I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress, Dylan! Hitting the Pell Grant limit right before graduation is absolutely gut-wrenching. While the 600% federal limit unfortunately can't be appealed, you're definitely not out of options for finishing your degree. The fact that your mom recently lost her job could actually be a significant factor in getting additional aid. Here's what I'd recommend doing immediately: 1. **Complete your FAFSA anyway** - you may still qualify for additional Direct Loans or other federal aid programs 2. **Request a Professional Judgment Review** - your mom's job loss is exactly the type of circumstance that can lead to adjustments in your aid package 3. **Meet with a senior financial aid counselor** - ask specifically about emergency completion grants and institutional scholarships Also worth exploring: - Your academic department may have small scholarships or emergency funds (sometimes professors know about opportunities that aren't widely advertised) - State grant programs that aren't tied to federal Pell eligibility - Emergency loans through your school (often interest-free and payable after graduation) - Local community scholarships from civic organizations, churches, or professional groups I know it feels overwhelming when you're this close to the finish line, but financial aid offices see this situation regularly and they genuinely want to help students graduate. You've made it this far - don't give up now! With some persistence and exploring these options systematically, you can absolutely piece together the funding you need for those final two semesters. 💪

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! Hitting the Pell Grant limit when you're just two semesters away from finishing is incredibly frustrating. While the 600% federal limit unfortunately can't be appealed, you absolutely have options to get through those final semesters. The key thing that stands out to me is that your mom recently lost her job - this is actually really important and could significantly help your situation! This type of major change in family circumstances is exactly what Professional Judgment Reviews are designed for. Schools can often provide additional institutional aid or adjust your package when families experience job loss. Here's what I'd do right away: 1. **Complete your FAFSA anyway** - you may still qualify for additional Direct Loans or other federal programs 2. **Request a Professional Judgment Review immediately** - bring documentation of your mom's job loss and explain how it impacts your family's ability to pay 3. **Schedule a meeting with a senior financial aid counselor** - ask specifically about emergency completion grants, senior scholarships, and any "hidden" institutional funding Also check with your academic department directly - professors and department staff often know about small scholarships or emergency funds that the main financial aid office doesn't even track. Sometimes these departmental resources are specifically for students in their final year. You've worked so hard to get this far - don't give up when you're literally at the finish line! Financial aid offices see this situation all the time and they want to help you graduate. Take it one step at a time, and I'm confident you can piece together the funding you need. You've got this! 🙏

This has been such an informative thread! I'm actually in the exact same situation - transferred a 529 from my parents to my name a few years ago without thinking about FAFSA implications. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has given me a clear action plan. I'm going to: 1) Contact our state's 529 plan administrator to understand the transfer process and any restrictions, 2) Calculate the potential aid impact using the 5.64% assessment rate mentioned earlier, and 3) Have an honest conversation with my parents about whether they're comfortable taking ownership back. The point about keeping detailed documentation and being transparent with financial aid offices really resonates - it sounds like this is more common than I thought. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those with professional insights!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's currently going through the college application process with my first child, I had no idea about these 529 ownership nuances. Reading everyone's experiences has made me realize I need to take a step back and really understand all the FAFSA implications before my second child starts applying in a couple years. The point about different states having different rules for 529 transfers is something I definitely need to research for our situation. It's also eye-opening to learn about the potential future impact of grandparent distributions being treated as student income - that's a complexity I wouldn't have considered. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences, especially those working in financial aid who provided the professional perspective!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's absolutely terrifying when your expected aid gets yanked away like that! I'm a junior and went through something similar last year when the new FAFSA changes first started hitting. My SAI didn't jump quite as dramatically as yours, but it was still a huge shock. One thing that really helped me was creating a timeline of all our family's financial changes to include with my appeal. Since your dad lost his job 6 months ago, make sure to document not just the unemployment itself, but any other ripple effects - reduced family spending, delayed medical care, cancelled plans, etc. The financial aid officers need to see the full picture of how different your current reality is from what those 2023 tax forms show. Also, while you're waiting for the appeal to process, definitely look into your school's emergency aid funds. Most schools have small grants (usually $500-2000) specifically for students facing unexpected financial hardships. They're often separate from the main financial aid process and can be processed much faster. The whole new FAFSA system is honestly a mess, but don't lose hope - I've seen so many students successfully get their aid restored through appeals, especially when there's clear documentation of job loss like in your situation. Stay on top of the process and don't be afraid to be the squeaky wheel that gets the grease!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly stressful when your financial aid gets turned upside down like that! As a newcomer to this community, I'm shocked to see how many students are experiencing these massive SAI increases with the new FAFSA system. Reading through all the experiences shared here, it's clear that your dad's unemployment absolutely qualifies you for a professional judgment review. The fact that the FAFSA is using 2023 tax data when he was still employed, but your current reality is completely different, is exactly what these appeals are designed to address. I really appreciate everyone sharing their strategies and success stories - it's giving me hope as I'm potentially facing similar issues with my own FAFSA. The advice about documenting everything, calling FSA directly for calculation breakdowns, and not waiting for aid packages before starting appeals seems crucial. @William Rivera - it sounds like you're on the right track with gathering all the unemployment documentation. Based on what others have shared, being proactive and persistent with follow-ups seems to be key to getting these appeals processed in a reasonable timeframe. Wishing you the best of luck with your appeal!

Hey Liam! I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - wrong school code AND enrollment status on my TAP application. I was absolutely panicking about deadlines too, but it turned out to be way less stressful than I thought! Definitely don't submit a new application - that creates duplicate records in their system and can cause major processing delays. The online correction method everyone's describing here is absolutely the way to go. I followed similar steps to what others have outlined: logged into my HESC account on my laptop (mobile site is terrible), found "View Current Application," then scrolled way down to find that tiny "Request Correction" link. The whole correction process took maybe 10 minutes, and my changes were processed within a week. The key thing is having your correct Federal School Code ready before you start. I actually called my new school's financial aid office to confirm the code before making the correction, which gave me extra peace of mind that I was putting in the right information. One thing I wish someone had told me - after you submit the correction, it might take 24-48 hours before you see the changes reflected in your account view, even though the correction gets processed right away. Don't panic if you check the next day and still see the old info! You're definitely not cutting it close on timing - March submissions for Fall 2025 are actually pretty early. You'll get this sorted out with plenty of time to spare. Good luck!

Hey Liam! I just went through this exact situation last semester and wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease some of your stress! I made the same mistakes - wrong school code (put my old community college instead of my current university) and had the enrollment status wrong too. I was completely panicking about missing deadlines, but it turned out to be much more manageable than I expected. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about NOT submitting a new application - that would definitely cause problems with duplicate records. The online correction process through your HESC account is absolutely the way to go. Here's what worked for me: Log in on a desktop computer (the mobile site is pretty much useless for this), click "View Current Application," then scroll ALL the way to the bottom to find the "Request Correction" link. It's super easy to miss because it's just a small link, not a prominent button. Make sure you have your correct Federal School Code ready before you start - you can verify this matches what you used on your FAFSA by checking your Student Aid Report. The whole correction process took me about 8 minutes, and it was processed within 5 business days. One heads up - don't freak out if you don't see the changes immediately in your account. Mine took about 36 hours to show the updated information even though it was processed right away. You submitted in March for Fall 2025, which is actually really good timing! The June 30th deadline gives you tons of breathing room. I submitted my corrections in late April last year and still got my full TAP award with no issues. Save that confirmation email with the tracking number - it's super helpful if you need to follow up later. You've got this!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so thankful for finding this incredibly detailed discussion! I'm currently helping my younger brother who's facing almost the exact same situation - he's 19, lives with our mom who receives SSI benefits and doesn't file taxes, but our older sister claimed him as a dependent on her taxes last year. I was completely stressed about whether we needed our sister's financial information for his FAFSA or if mom's non-filing status would be enough. Reading through everyone's responses has been such a relief - the key insight that FAFSA dependency is based on actual living situation rather than tax claiming status has cleared up all my confusion. I'm especially grateful for the comprehensive verification preparation checklist that multiple people have shared. We're already starting to gather school enrollment records with mom's address, SSI benefit documentation, and preparing for the possibility of needing a non-filing verification letter. It's both concerning and reassuring to see how common these non-traditional family situations are - concerning that so many families face these challenges, but reassuring that there are established processes and such a knowledgeable community to help navigate them. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences and practical advice - this is exactly the kind of guidance that makes all the difference for families like ours!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to express my sincere gratitude for this incredibly comprehensive and helpful discussion! I'm currently assisting my nephew who's in a nearly identical situation - he's 17, lives with his grandmother who receives Social Security benefits and doesn't file taxes, but his adult cousin claimed him as a dependent for tax purposes last year. Before discovering this thread, I was completely overwhelmed and confused about whose financial information we needed to use for his FAFSA application. The crystal-clear explanation that FAFSA dependency is determined by WHERE the student actually lives and receives support (not who claims them for tax benefits) has been absolutely game-changing for our understanding. I'm particularly grateful for all the detailed verification preparation advice shared throughout this discussion - we're already proactively gathering school enrollment records showing grandmother's address, Social Security benefit documentation, and preparing for the non-filing verification process. It's both eye-opening and reassuring to see how widespread these complex, non-traditional family situations are. Eye-opening because it highlights how inadequately the standard FAFSA materials address these common scenarios, but reassuring because there are clearly established processes and such a knowledgeable, supportive community to help navigate them. Thank you everyone for sharing your real-world experiences, practical solutions, and creating such an invaluable resource for families dealing with these challenging situations that don't fit the typical nuclear family mold!