/dev/zero

What a week.

I got signed up for classes at Cabrillo, found out what my books are going to cost me, attended my first class in 10 years, and applied for financial aid.
I submitted my FAFSA for 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 via the Department of Education’s web site. I got the SAR the next day. Went down to the financial aid office to find out what kind of aid I’ll get. Only it doesn’t work that way. Oh no, just because the Dep. of Ed. gave me access to my report doesn’t mean the school got it. No, it will be another month before it’s in their system. I called , since he got his financial aid in 7 days to find out how this works. He called the folks over at UCSC financial aid. Apparently the Dep. of Ed. doesn’t send the info to the school, the school has to go download it. Exactly as I did. And UCSC does this every week. But the people act Cabrillo won’t get around to it for a month. Because they’re lazy if you ask me.
So I walked over to the library, used one of their computers to download and print my SAR and headed back to the financial aid office, hard copy in hand. Except that was for the 2003-2004 school year, which doesn’t begin until next semester. Won’t do me any good to get my fees for this semester paid.
Then when I got home I received the email that says my SAR for 2002-2003 was ready. Downloaded it and what do you know? I don’t qualify for a Pell grant, or a few other things. Because I made too much money in 2001. Yeah. 2001. When I had a job. When I was still making $83k. But I got laid off in March. But I still made almost $40k in 2001 between my severance and liquidating my 401(k).
So I get to go in on Monday, convince the zombie behind the desk that she really can access my SAR right now, instead of waiting a month to get off her ass. Then file the paperwork that indicates my W2s and 1099s for 2001 are not an accurate representation of my ability to pay for school in 2003 and see what, if any, money I will get. All fine and dandy, but I have to pay for my classes tomorrow. I can’t afford to pay for the classes I’m already signed up for and sign up for one more computer class and a study skills class. And I really should take that study skills class. It’s been 10 years since I was in college.
And it doesn’t end there. I went to file for unemployment via the EDD’s web page, but it turns out I don’t qualify. Not yet anyway. My “base period” for my claim would end in September of 2002. I didn’t start working at EA until Oct. So I have no income in the base period for my “effective date” if I file today. I have to wait until fucking July to file a claim based on my Oct - Feb job! And of course since I only made $9.50/hr, I won’t exactly qualify for very much UC.
At least I should get back a chunk of money from the IRS. I’ll get back $300some for 2002 for my Earned Income Credit. And I’m supposed to get back about $3,700 for 2001. But since I didn’t actually file my taxes last year and am filing nearly a year late, I can figure probably about half of that will be eaten in penalties. But whatever I do get will be a big help.

The one bright spot is that my car insurance premium went down over $200 because I’m driving less than 50 miles / week instead of 500 miles / week. My next payment, due Tues, will be $116 instead of $231.