Insufficient summer earnings affect aid?

boxmaker1917
Wed, 29 Jun 2005 00:44:43 +0000

My nephew has not been able to find a steady summer job. He is doing odd jobs around the neighborhood, trying to earn as much as he can. He is paid mostly in cash. He will use everything he earns for books and expenses for fall term. He consequently will not show any earned assets (no payroll check, no money in the bank) by the time my sister does the FAFSA and Profile forms for next year.

My nephew is receiving need-based aid. If he doesn’t show sufficient income from a summer job, will the college reduce his need-based grant on the grounds that he should have earned more over the summer? That is, will the finaid office make the assumption that he is a lazy slug and since he didn’t work more, he is less deserving than other students for grants? Or, is my sister worrying needlessly and driving us all crazy for no reason?