jc'smom

Single Parent & Dislocated Worker EFC is 2955. I was told that my EFC should be 0.
Would anyone know what would affect my score and that it did not reflect a 0?

swimcatsmom

Is your income under $30,000? The automatic 0 EFC requires an AGI of less than $30k.

jc'smom

Not for 2008 since 11/20 was the lay-off date. So I guess it is based on my 2008 return.
If I was unemployed most of the year then I guess it would then qualify for a 0. I was at a financial aid meeting and was told I would qualify as a 0 and was so confused when I saw the EFC number. Thanks for the clarification. This is all new to me.

swimcatsmom

The dislocated worker is just part of the equation. The first criteria you have to meet for the automatic 0 is the <$30k AGI. Then there are other criteria in addition to the income. The additional criteria used to be that you had to be able to file a 1040a or 1040ez return or that someone in the household had to have received a means tested benefit. This year they added the dislocated worker as another way to qualify if you meet the income criteria but file a 1040 or don't have means tested benefits. It seems to cause more confusion than anything else.

You should contact your schools and tell them you have been laid off. They may make a special circumstances adjustment to reflect the loss of income. Also, if you were receiving any sort of child support that will stop once your child graduates HS you can ask for an adjustment to reflect that. Special circumstances adjustments are not a guarantee as they are at the discretion of the financial aid officer at the school. But it is worth asking.

Goof luck.

jc'smom

I appreciate your knowledge and advice. I did contact one of the schools this morning.
JC's Social Security payments stop in May so that will change our financial situation once more.

Thanks again