<p>“I agree that FAFSA doesn’t take into account unusual circumstances at all. I’m desperately saving money to try to pay for a spouse’s nursing home care. The spouse will require several years of care before dying. FAFSA looks at this chunk of money as being available to pay for our kids’ college.”</p>
<p>Neonzeus,</p>
<p>I was in a similaar situation with a husband who was vey sick for a long time. Obviously I don’t know anything about your finances or your situation, but have you explored the possibility of putting as much money as you can into retirement accounts? FAFSA doesn’t count the money in IRAs and 401ks and the like, and, at least in our case, we were allowed to draw money fom the retirement accounts well before age 65 because my husband was considered legally disabled, which counts as retired. </p>
<p>Forgive me for being presumptuous if this is not helpful to you.</p>