<p>I would like to attend school for 2011-2012 school year. </p>
<p>I have been trying to figure out financial aid and submited a fafsa4caster to estimate the type of aid I would recieve. </p>
<p>I did not qualify for any grants and only for loans. My estimated EFC is 5908. </p>
<p>I was wondering if their was anyway to submit supplements that would change my EFC score when I submit my FAFSA. </p>
<p>My current status is very different than my pervious year status. Firstly, I seperated from Active Duty service and I am currently unemployed. Secondly, I just gave birth to my first child. </p>
<p>I believe with our family living only on my husband income (he is a low-grade enlisted military member), that I should qualify for grants. I was wondering is their was any way I can work with FAFSA before I submit my FAFSA to change my EFC? (like submitting DD Form 214/child’s birth certificate) </p>
<p>I know you can talk to your financial aid office at the school to help adjust circumstances after you already submitted aid… but I am worried that it would only change my loan amount because from what I know only FAFSA can determine if you are qualified for grants.</p>
<p>I don’t believe there is anything you can do before submitting your FAFSA. Last year I submitted my FAFSA and received an award of only loans, not grants. So then I submitted my school’s “Special Circumstances” application. Once they processed my Special Circumstances application my EFC was lowered and I received a partial Pell Grant. </p>
<p>You could probably submit the Special Circumstances application (or whatever it may be called at your school) on the same day as your FAFSA to speed things up a bit. But as far as I know there isn’t anything you can submit when doing your FAFSA online.</p>
<p>You also need to find out whether you qualify for any GI benefits for your education based on your service and/or your husband’s service. Colleges and universities that participate in the “Yellow Ribbon” program guarantee that their costs will be no more than the maximum benefit under the GI bill. If you go to the College Admissions Forum, you will find a link to the Veterans sub-forum right at the top. You might find some useful ideas there.</p>
<p>When you submit FAFSA you will include that you have a child. I’m not sure why you think you would need to submit a birth certificate to do that. Did you include on 4caster that you have a child?</p>
<p>If you are applying for 2011-2012 aid (starting fall 2011) then remember it will be your 2010 tax return information you are submitting. So your reduction in income will be reflected in that, depending on when you separated. If not then you can ask for a special circumstances adjustment. If it is granted (it is at their discretion) then they adjust your FAFSA to reflect the adjustment which produces a new EFC.</p>
<p>If your AGI on your 2010 tax return is below $30,000 then you may qualify for the automatic 0 EFC. It requires that the AGI be below $30,000 and that you meet one of the other criteria. They are - be eligible to file a 1040A or 1040 ez tax return, or be a dislocated worker, or be receiving means tested benefits. (as an independent student you would not be eligible for the auto 0 unless you have a dependent other than a spouse, but as you have a child you pass that requirement).</p>
<p>Getting grants may be up to your college. Some schools award grants to lots of students…and others do not have the resources to do so. Your EFC of over $5000 would not make you eligible for any federally funded need based grants.</p>
<p>The FAFSA folks do not have the “power” to change your EFC due to extenuating or changed circumstances. That is something only the finaid department at your SCHOOL can do. Contact them.</p>
<p>I went to the financial aid office and we submitted a special circumstances application alongside my regular FAFSA. </p>
<p>After calculating my new circumstances, I should qualify for grants. I will just have to wait and see. </p>
<p>Also, I do have GI BILL benefits. However, I am trying to not use it till it is necessary. The reason being is that the GI BILL pays for 36 months of school. For what I want to do, I would have to attend graduate school. I already have an associates degree but only a year worth of credits transfer over. So I still have five years of school left and I don’t want to exhaust my GI BILL and scramble for money later on. (Espcially because my husband will likely be promoted to higher ranks (or go officer)/we qualified less for aid in the future.) </p>
<p>Thanks again for the help. Your advice was spot on.</p>
Your advice was spot on.</p>