Session FF-05 Expected Family Contribution Marianna Deeken U.S. Department of Education

2 EFC Expected Family Contribution Measure of what the student and family can be expected to contribute to student’s cost of education

3 Expected Family Contribution Calculated from data collected on the FAFSA Formula is in statute  Designed to measure the family’s financial strength ED publishes updated tables each year in the Federal Register

4 Principles of Need Analysis Family has primary responsibility to pay for educational costs Student and parents are expected to contribute to the extent they are able Families should be evaluated in an equitable and consistent manner

5 Need Analysis Concepts Need-based funds are available to assist with educational costs that exceed the family’s ability to pay Assesses family’s financial strength at the time of application Family resources are devoted first to basic subsistence

6 Factors that affect EFC Taxable and untaxed income Taxes paid Number in Household Number in College Assets Age of the older parent Number of wage earners

7 EFC Calculations EFC result on page 1 of ISIR is a 9 month EFC  Law specifies how an EFC must be calculated for periods of other than nine months  Results show on ISIR by number of months  9 month EFC must be used for Pell Grant eligibility

8 How is EFC Determined? Three distinct formulas  Regular  Simplified  Automatic zero

9 Regular Formula Three versions of regular formula  Dependent students  Independent students without dependents other than a spouse  Independent students with dependents other than a spouse

10 Alternate EFC Formulas Simplified formula  Assets are not considered in the calculation Automatic Zero EFC formula  Untaxed income and assets are not considered in the calculation

11 Simplified Formula For dependent students  Parents’ AGI or income earned from work < $50,000 and  Parents are not required to file IRS form 1040 OR  Member of FAFSA household received federal means-test benefit

12 Simplified Formula For all independent students  Student (and spouse) AGI or income earned from work < $50,000 and  Student (and spouse) not required to file IRS form 1040 OR  Member of FAFSA household received federal means-test benefit

13 Automatic Zero EFC For dependent students  Parents’ AGI or income earned from work is $20,000 or less and  Parents are not required to file IRS form 1040 OR  Member of FAFSA household received federal means-test benefit

14 Automatic Zero EFC For independent students with dependents other than a spouse  Student’s (and spouse’s) AGI or income earned from work is $20,000 or less and  Student (and spouse) not required to file IRS form 1040 OR  Member of FAFSA household received federal means-test benefit

15 SNT & Automatic 0 EFC Federal Means-Tested Benefit Programs  Supplemental Security Income (SSI)  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)  Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)  Food Stamps  Free or Reduced Price Lunches

16 The EFC Family Two parents, one working Two children in family One child in college Live in Illinois Older parent is age 46

17 Treatment of Income Total Income (TI) Base year income from all taxable and untaxable sources  Exclusions on FAFSA Worksheet C =Total Income

18 Treatment of Income Available Income (AI) is portion of income remaining for discretionary Spending Total income  Total Allowances =Available Income

19 Total Allowances Allowances for taxes  U. S. Income tax paid  Estimate of state and other taxes  State of residence  Amount of total income  Social Security tax

20 Total Allowances Income Protection Allowance (IPA)  Estimates amount needed for basic needs  Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics lower budget expenditures adjusted for CPI  Increases with each household member  Decreases with each member in college

21 Total Allowances Employment expense allowance  Represents additional costs when both parents work  Applies to working single parent families

22 Treatment of Assets Assets defined  Cash, savings, checking  Investments and trusts  Real estate equity  Business/farm equity (not family owned) Protects first 60% of equity up to $105K Decreases protection percentage after $105K

23 Treatment of Assets Cash, savings, checking +Net worth of real estate and investments +Adjusted net worth of business/farm =Total Net Worth

24 Treatment of Parents’ Assets Total Net Worth  Education Savings and Asset Protection Allowance =Discretionary Net Worth

25 Treatment of Parents’ Assets Education Savings and Asset Protection Allowance  Protects assets for retirement and future education costs  Applies when parent is age 26 or older Increases with age Adjusted for marital status

26 Treatment of Parents’ Assets Discretionary Net Worth X 12% asset conversion rate =Contribution from Assets

27 Adjusted Available Income Parents’ Available Income (+/-) +Parents’ contribution from assets (+/0) =Total Adjusted Available Income (+/-)

28 Determining Parents’ Contribution As income increases, amount needed for basic household expenses decreases  Discretionary income increases  Income available for education Adjusted Available Income (AAI) X AAI contribution rate =Total Parents’ Contribution from AAI

29 Determining Parents’ Contribution Total contribution from AAI is divided evenly among all household members in college Total PC from AAI / Number in College =9 month PC

30 Determining Dependent Student’s Contribution Total of student taxable + untaxed income  U.S. taxes paid  Estimate of state and other taxes  $3,080 IPA  Allowance for parents’ negative AAI = Available income (AI) X 50% assessment of AI = Student contribution from AI

31 Determining Student’s Contribution Cash, savings, checking +Net worth of real estate and investments +Adjusted net worth of business/farm =Total Net Worth X 20% =Student contribution from assets

32 Determining EFC Parents’ Contribution +Student’s contribution from AI +Student’s contribution from assets = 9 month EFC

33 What If there were two family members in college? IPA is $21,020 Total allowances against parent’s income are $28,524 New AI is $14,203 New PC is 1570  New EFC is 1590

34 Resources FSA Handbook, Application & Verification Guide, Chapter 3 EFC Formula Guide on IFAP  FormulaGuide.html

35 Contact Information Your feedback and comments are appreciated. Marianna Deeken Training Officer