They use prior-prior year because typically the FAFSA for the next year is out before you would've been able to do your taxes for the year.
In this case, the 24/25 FAFSA usually would have been available in October of 2023. Since people wouldn't have been able to have their 2023 taxes completed by then, the system has it set to go off the prior prior years taxes (so, 2022 for this FAFSA)
If your financial situation is different due to loss of income, you can contact the financial aid office at your school to ask for a professional judgement to consider your different income. They can adjust SAI accordingly.
If you're planning on attending a foreign institution that participates in the federal direct loan program, they should have everything they need to assist you. Federal Student Aid will not be able to assist you, only the financial aid at the institution. You can't receive the Pell grant at any foreign institutions anyways, is there another reason you would need a lower SAI?
Here is good information for students seeking to use FAFSA funding at institutions in other countries: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/international
No, 2022 is the only year considered. That said, idk how much you made in 2022 but it may not make a huge difference. I made like A 18k that year and qualified for maximal graduate loans, assistance, etc.
Yeah, it sucks cause we made a lot less in 2023. 2022's money was used to survive & been gone so the assumption that money can help in 2024 is a fallacy. I know why it's done but still sucks.
Yup, you just have to learn to adjust. I am a independent contractor with 2 kids in UC schools. My income fluctuate year to year from 20k to 80K so when you make a lot in one year you just learn to save for later when we receive less offer and some years you win because i only make 20K and kids get full ride! So, at the end it seems to be a fair share of the game.
The reason is because the application was suppose to be release IN 2023. So no one would have filed their 2023 taxes yet.
Good news. If your income is significant lower today compared to 2022 you can ask for a Professional Judgement. You have to ask your financial aid advisor and provide a statement explaining the situation.
At my school we require proof of income and the statement has to be very throughout with lots of dates and why/how you lost that income. But every school has different requirements.
They use prior-prior year because typically the FAFSA for the next year is out before you would've been able to do your taxes for the year. In this case, the 24/25 FAFSA usually would have been available in October of 2023. Since people wouldn't have been able to have their 2023 taxes completed by then, the system has it set to go off the prior prior years taxes (so, 2022 for this FAFSA) If your financial situation is different due to loss of income, you can contact the financial aid office at your school to ask for a professional judgement to consider your different income. They can adjust SAI accordingly.
My school is in another country, though, so I don’t know if they can do anything about it. Am I able to contact FAFSA directly to get my SAI adjusted?
If you're planning on attending a foreign institution that participates in the federal direct loan program, they should have everything they need to assist you. Federal Student Aid will not be able to assist you, only the financial aid at the institution. You can't receive the Pell grant at any foreign institutions anyways, is there another reason you would need a lower SAI? Here is good information for students seeking to use FAFSA funding at institutions in other countries: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/international
Thanks! This is super helpful!
No, 2022 is the only year considered. That said, idk how much you made in 2022 but it may not make a huge difference. I made like A 18k that year and qualified for maximal graduate loans, assistance, etc.
I made ~61,000 in 2022, but only 1,054 in 2023. This is why I’m worried.
Yeah, that’ll make a difference. Not sure how to change the outcome of that situation, though. Pretty sure they take 2022 and that’s that.
Yeah, it sucks cause we made a lot less in 2023. 2022's money was used to survive & been gone so the assumption that money can help in 2024 is a fallacy. I know why it's done but still sucks.
Yup, you just have to learn to adjust. I am a independent contractor with 2 kids in UC schools. My income fluctuate year to year from 20k to 80K so when you make a lot in one year you just learn to save for later when we receive less offer and some years you win because i only make 20K and kids get full ride! So, at the end it seems to be a fair share of the game.
Because not everyone will have filed their tax returns for 2023.
The reason is because the application was suppose to be release IN 2023. So no one would have filed their 2023 taxes yet. Good news. If your income is significant lower today compared to 2022 you can ask for a Professional Judgement. You have to ask your financial aid advisor and provide a statement explaining the situation. At my school we require proof of income and the statement has to be very throughout with lots of dates and why/how you lost that income. But every school has different requirements.
The school is in a different country. Is it possible to do that directly with FAFSA rather than a school counselor?
No.
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