FAFSA and PROFILE help...

alexissss · 11-12-2012, 12:00 AM

In order to file the fafsa for the 2013-2014 school year I need the tax return information from my mother (custodial) from 2012, correct? Should she still file next year even though she made less than 5,000 from her substitute teaching job from January 2012 to June 2012? I'm a gap year kid and we relocated after my graduation in June to a different state. I turned 18 in October so child support from non custodial parent was cut. We've subsisted off unemployment and fed aid. I'm very confused. Last time she filed taxes was 2010 I believe.
Also, on CSS Profile, what if I'm unable to gain contact with non custodial parent? Also, do I send in CSS Profile without my mother having filed 2012 taxes? If so, what do I use for estimation?

alexissss · 11-12-2012, 06:34 AM

Bump...
10 char

thumper1 · 11-12-2012, 07:48 AM

If your mom REALLY doesn't have to file taxes, she will submit a non-filers form to the colleges.

For your mom, does she have pay stubs from her substitute teaching? If so, those will have most of the information she needs to make the income estimates for the Profile. Are you applying ED or EA? When are the deadlines for the Profile for your schools? Maybe you should wait until your mom receives her W2 forms in January if you don't have an early priority Profile deadline.

Regarding Profile, if the school requires the non-custodial parent form, you will be required to submit it for institutional need based aid consideration. You have recent "contact" with your dad in that he paid child support. I seriously doubt that the schools will waive his form.

dodgersmom · 11-12-2012, 08:12 AM

^ ^ ^ Good advice!

Quote:

what if I'm unable to gain contact with non custodial parent?

You probably need to explain what you mean by not being able to get in contact with your NCP (non-custodial parent) . . . Do you know where he is, but he simply refuses to return phone calls? Or is something else going on? As thumper1 indicated, if he has been paying child support, that's considered "contact" even if you never saw or spoke to him. But, if something else is going on (for example, prior abuse with a restraining order in place), that could make a difference.

Regarding your mom not filing tax returns, you might want to take a look at this recent thread, particularly Post #6: Financial Aid - Low income, No Tax Returns. It might actually benefit your mom financially to file tax returns, even if she doesn't have to.

mom2collegekids · 11-12-2012, 10:38 AM

Since your dad paid child support until very recently, no one is going to believe that you can't contact him unless he's been kidnapped.

alexissss · 11-12-2012, 02:57 PM

@thumper
I believe she can gain access to the pay stubs. And thank you for the link! I'll look into the non filers form for sure. Aw, I'm not sure of the deadlines for the Profile. I think they're before my app deadlines for some of them. I'm applying RD to all of my schools.

Yeah, he's not returning my calls.
-_-!

mom2collegekids · 11-13-2012, 06:14 PM

not returning calls is NOT the same as being unable to contact him. "Unable to contact him" means that you have NO IDEA of where he lives, and you do not have any means to find out where he is.

alexissss · 11-13-2012, 08:12 PM

What if he refuses to send his information in?

I finally ascertained the deadlines. All are in Feb and March.

thumper1 · 11-13-2012, 08:52 PM

If the non-custodial parent Profile is required, and your dad refuses to submit it, your application for institutional need based aid will be incomplete and you will NOT get need based institutional aid from the school.

If it were THAT easy, all wealthy non-custodial parents would simply refuse to submit the form. That is not how this works. You KNOW where your dad is. You received child support from him until very recently. He will need to complete this NCP Profile where it is required.

happymomof1 · 11-13-2012, 09:07 PM

Tell him that even though he needs to complete the form, there is no obligation to actually pay one cent for your education. Because truly, unless you have an agreement that he will pay something, and/or it is stated in the divorce settlement, he is off the hook. Sometimes parents think that the college will come after them for money.

alexissss · 11-13-2012, 09:14 PM

I believe he's doing this to spite my mom. They don't get along...
-_-!
Meh. This will be difficult.

happymomof1 · 11-13-2012, 09:24 PM

Well, there's that too. Just be sure to have some FAFSA-only schools on your list.

lookingforward · 11-13-2012, 09:29 PM

Yale and other schools have a Non-Custodial Parent Waiver Petition- but there are hoops to go through, for them to take this seriously. There are also states which require the NCP to contribute- but I don't know how this applies or what hoops. Mom may want to see if college costs were covered in the divorce agreement. Then, your best bet may be to discuss this with the FA folks.

alexissss · 11-13-2012, 10:40 PM

I have quite a bit of those schools!

My parents never married. Does that change anything?

OHMomof2 · 11-14-2012, 01:55 PM

I don't think so, he's still your dad.