http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/state/georgia/
So you and your parents are not US citizens? Are you permanent residents? Was your sibling born in the US?
Call the number for the Georgia childrens insurance to see if you qualify.
@lanie49, yes it seems you have included everything on the CSS profile. The money from uncle, the tax credits, the income.
Maybe add up all the income received, tax credits and gift from uncle, savings used. And also all expenses and then they would see if income was more than expenses paid.
The issue is that it is NOT plausible to the FA office. It may be TRUE but if someone said that a family of four was living off of $10,000 a year then I would think that it was in Vietnam or something.
However since it is true for your family you and your parents should reach out to them and explain to them how you are doing it.
https://www.healthcare.gov/exemptions-tool/#/results/details/income-below-threshold
@CaliCash, they might have qualified for an exemption from the fee because their income was under the federal filing threshold. They would have claimed that exemption with their tax return I believe.
Going forward you should try to get insurance, at least for the kids, which might be free. Also your savings will dwindle and you might run out of money to pay everything if your dad doesn’t get another job. Your parents will also have to think about retirement in the future. And how about your college plans? Even with full Pell and student loan you have about $11,000 to work with, you might get other grants or Perkins loan for another $2,000, maybe merit scholarship or need-based grants from the college. Plan on getting a job in the summer and work-study during the school year to help with expenses. You also need money for personal items, books, transportation to and from school.
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Also, with tax returns we got about $5000 back so that is another source of money. My dad is currently trying to start a company so hopefully we will have a better source of income soon.
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I don’t think you got “$5k back”…more likely your family paid little to the feds and got a hefty tax credit back. with that low of income a family doesn’t pay fed taxes.
@Melaniesdad Well I guess, technically-with everything added-we are living off $20,000/yr. I’m not really sure what colleges need me to explain. I mean we are very thrifty and never spend money on anything unnecessary, but other than that I wouldn’t know what else to say.
@mommdc Thanks for the advice! I talked to my dad and he says he doesn’t see a point in applying for the free health insurance for my sister and I right now because he says that when he gets his business started in a month, we won’t qualify for it anymore. Also, besides one public state school I applied to, all the other colleges I applied to meet 100% of demonstrated need so hopefully I can still attend college.
Lanie. Something to keep in mind. If your financial situation changed for the better (and I hope it does), next year, you could have less need based aid available to you if your income increases.
But back to your original question. Just give the college whatever they ask for. All they want is documentstion to support what you stated on your financial aid application forms.
re: the health insurance…it sounds like your dad is planning to earn a ton of money in the next month. Just keep in mind…your college IS going to require that you either purchase their health insurance plan, or show proof that you have a plan that meets their specifications.
Colleges do spot check a number of finaid apps and can stop to ask questions. If your family has sincerely tightened your belts, which can be done, then show the school whatever supporting documentation you have and go from there. And, if they ave used credit cards due to a financial loss, isn’t there a line for that on the CSS?
But I do agree to explore the health insurance for you and your sibling. You father may not be earning a significant amount in a month or two. And, you may have to deal with enrollment periods.
It’s really not that complicated. If they want verification, provide copies of home and income property expenses, such as -
Property taxes for home and income property
Property insurance for home and income property
Home Utilities – gas, electric, water, garbage,
Expenses for income property (such as garbage, exterior electric, water, janitorial, misc other small taxes) plus miscellaneous – repairs (i.e. broken windows, plumbers, etc).
Own a car? Insurance, car payment
Phone bills
Medical bills
What you probably won’t have available is the amount spent on food, clothing and gas (if you have a car), but they can get the big picture based on the above expenses.
https://www.peachcare.org/FaqView.aspx?displayFaqId=102
https://www.peachcare.org/FaqView.aspx?displayFaqId=101
https://www.peachcare.org/FaqView.aspx?displayFaqId=103
It says here for Peachcare a family of four can make up to $59,904 a year. You never know if you or your sister might need healthcare. See if you can be covered now and if your dad makes more money in the future and buys a family insurance plan, you can always de-enroll.
The way it worked for us in the past was we had to provide proof of current income and if the income or employment changed we had to let them know.
As for what to provide to the colleges, maybe type up something like this? (Get parents to help you with exact figures)
Sources of household income 2014:
$10,000 income from wages mother (W2, tax return)
$5,000 federal tax refund (listed on tax return)
$10,000 cash gift from uncle
$ amount used from savings account (provide copy of account statement showing balance at beginning of year and end of year and put amount of the difference)
Monthly expenses
utilities, insurance (home, car, other), food, clothing, household supplies, property taxes, gas, etc
have your parents look in their checkbook and add these up for you. Then multiply by 12 to get number for yearly expenses
I think once they see that your income was really $25,000 (which you technically reported since moms income, tax refund and gift from uncle was listed on CSS profile) plus savings used and provided that it was more than your expenses that should hopefully suffice. If not they will tell you what they need.