Fasfa
My 22 year old SD started four year college last year. She went to community college for several years before (she's on a nine year plan lol)and refused to fill out the FASFA during those years.
My husband has been giving her roughly $5000/year for phone, car, insurance, books and $2000 for college since high school. Her mom kicked her out when she was in high school, and SD bounced between SIL and us.
Now she tells us that she reused the same numbers we gave her last year for this year's FASFA. That's a problem since those figures have changed since last year. When my husband pointed out that she couldn't use last year's numbers, she said she used her mom's info. Her mom doesn't make any money and certainly has not contributed a dime to my SD. It's my understanding of FASFA rules that if the student doesn't live with either parent, it's the parent (and step parent) who contribute the most financially whose financial data is used. So here's the rub. My BS16 had to fill out his FASFA this October. Wouldn't we normally declare the money spent on my SD on that form? Now, if we do so, are we exposing my SD's fraud? What to do? I know some of you must have experience with FASFA issues.
Fill the FAFSA out properly.
Fill the FAFSA out properly. If your SD gets caught, so be it. She made the choice to fill it out the way she did.
Follow the rules. The
Follow the rules. The consequences will be SS-22's to suffer if it comes back to bite her in the butt. No need to punish yourself or your DS-16 for SS-22's fraud.
I had my own struggles with FASFA when I sold my business and went back to school full time (I had been in school either full or part time for 8 years at that time.). I was 26 and had been self sufficient for 5+ years. The FASFA form insisted that I include my parents income and tax return information which I refused to provide (so did my parents) so I was limited to supplemental student loans.
The truly nauseating part of that experience was the piles of forms I had to fill out while the young woman who was in line behind me who did not know who her father was and who lived with her welfare grandmother and whose mother was also on welfare had to fill out a single page form.
She was also there the day I went to sign for my supplemental student loans... she got a ton of money in grants and subidized loans.
Grrrrrrr!!!!
In the end it all worked out though. I paid off my loans within a year following graduation. I worked so much over time I more than doubled my base salary that year. Those days were amazing in the semiconductor industry. We maxed my 401K and paid off the loans. We have been maxing 401Ks ever since.
The young woman..... quit school a couple of years later. She is likely one of the defaulted minions who has no degree and with penalties and interest owes insane money.
In my experience pay as you go is the only way to go to school. Work, earn, pay for tuition and fees, and when you graduate you will not be loaded with debt and will not be competing with your peers for entry level jobs. You will be interviewing for mid level or senior level jobs.
That is how it worked for me anyway.
Btw... I was on the 11yr undergrad plan and on the 5yr plan for my 22mo MBA program. I carried no education debt after my first year out of undergrad.
"if she doesn't LIVE with
"if she doesn't LIVE with either parent then she is an independent student(like i am) and she uses ONLY her info."
That isn't true. If you are under 24, unmarried, have no dependent children and aren't in military service, you will be considered a "dependent student" for FAFSA purposes whether you are self supported or not. Think about it, otherwise "wealthy" families could just help their kids "pretend" to be self supporting (even have them get jobs and apartments) just to get "free money".
My YSD is in a tough position. She is 18 and fully self sufficient since she moved into an apartment 3 months ago. She has a full time job, pays her insurance, medical bills...EVERYTHING. BUT, she will still be a "dependent student" and needs to provide parental information. Her mom was the CP (joint custody but she lived with mom and mom claimed her on taxes historically). Her mom is unmarried and works intermittently and doesn't make much money. Logically mom should be providing her information but I think Mom has been either non-filing or something sketchy because she refuses to give her daughter the information she needs for the form.
Unfortunately, if my DH and I had to provide data she would unlikely have any chance at any grant or assistance funds. My salary alone would likely max it out. I wish we were in a financial position to help but we had a serious insurance claim that cost us over 100K in funds fighting the insurance company to settle a claim in the last couple years plus my DH has cancer (treatable) and that is further money we will need to spend there. MY DH has been self employed and the last 8 years have been tough financially for him. He has paid his bills etc.. but nothing was able to be put away for things like college etc..
I actually think it's dumb to expect a new spouse's income to be taken into consideration. They aren't my kids and I shouldn't have any financial obligation towards paying for their college. I understand filling out the forms doesn't obligate me, but the fact that they consider my income at all is ridiculous.
There are some other
There are some other situations like a foster kid or someone who has been officially emancipated by the court etc.. but It is extremely difficult to qualify as independent if you don't fit in the prescribed buckets.
Most of what I read would
Most of what I read would involve court documentation of the estrangement. The girl actually did go live with her grandparents for her senior year but again, her mom is just being an ASS and not providing her the documents she needs. She is still all MOTY when the cameras are around ... gag.
I know she could get loans but she is only planning on taking a class or two at a time and she does get tuition reimbursement through her job so, 2-3 classes a year will be free for her anyway. She is just trying to "adult" and do things on her own and she is frustrated she can't get THIS done. But, it is mom's fault here 100%.
She is just letting this issue hang her up from signing up for a class and we keep trying to pound in her head that she will likely NOT qualify for any kind of special treatment and she just needs to not let it keep her from taking a class this semester.
Me too. That's the reason DH
Me too. That's the reason DH and I waited to get married until the last kid's FAFSA was in. Makes no sense for either of us to be responsible for the other's adult kid, especially when they were already all over 18 before we even met!
*oops was replying to ESMOD