kelsmom

If an FAO calls FAFSA for advice, he/she needs a redirect! The FAFSA phone line is a call center, and they can be helpful for students/parents asking about completing the FAFSA form. "Strange" questions are better directed to the school ... and not to a call center responder at the school, either. Unusual situations need to be discussed with an actual aid officer, and students/parents should insist on speaking directly to an FAO if they feel the question merits a discussion.

2collegewego

kelsmom, I agree-- although I don't think there's anything unusual about the student's questions; they seem like clear questions about filling out the FAFSA.

And now, for a well-deserved note of appreciation to you: Many years ago, I worked as a work-study student at a financial aid office. The FAO was *fantastic* and I often think of her when reading your posts. I have had mixed results with my kids' schools-- having to track down and send them dear colleague letters and having them commit a repeated mistake which is costing me thousands this semester alone. I don't think you realize how good you are! You are a very knowledgeable FAO and a wonderful help to all of us here on cc. Thank you!

Cichlidkeeper

It sounds like the stepmom is supporting the household her daughters live in. Perhaps if the dad and stepmom file their 2012 taxes as 'Married, filing separately,' each with their own residence expenses listed, it will be more palatable to her. If two wage earners are each supporting the household their children live-in separately, I think I can see her point.

kelsmom

For financial aid purposes, expenses are irrelevant. While dad & stepmom are free to file as Married/Separately, both incomes (and all assets) still must be reported.

abudhabi-mama

kelsmom - I do not agree with you. I have found the FASFA telephone counselors very helpful and non-judgemental. Full disclosure is made on your application. You can ask "what if" questions without worrying. As a matter of fact, I suggest that the OP's step-mom call this line, preferably in the presence of the OP and his dad to get answers.

kelsmom

Not sure what you don't agree with, abudhabi-mama ... my suggestion to call the aid officer rather than the help line, or my specific advice. If it's the specific advice, I am curious as to what it is you feel is incorrect.

kenish

"Married filing jointly" or "Married filing separately" makes no difference whatsoever. The key word is "married"; the bio and step parent incomes must be included, as repeatedly explained by others and the links.

The FAFSA call center people to be surprisingly knowledgeable IMO. I had an odd situation and the agent knew all the nuances and provided a comprehensive answer.

Additional comment...the amounts entered on the FAFSA are a "freeze frame" on the day it's filed. Pay monthly bills, mortgage, property tax, etc. early to reduce bank account balances reported on the FAFSA, then file. (I print out an online bank statement to show balances as of that date as proof, if ever audited) Ideally, file before payday which will bump the balances back up.

Tenacious6

I have a similar question. My grandsons parents never lived together nor married. The biological mother has full custody, bio dad has since married another person and is obligated to pay child support until age 18. Mom is indigent on welfare with 2 additional kids that she also gets child support for. Is our grandchild going to have to include his bio dads income even though he has no custody and has no obligation to pay after age 18? If so that will probably ruin any chance he has to get financial assistance. Mom claims him on tax returns.

cptofthehouse

Tenacious5, for FAFSA purposes, your grandson will only need his mother's information since she is the parent with whom he lives with the most. Almost all schools require the FAFSA to be filed to get consideration for financial aid. However, if your grandson is also applying to schools that require additonal information, particularly non custodial parent info and/or require the PROFILE, his father's info will also be needed unless he can get a non custodial parent waiver. This is something that the high school counselor can provide. It will have to be completed and submitted to each school that requires anything other than FAFSA that asks for NCP info. How each school will react to the request is totally up to the school itself. That he is paying child support at all even if it stops at age 18 may mean that some schools will refuse to give the waiver, but this is something that ohas to be determined on an indivdual basis.

finaid73

Working in the financial aid industry for almost 15 years. ATX, I can tell you without a doubt. What your step-mother and step-sister have done is considered fraud. Just because she does not "contribute" financially does not mean that both hers and your dad's financial information is not required. If they were not married then she would not need to report it. However, when two people get married they assume the responsibility. Her information is absolutely needed on your FAFSA. Without it a good financial aid office will not complete your FAFSA as they will self select if for verification and then have conflicting information that must be resolved before your can be awarded.

CTScoutmom

It sounds to me like they are filing separate returns, and not only are they no co-mingling any money, but the step mother is not sharing any financial information. I would worry that she might be committing other fraud - and the fact that she hasn't been called on it doesn't mean the government doesn't care. With fraud, they can go back as far as they want to collect unpaid taxes.

Step mother initially lived with her daughters, presumably before the marriage - filing with just mom was fine. When they got married, if they lived apart more than half the year, and each had dependents of their own, they could each have still filed taxes as head of household - but that causes some confusion when filing FAFSA, because FAFSA rules are not the same as tax rules. Now that she lives with her husband, she is not eligible to file as head of household, and if they file married filing separately, they still must each list the other on the tax return. That won't pose a problem for the IRS, but it will raise flags on the FAFSA.

The whole idea that she is not contributing to the household is a problem the father should consider - either she IS in fact contributing (paying her share of meals and other expenses, of she is not. If she is not contributing, yet benefitting from his house and his food, then he is contributing to HER household, and she is a freeloader. He may be perfectly happy with that arrangement, but he should be aware of it. She is gaining the benefits of marriage, without the costs - cost that are being paid by the rest of us in the form of any federal aid the daughter "qualifies" for by not listing his income. I hope he knew ahead of time what he was getting into in this marriage.

cptofthehouse

I don't find the separate financial arrangements strange at all. I see this a lot in families here, especially when it is not the first marriage, or when the couple is older and have quite a bit established financially on their own. The marriages I see this way, seem to work just fine. What the stats on this, I don't know.

However, the situation with FAFSA does require info from the step mom. She doesn't believe it. Once she is convinced of this, perhaps she'll fill in the info privately on line, once she realizes what is at stake. Someone from a college financial aid office or the high school guidance office needs to explain that this is a federal requirement for her step son to be eligible for any financial aid, and for loans. How she did it with her daughter is a whole other issue and should not be brought up. She can deal with that herself, but for now, enough is that the OP needs her financial info on a FAFSA form to have a chance for any aid, and for loans.

nautilus6226

I need FAFSA help! The question that asks for, "the number of people in your parents' household attending college is _" I put 0 because I am not living with my parents, in fact I don't even live in the same state. FAFSA wouldn't let me move on with that answer though. According to FAFSA, I am dependent. Should I put "one" anyway? Does household mean physically living there or just in accordance to being dependent?

Erin's Dad

Are you at a boarding school? You would still be considered in your parent's household.

cptofthehouse

For FAFSA purposes, you are a dependent if you cannot get through the "test" for independence. So, yes, you are in your parent's household, as are all students even if they never come home while they are in school. I knew some in that exacft situation.