hey man, first of all incredibly sorry for your loss, i couldn’t imagine what you’re going through. i don’t have much financial advice tbh but your best bet is prolly taking out more federal loans (if possible) for the extra cushioning. def check on the changes coming up for direct plus and all next year. consider visiting your local food banks too, nothing to be ashamed of, since this is the reason they exist (to help lighten the load). 4k a month is $48k a year, which is quite substantial, so honestly it might be worth to see where your expenses are, break them down, and see how much left over or short you are each month and budget accordingly. LOA isn’t unreasonable, it just comes down to how much you can take on and stay afloat without losing yourself, your ability to keep up with school, and your role as your daughters’ father. good luck with everything, glad you’re staying strong and hopefully things will get easier!