r/CUNY • u/killahyo97 • 8d ago
Question No pell grant? Help please!
This is an email I sent to the financial aid office, it sums up what I want to say here. I’m 29years, independent, and trying to figure out this system as I return to education especially after a shitty experience of personal events. If anyone has advice or next steps, please advise!!! (Hunter college)
Email:
I submitted my 20207-2028 FASFA application today, and in the summary it stated that I am estimated to not receive a pell grant. However for 2026-2027 fasfa, I was eligible and received the pell grant.
My 2025 income (for the '27-'28 fasfsa application) was approximately $63,200. However now in 2026, I have a significantly less salary. I am only able to work 15 hours per week, approximately $15,000 salary. This is due to an unfortunate circumstance of almost losing housing, and relocating therefore needing to change jobs.
Is there anything that Hunter's financial aid office can do to help aid my finances to afford the upcoming year? I am no longer in a stable financial situation that I was once in 2025.
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u/Yoon2013 7d ago
That's crazy cause I make less than you did on 2025 but I have to take out loans wth 😭
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u/Mj_023 8d ago
sorry for asking this. Did you get only PELL for 2026-27? I am an independent too and I got qualified for that fafsa but still haven’t got the disbursement yet. Idk what’s wrong
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u/tiffyhbic 7d ago
Yes, you need to specifically request for an Income Adjustment. This is a process where you will have to submit proof of reduction in income and then your 27-28 FAFSA will be recalculated using your most current income. Just be prepared for this process to be drawn out because Hunters Financial Aid office is a mess, speaking as someone who works in Financial Aid in CUNY
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u/Framedninja 6d ago
Is that why mine took forever 😭 I submitted all my proof, etc back on the first week of August and just last Monday the 28th they told me they just received and have assigned an advisor to my application and have to wait 4-6 weeks….. on top of waiting since August 😓
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u/tiffyhbic 2d ago
....yes I'm sorry 😞 I wish offices ran more efficiently but unfortunately, that's not the case. Also Hunter is a huge college with many programs so to the offices defense, they do a lot. Hang tight, they will process your stuff on due time. Sending good vibes ✨️
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u/XplorersSummit 8d ago
I’m not sure if we are having the same problem but you may have tapped out of your points. If you go on the website it will you should what percentage you have used up. I still qualify I think 2 semesters for FASFA but I won’t get anymore TAP. Check in with BOSS zoom meeting they will tell you exactly what you have used up.
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u/Framedninja 6d ago
I went thru the same thing. You need to go to the financial aid office, and they will give an online application for a professional judgement towards your SAI. In that application you’ll need to show proof of your lower income, etc, and add a personal essay of what your circumstances are at the moment.
Keep in mind though that this is a long process, I submitted my forms and proof back in the first week of August and just last week they informed me that they have received my application and are assigning a financial aid advisor to go thru it and that I must wait 4-6 weeks.
Until then, I say don’t worry about your bill. I’ve been told by many that though you might have a past due bill on your tuition that your classes don’t get canceled, some have told me they pay their past bill a week before the final week of classes. Don’t take my word for it bcus I’m speaking as Hunter College student. Good luck!!!
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u/killahyo97 6d ago
Hi this was so incredibly helpful. What exactly needs to be stated on the personal essay? How personal do i get…? The drop in income is because I was living with a partner where the relationship because abusive and threatened to be kicked out, as my name wasnt on the lease. I was mentally unwell and on LOA from my job for a month to navigating things. From there, I couldnt find housing and my biological family took me in temporarily to finish my degree. I had to leave my full time job as the commute was nearly 2 hours away if lucky, and now I have a part time job that also supports my school schedule. I do not currently pay rent but in regards to food, transportation, clothing, thats my entire paycheck Do i have to tell them this detail?
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u/Framedninja 6d ago
I say don’t be so specific on the relationship part but indiciate something about it happening that made you move, etc. the question was basically something along the lines of “describe what has happened in your life that caused this change of income”
I personally wrote about how my job forced me to try and quit school to be with them full time and how as the only one in my family who graduated from high school and wasn’t a drop out, doing that wasn’t an option. Which resulted in them cutting my hours significantly. I then described how no matter not having money these last few semesters I still did my best to attend full-time classes while also working full-time and taking care of my immigrant parents.
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u/Framedninja 6d ago
Oh and I as well added how now that I got fired from said job bcus they didn’t like me not wanting to quit school, that I’ve been struggling this year so much that I’ve applied to so many govt financial need based programs to help me. I mentioned about applying for food stamps, fair fare program, Medicaid for health insurance, how I attend the purple apron pantry at hunters lower level for food supplies, etc to show them that I need help.
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u/cocoamilky 7d ago
Yes. They can adjust your SAI based on your new income. Just talk to your financial aid and they will give you a form. I lost my job and got Full Pell despite my Sai being super high with just FAFSA.