Grandparents raising grandkids grapple with retirement and college costs at the same time
Sandra Bursch
Sandra Bursch  watches as  her  grandson Gage gets a high-five from Shyla  a 3-year-old labrador  as Gage’s brother  Mason  watches at  Bursch ’s home in Los Angeles. (Bob Riha Jr./for The Washington Post)
Each month   72-year-old Sandra Bursch  withdraws $4 200 from  her  retirement savings to cover  her  bills. A chunk of it goes toward paying college bills — for  her  grandson Gage.  She  anticipates doing the same for Gage’s younger brother  Mason  when he graduates from high school in another year.
Every stitch of their clothing  all of their meals and day-to-day expenses have been  her  responsibility since 2003  when drug use by  her  daughter and son-in-law prompted the police to remove the children from their home.
 Sandra Bursch  points to a favorite photo of  her  grandsons  Gage and Mason  who have been  her  responsibility since 2003. (Bob Riha Jr/For The Washington Post)
 Bursch  has saved the money she received from the state after adopting her grandsons out of foster care  creating a trust for the boys in the event of her death. The boys came to  Bursch  and  her  husband emotionally scarred and in need of love and patience   she  said. There were rough patches  especially when the boys’ parents and grandfather died  leaving  Bursch  to care for the boys by  herself .
 Bursch ’s grandson Gage did not qualify for financial aid to attend Los Angeles Valley College because of the income she draws from her annuities  she said. He was  however  allowed to register for classes early and provided counseling on campus because he was in the foster care system.
While  Bursch  has covered the costs of community college   she  said  her  grandson will use the $14 000 in the 529 college savings plan that  she  and  her  husband established for him as a child. The savings plan allows families to invest without the earnings being taxed  so long as the funds are used to pay for college expenses. The money   she  said  was not enough to pay for four years of college  but it will give the boys a chance of graduating without a lot of student debt.
“I’d tell everyone now to go talk to them at the college and find out what they can do for you. I didn’t know to do that  ” Bursch  said. “I wasn’t aware of what was out there  and I suspect many grandparents are in the same position.”
[TGT]watches as  [TGT]  grandson Gage gets a high-five from Shyla  a 3-year-old labrador  as Gage’s brother  Mason  watches at  [TGT] ’s home in Los Angeles. (Bob Riha Jr./for The Washington Post)
Each month   72-year-old Sandra Bursch  withdraws $4 200 from  her  retirement savings to cover  her  bills. A chunk of it goes toward paying college bills — for  her  grandson Gage.  She  anticipates doing the same for Gage’s younger brother  Mason  when he graduates from high school in another year.
Every stitch of their clothing  all of their meals and day-to-day expenses have been  her  responsibility since 2003  when drug use by  her  daughter and son-in-law prompted the police to remove the children from their home.
 [TGT]points to a favorite photo of  [TGT]  grandsons  Gage and Mason  who have been  [TGT]  responsibility since 2003. (Bob Riha Jr/For The Washington Post)
 Bursch  has saved the money [TGT] received from the state after adopting [TGT] grandsons out of foster care  creating a trust for the boys in the event of [TGT] death. The boys came to  Bursch  and  [TGT]  husband emotionally scarred and in need of love and patience   [TGT]  said. There were rough patches  especially when the boys’ parents and grandfather died  leaving  Bursch  to care for the boys by  herself .
 [TGT] grandson Gage did not qualify for financial aid to attend Los Angeles Valley College because of the income [TGT] draws from [TGT] annuities  [TGT] said. He was  however  allowed to register for classes early and provided counseling on campus because he was in the foster care system.
While  Bursch  has covered the costs of community college   [TGT]  said  [TGT]  grandson will use the $14 000 in the 529 college savings plan that  she  and  her  husband established for him as a child. The savings plan allows families to invest without the earnings being taxed  so long as the funds are used to pay for college expenses. The money   [TGT]  said  was not enough to pay for four years of college  but it will give the boys a chance of graduating without a lot of student debt.
“I’d tell everyone now to go talk to them at the college and find out what they can do for you. I didn’t know to do that  ” Bursch  said. “I wasn’t aware of what was out there  and I suspect many grandparents are in the same position.”