YSD Doesn't Get Pell Grant...And I'm Incredibly Suspicious
So...this weekend we got a money panic email from BM, asking us what we though we/DH's parents can 'do' toward YSD's college plans.
Apparently YSD doesn't qualify for the Pell Grant, which we thought she would based on her EFC.
I am highly suspicious of this. BM technically has 2 other kids 'in college' who have both gotten financial aid. With 3 kids in college, she'd have to be making over 75K a year to NOT qualify for ANY aid at all (adjusted gross, not gross...and those three kids also bring that number down significantly, I thought).
I think either: 1.) BM has done her taxes wrong somehow and screwed YSD; 2.) BM is making tons of money and has been screwing us over every time she asks for extras because she 'can't afford' it; or, 3.) BM is getting the Pell Grant for YSD but wants to pretend like she's not so we'll cover more and/or go to DH's parents.
I just don't see how it's possible that YSD doesn't qualify even partially...
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I hope your DH calls her out
I hope your DH asks her why in the world her other two kids qualify and not YSD? Are there other grants she can apply for? I agree something sounds fishy and I'd definitely be questioning it!
He did ask -
He did ask -
Apparently she 'just barely' doesn't qualify this year because her income has gone up. She's a teacher...I'm so sure that 2% raise she got between last year when SS applied and this year when YSD applied just put her over the edge.
BM is lazy and not good with money, so I am certain she did something wrong and can't be bothered to figure it out or appeal. Nope. Much easier to just ask us and her ex in-laws to cover the difference.
I know in my state they look
I know in my state they look at both parents income if they live in the same state. At least they use to. I had to include my step-dads stuff when I applied since he supported. I did not have not have to include my bio-dad because he lived in another state and I would not be getting any support from him when I went.
Just tell BM, she can apply for loans and pay that way. I do not think it is anyone's responsibility to pay for their kids to go to college. Give her that response and see what she says. SD wants to go to college well she can also help pay for it herself.
I agree
When it's YSD's own hard earned money, she will take her education more seriously and no parent is obligated to pay for college.
Here, they only look at
Here, they only look at primary household income. Even if they didn't - DH doesn't really have any income to speak of.
If she's really making enough that she doesn't qualify for even SOME of the Pell Grant with 3 kids in college...then she absolutely did have enough to put some aside for the kids, especially considering child support and all the extras we did over the years. This is just shameful and makes me so angry on behalf of YSD.
I get how your feel but IMO
I get how your feel but IMO it is also YSD responsibility to figure out how to pay for college and understand what she will owe when she gets out and everything else. I will never think it is the parents responsibility to pay for their kids education. There are many other options out there that are financially sound. Community college, technical school. I do not know your YSD or what she wants to do. She should be included in all this and understand what is expected of her. She can take out loans many people do and have too because it is very difficult to pay outright for school these days.
I agree - I paid for my own
I agree - I paid for my own college (of course, it was quite a bit cheaper, then...but I still had to work my hiney off given that minimum wage was $5.25 an hour or something like that...)
I think YSD was planning to take out loans...we were just trying to not have her take out too much student loan debt...and the Pell Grant is close to 6K a year of free money that I really think she should qualify for. Or else BM is a huge, huge liar about her finances...
I can see helping out my
I can see helping out my parents did by paying for car insurance and cell bill. That is a lot but you would be surprised what people do not qualify for.
My parents at the time of me going to school I think made a combined income of like 70,000 not even I do not think at the time I went to school. I got the smallest grant possible that covered like one semester of books not even and the federal loans did not even cover my full tuition. I had to take out private loans on-top of all that as well. Not defending BM just saying I know it is really hard to get anything these days. My cousin is in college right now and she has two younger brother that lived with her when filling for financial aid and trust me they did not make money either. She did not get much for student aide.
Unless you are from a really poor area of the country, and have parents that do not make like any money, I swear it is so hard to get stuff these days. I hope everything works our for YSD.
We already pay for cell bill,
We already pay for cell bill, car, and insurance. Always have for all three.
Not sure where BM spends her money.
Just ask to see the fafsa.
Just ask to see the fafsa.
and then he needs to step up and do his part. People who think college can be done with loans and part-time jobs are living in an alternate reality. Is that really the kind of start in life he plans to give his kid?
It's not about 'stepping up
It's not about 'stepping up and doing his part' in this case. BM asks us for literally everything in addition to child support...and we've done a lot of it. I feel like we're done. If BM didn't put anything aside at all...but she makes so much that YSD doesn't qualify for the Pell (aka 75K plus on her own, not counting DH's CS payments for the past 10 years or any of the extras we/his parents have done) then that's on her. We've done more than our part for years and years.
BM can keep the FASA
BM can keep the FASA information private. It's her information and she doesnt have to share. But, YSD needs to show you the rejection letter from the Pell Grant. It should give a reason for not qualifying. If YSD doesn't qualify, she doesn't qualify. If YSD won't show you the rejection letter there may have no application and that may make a difference in what you do.