geronimo

Hello,

My apologies if this question has been asked already, but when searching, all I was able to find were profile questions. This question is about divorced parents and the fafsa.

I am currently applying to several schools as a CC transfer student. I did not apply for financial aid at my community college, but am not beginning the process. I am trying to figure out which parent to put on my fafsa. My address is listed at my mother's house, but I really live with my girlfriend. I just never bothered to change the address. I spend more time with my father, but to be honest, neither parent support me financially. If it was in terms in who takes me out to dinner and a movie more, it would be my father.

So I am wondering, which parent do I use on the fafsa? My father makes less, but my mother has more dependents. I do not want to 'misuse' the system, but am also wondering how it can be proven who supports me more. If I put my father, will they even ask for proof that he supports me?

Thanks!!

mom2collegekids

Good question...since typically a kid applies for aid after leaving high school and living with one parent.

Question.s

.. does one of your parents provide health insurance for you?

..does one of your parents declare you as a dependent for tax purposes? Before you quickly say "no," you should probably ask. You might find out that a parent who hasn't paid much for you during the last 2 years has been declaring you as a dependent (that happens ).

vballmom

Here's from finaid.org regarding how to determine the custodial parent:

FinAid | Answering Your Questions | Divorce and Financial Aid

If your mother has legal custody and/or claims you as a dependent on her tax return, given that your most recent address is her house I think you can justify calling her your custodial parent.

If you spend more time (any?) at your father's house and he provides more of your living expenses than your mother, then you should call him your custodial parent.

This doesn't seem black & white to me - a lot of gray here.

NikkiiL

If your father doesn't fit questions 1 through 6, then your mother would have to be the one used for the FAFSA, as number 7 clearly states, the parent with the greater income. It might be wise, if you didn't live with either parent during the last 12 months and neither parent claimed you as a depending on their tax return, for you to itemize what financial support you received from both parents. Sometimes, in situations like yours, it can come down to a whopping $1.00 difference in estimated support.

geronimo

How many of the classifications would each parent have to meet? Here's my breakdown:

1. The parent with whom the child lived the most during the past 12 months (the 12 months ending on the FAFSA application date).- I lived with my girlfriend so neither really, unless occasionally spending the night at my father's.
2. The parent who provided more financial support to the child during the past 12 months.-Neither 'supported' me, but my dad probably spent more money on me
3. The parent who provided the most financial support to the child during the most recent calendar year for which either parent provided more support to the child.- Not really sure on this one
4. The parent who provided more than half the child's support (and will continue to do so).- Neither once again
5. The parent who has legal custody.- This would be my mother, but does this matter as I am 21?
6. The parent who claimed the child as a dependent on their tax return. Neither parent claimed me, I double checked this tonight.
7. The parent with the greater income. -Mother

In speaking with my mother, she said she would prefer it if it was under my father's taxes (she has a weird thing about the government). If I did use my father's income, what sort of documentation would fafsa require to verify this? I really wish I could file as indepenent, because that is obviously what I consider myself, but since this is the situation, I want to make sure it is done correctly.

sk8rmom

Geronimo, they are listed in order of preference, so your father clearly looks like the "custodial parent" since you actually have spent the night at his home and he provides more support than your mom.

mom2collegekids

^^
agree..

NikkiiL

I agree with the previous two posts.

msenecharles

My question is in reference to the CSS, is the CSS profile and the noncustodial profile two different items

vballmom

The CSS profile is filled out online by the custodial parent. Some schools also require that the non-custodial parent fill out the non-custodial Profile form, which is accessed online and not visible by the custodial parent.

susgeek

How old are you? You don't indicate your age.

If you are over 24, then neither parent has to be on the FAFSA, and you will be considered independent.

mom2collegekids

He wrote that he's 21 in post #5.