<p>Thumper - I dug into my files and found the information that confirms this. Here is the text from Profile customer service rep in answer to my question about whether my mandatory state teacher’s retirement system counted as a “payment to tax-deferred pensions and savings plan”
“Thank you for your inquiry. If participation in the retirement plan is mandatory and there is no discretion as to the contribution amount, nothing need be reported on the Profile application. Because of this explanation you will not list the payments to your pension in section K number 55f” . Melinda, Profile, customer service rep."
This answer was sent to me in february of 2004. If it applies to you, maybe you are due some more financial aid dollars$$$$ :)</p>