funds for military families that aren't tied to your FAFSA SAI, 3) Used the Chapter 35 DEA benefits which provided about $1,400/month, and 4) Found that several schools offered merit-based aid that had nothing to do with our financial situation. Don't give up hope - there are definitely paths forward for veteran families like ours, even with higher SAI scores. The key is being proactive and not just relying on the FAFSA results.
0 coins