Next steps? First time considering loans

You mentioned that your income will decrease when your daughter graduates from high school due to her Social Security payments ceasing. I hope you didn’t include untaxed Social Security payments as either her or her father’s income on the FAFSA.

https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1920/help/faadef33.htm

https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1920/help/faadef33.htm

However, it is possible that untaxed Social Security income has to be reported for Cal Grant purposes.