<p>Do you have to pay back the money you receive because I’m pretty sure you don’t but my mom doesn’t believe it!
How can I apply without her consent? She’s very reluctant to even give me my ssn because she thinks id get identity.</p>
<p>Anyways she mainly doesny want to get involved since her information would be out there and she says they reduce tax returns.I’m not sure how the tax stuff works.</p>
<p>Anything that is called a “grant” or “scholarship”, you don’t have to pay the money back. “Work-study” is just a specific kind of job, so you don’t have to pay the money back. Loans have to be paid back.</p>
<p>You can’t apply without her consent or without her information, unless you are over 24, married, or fit specific criteria you don’t seem to fit. A FAFSA doesn’t affect tax returns, doesn’t put any information “out there” (the government already has all of it!), and it will be very difficult for you to get financial aid without one filled out. Try your hardest to convince her, unless she makes 200k a year and can afford to pay for your college without it.</p>
<p>If you get a grant, it does not have to be re-payed. If you get loans, those do have to be re-payed.</p>
<p>
I don’t understand what that means. </p>
<p>Unless she is high income, do try and persuade her to agree. If she does not, you will receive no financial aid, not even loans. Is she willing or able to pay completely out of pocket for your school if you are unable to get aid?</p>
<p>Well is there any other way to become ‘independent’ without moving out?</p>
<p>get married</p>
<p>Moving out isn’t enough. You can:</p>
<p>[ul]
get married</p>
<p>join and be honorably discharged from the military</p>
<p>have kids who you support fully (paying child support is not enough!)</p>
<p>have your mom’s guardianship legally and forcibly removed (this only works if you’re not 18)</p>
<p>run away from home and become homeless (this only works if you’re not 18, and your school has to learn about this without calling the police to bring you back home)
[/ul]</p>
<p>Or in other words, you can’t just become independent.</p>
<p>
IRS will not audit your tax returns because of your financial information on the FAFSA.</p>
<p>However, the schools may verify your financial information on the FAFSA with your tax returns.</p>
<p>Clear?</p>
<p>You do not repay grants. </p>
<p>It sounds like your mom is worried that her tax return will get reviewed and she’ll end up having to pay more in taxes. </p>
<p>As for identity theft…you don’t have to worry about that with FAFSA.</p>
<p>Perhaps you can have your mother meet with your guidance counselor, who can help her understand the process and that FAFSA has no connection to the IRS, that identity theft is not an issue, and that literally millions of parents submit this information every year with no risk whatsoever. It’s terrible to see a parent’s ignorance negatively affect a child this way. Do whatever you can to educate her.</p>
<p>“She’s very reluctant to even give me my ssn because she thinks id get identity.” Is she concerned about identity theft with your SSN? Or is this a way of controlling and ensuring that you are falling into line with her expectations? Or is she concerned that filing the FAFSA will reveal that her financial “house” is in complete disarray, and the FAFSA will discover that?</p>
<p>I would recommend that you make a greater effort to understand “tax stuff.” Many parents are (understandably?) reluctant to reveal their family financial information to their kids. But it handicaps you in the ability to make smart choices for your OWN future. Really read over carefully any financial aid offer you may receive. However, even most merit aid grant money requires a FAFSA to comply with federal regulations. It’s a very difficult conversation to have with your mother, especially if she is a single parent and does not want your father involved. But to get any sort of aid whatsoever, you HAVE to have your SSN. I have not seen a college applications (or an SAT application) that does not require this. Your mom has to have it to file you as a tax deduction. I strongly recommend that you find some way of getting that number…and memorizing it. Do NOT keep it with your purse, or backpack. But know it as well as you do your phone number or address. You can, at 18, apply for your own copy. You do have to have a government issued picture ID (driver’s license, passport, birth certificate plus school ID) to get it, so make sure you have copies of your own documents.</p>
<p>A lot of families don’t realize that our kids’ college dreams do rely on us being financially organized as well. But not all parents are that organized, for whatever reason. I hope you’re able to convince your mother to work with you as a team to get the most aid possible and save you from all student loans. It will save her money in the short – and long – run. Good luck.</p>
<p>If your mother doesn’t give you the information you need, you don’t go to college. It’s that simple.</p>
<p>
[/quote]
Perhaps you can have your mother meet with your guidance counselor, who can help her understand the process and that FAFSA has no connection to the IRS
[quote]
Great idea … or maybe her brother or sister who already has a child on financial aid … anyone she TRUSTS that can help calm her fears.</p>
<p>PS - some “financial aid” is given as loans and does need to be paid back … at most schools the aid given is likely to be a mix of grants (no need to pay back) and loans (which do need to be paid back). Taking out some loans while in school is OK but not a lot.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone I will try or maybe just go to community college.Sadly there’s some scholarships that require SAR and I found out its linked to fafsa.</p>
<p>Most community colleges will give you a very good first two years college education. If you put in the efforts and get a decent GPA, there won’t be problems transferring to 4-year schools (except money).</p>
<p>^I know but I always dreamed on going to a 4yr straight after high school and living on campus in dorms,guess that’s not my reality. But if it saves money I’ll compromise.</p>
<p>Money’s still going to be a problem here. Two years of college costs less than four years of college, but transfer students usually get less generous financial aid, and they still have to submit the FAFSA to get need-based aid. I think that community college for 2 years is a route that a lot of people unfairly dismiss, but it doesn’t do anything to solve your problem here.</p>