If you are unable to get the FA fixed in time, you may want to formally cancel or withdraw so that you do not leave any loose ends so that you can be readmitted in a later term when the FA is fixed.
https://registrar.ucr.edu/registering/cancellation-withdrawal-absence-readmission#cancel_your_registration
If you only live with your mother, she alone should have been listed on the FAFSA. She may have to submit the 2018 tax return because she filed as Married, Filing jointly, but she should be prepared to show how much of that income is hers ($0?). The school doesn’t need to be speaking to your father. It was an error that you listed him on the FAFSA. YOU may have to speak to your father if that’s the only way to get the tax returns, but the school doesn’t need anything from him. Schools DO NOT want you to fax tax documents to them. They have no way to keep those documents confidential (especially over a fax machine).
thank u for the replies very helpful!
I’m wondering if we are able to pay for the tuition due, would the parent plus loans reimburse my mother for paying once her amount gets approved ?
I thought you said your mother’s PLUS loans aren’t being put on hold. If your mother does get the PLUS money, and the colleges are paid, and then you get a financial aid package from the school including government money, it usually shows up as a credit on your school account. Those monies go directly to the school, not to you or your parent.
What has to be done to get the money from your school account back to your mother depends upon the school’s procedures. The loans will NOT be automatically repaid, from what I have seen. Your mother has to arrange for repayment. It is against federal rules to get PLUS money in excess of the College Cost of Attendance REDUCED by any aid so the loan has to be repaid to that extent.
Though it is possible that the college will get involved, there is no guarantee, and you are responsible for staying within financial aid rules. Violating them can adversely affect future aid
Are you physically able to go into the UCR financial aid office? I think you have to find a way to do that and get this mess straightened out. Bring all documentation with you, including any emails you have sent and any responses. Good luck.
The issue here is the OP has not provided documentation to UCR that the parents are separated. On the first FAFSA, he listed both parents. Changing that would trigger verification.
What I don’t understand is why the mother, custodial parent, is unable to provide documentation that she and her husband were separated the day the FAFSA was filed.
If the parents filed jointly in 2018, the school would want documentation of the non-custodial parent income from 2018, so that they can remove that amount from the calculation. Again…why can’t the mo provide this?
Until verification is completed, no financial aid will be released to this student. @kelsmom does this include the Parent Plus Loan? I thought it did.
The Parent PLUS loan will be held up due to verification, just like all other aid. Only private loans can be released if verification is not completed (all federal aid has to be put on hold pending verification).
P.S. Every school where I have worked accepts faxed documents from students/parents. We didn’t want emailed documents due to security concerns. We did require student name and student number on the documents that were faxed (so we knew who they were for).
I’m so sorry this is happening to you! It is extremely unfair and you should know that many other students end up in a similar situation.
In my opinion, it is very risky for your mom to take out parent plus loans in her situation. One of the seldom talked about impacts of divorce is that it often leaves women and kids impoverished.
If I were you, I would defer admission to UCR until your parents lawyers can sort out the financial arrangements. I hope that one of the settlement agreements at that point will be that your dad is obligated to pay for your college.
Is community college and a job a possibility for you?
I’m sorry, this is a very stressful time for young people and a parental separation has got to be making it even harder. Hang in there!