Please advice.There is a section is CSS profile that is asking for Employer /other tuition benefits. I have a small parent tuition reimbursement benefit from work. Should I list the amount in CSS profile or wait until after acceptance and FINaid package completed ? This is not a grant scholarship and it linked to my employment . I was not aware that it could (will) reduce the amount of Finaid.
Well…here is MY opinion.
If the question asks for parent employer tuition benefits…you list them when you submit the Profile…because it’s money you WILL be getting.
Thank you , thumper1. This benefit is linked to my employment . How it works if I change ( lose ) job by the time of acceptance letter ? Would we be able to negotiate fin aid if circumstances change . My understanding , the finaid is going to be reduced by the amount of the scholarship if it is listed .
Do your kiddo’s colleges guarantee to meet full need for all?
Yes
One is guarantee
Is your net cost $0 at the school that meets full need?
Most colleges do expect the families to pay their family contribution. Why does the net price calculator say? Is there a place to enter that employer benefit?
Regardless…you need to honestly complete the financial aid forms.
Thank you for responding . My net cost is far from 0 . I spoke to HR and they said I should not fill it out in CSS profile .
Hmmm…and your HR folks are familiar with the Profile? And student financial aid?
I would suggest you call the Profile help line…and ask them what to do.
Unfortunately profile help line was not helpful at all . They were not sure about it .
The profile asks about employer benefits. You have an employer benefit. You should fill out the profile honestly. Therefore, you should list the benefit.
The school understands that if you leave the job you lose the benefit. If that happens, you can contact the Financial Aid office and let them know. There are ways of dealing with a change in circumstances.
Will it be income for you? If so, it will show up in the next CSS/FAFSA you file.
The parent has a valid concern. No money has exchanged hands, and may never change hands if she leaves this job. And who knows, on Jan 1st, the company may decide to discontinue this benefit.
I think it would get included in the next CSS after a disbursement has been made.
This is sort of like when grandparents offer to give $5k per year towards college. When submitting the first CSS Profile while the student is in high school, no money has yet been given (and may never be given because the grands may have to change their minds later).
You could put in that such a benefit exists but the amount is not know at the time of filing. Parents with tuition exchange would be in that position as they don’t know if their child will be chosen/accepted.
The parent is concerned how this will affect financial aid. If the student DOES get this benefit, the school will need to be notified, and there is the chance that any need based aid WILL be reduced.
So…at some point, the family will need to notify the college of this money IF it comes to pass.
If it is tuition money sent directly to the college, it would come up on future Profile forms, and the FAFSA as well.
On future FAFSA forms, I believe it will be money paid on behalf of the student or something like that.
@BelknapPoint what do you think?
The Profile asks if you have an employee benefit. The answer is…yes, you do. Answers on these forms are provided as of the day you file. They are not based on maybes of the future.
Not enough information to provide a meaningful opinion. OP mentions a “parent tuition reimbursement benefit…” Is this not a tuition reimbursement benefit for the employee’s child? Also, what does the relevant Profile question specifically ask for?
@BelknapPoin:
The question in CSS Profile :
<<student resources="" how="" much="" does="" the="" student="" expect="" to="" receive="" from="" following="" sources="" pay="" for="" educational="" expenses="" 2019-20="" academic="" year?="" employers="" (i.e.="" tuition="" benefits)="" including="" student’s="" parents’="" employer(s)="" and="" or="" employer*.="">>
The benefit is a partial tuition reimbursement for the children of employee . The amount is vary from year to year. I contacted HR and was explained by HR representative, that I should not report it in CSS profile .
Please explain WHY the HR person says NOT to report this benefit when the question clearly asks if you have a benefit…and how much it will be for the 2019-2020 academic year?
Maybe the question you need to ask HR is the amount anticipated for 2019-2020.
@BelknapPoint your thoughts?
I agree with thumper1; you should ask HR what the anticipated benefit is for your child for the 2019-2020 academic year. As long as you can make a reasonable estimate of how much tuition reimbursement will be available, you should report that amount on Profile, as requested.
HR did not explain why it should not be reported , probably I should call again and ask . From her response it sounded that I’m not the first who is asking about it and it is a standard process. It is rather frustrating to learn that it will reduce the amount of a potential finaid. One of the reason many people staying working for the company is this benefit .