If the money is just sitting in a savings account as you say, then that is what’s affecting your EFC. That will tack about 30K on it right there. I would for sure appeal due to the loss of income. There is more financial aid out there this year due to covid aid from the feds.
eta: Never mind. I’m still half asleep. Any savings they have now from a 2018 sale they would have also had last year. I’ll go back to wondering why there were capital gains on the sale.