<p>The operative world that NikkiL used is “can”. I am a dislocated worker. My husband is retired, I am the sole “income provider.” That said we have resources from years and years and years of working…they are depleting as we speak, but most people have some resources by the time they reach our age. I doubt any sane financial advisor would give me an auto 0 EFC and even if they did I can’t believe a public the university would have the resources to grant my son the entire cost of tuition. I just received our S1’s finaid letter, we were previously full pay parents. They added a a large work/study and a Perkins loan this year and subsidized part of the Stafford. I wrote a thank you note. All that aside, you may very well end up getting that determination, but it is my impression like Kelsmom and NikkL that this is still discretionary and to be used when necessary. Do talk to your financial aid folks, about your particular situation, that is what they are there for and if you are talking about aid for this fall, you need to get your ducks in a row sooner rather than later.</p>