<p>Them’s the rules! I don’t feel as cavalier as the statement, but, really the rules are and have been in place for a while. THere are many, many unfair, inconsistent features about FAFSA and any financial aid process. </p>
<p>I’m interested in which schools the OP’s kids are eyeing. You do realize that even if you had a zero EFC before you married, that would give your kids the PELL grant which is not quite $5k? The only other guaranteed goodie would be subsidized interest on the Stafford loans. I am not putting my nose up to that money as it is a life boat to many students who are taking courses at in state schools, but it is really a drop in the bucket if you are looking at private schools or if going away to college is what is in the plans. Most FAFSA only schools do not have the endowments to give full aid so there are only a few rare possibilities that your kid is missing out on a lot of money.</p>
<p>If your new husband is indeed making a good salary, and the two of you are comfortable, I think it is a worthwhile investment of the $5K per year and paying the interest on the Stafford. You’re still better off than if you were struggling as a single parent to pay the all of the costs of living even though you get a some money for college. </p>
<p>I know a family whose kids did get the PELL, state and subsidized loan money even with the father being a high paid, well to doctor. He was not the custodial parent so his wealth was not relevant to FAFSA so any governmental monies that used that form as the screening app was available to those kids. That’s the way the rules worked. They did not get a dime from any colleges that used PROFILE or their own apps as the non custodial parent’s financial situation would have been taken into consideration, nullifying any financial aid scenarios. That’s the way the system is.</p>