Deleted
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May 19, 2024 15:04:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2015 10:28:25 GMT
Does anyone know if only the custodial parent is used for filling out FAFSA? Let's say for example the higher wage parent has custody, it may be worth switching custody to lower wage parent before the kid turns 18, right?
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gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,078
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Mar 4, 2015 10:52:41 GMT
I doubt it. I think it probably triggers a menu for divorced. I click married so do not know what clicking divorced triggers. I think the assumption is that both parents will support the student. And it should be that way. What you are talking about sounds like you are trying to appear. worse off than you are. i think there is an faq section on the website.
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Post by eversograceful1 on Mar 4, 2015 10:59:43 GMT
It's been a really long time (holy crap 20+ years) but I only had to fill out information for the custodial parent. In my case, it worked in my favor.
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 15:04:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2015 11:24:04 GMT
I was guessing it would be just the custodial, otherwise it almost penalizes the student (such as if parents are remarried). I just truly don't know but could do checking other places. If custodial parent never in a million years would help with school expenses and student will be on their own IF they are willing to go on to college, why not switch?
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AmeliaBloomer
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Mar 4, 2015 11:43:57 GMT
I was guessing it would be just the custodial, otherwise it almost penalizes the student (such as if parents are remarried). I just truly don't know but could do checking other places. If custodial parent never in a million years would help with school expenses and student will be on their own IF they are willing to go on to college, why not switch? On the other hand, I know families where the custodial parent makes little money, but non-custodial parent (physician, executive) contributes significant financial support and pays all college tuition. The non-custodial parent's income does not appear on FAFSA, though. Here's the policy. It's easy to find; just google whatever question you have. |
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 15:04:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2015 12:16:25 GMT
Thanks... I can see how this could be taken advantage of by some. Not the case here. To complicate things, kid may live with neither parent, but former step-grandparent. If that's the case, seems like they should go through the step of switching custody to lower wage parent, if it is a benefit to the kid for FAFSA. I'll do some more checking, just so the kid is aware...
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AmeliaBloomer
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Mar 4, 2015 12:23:49 GMT
Thanks... I can see how this could be taken advantage of by some. Not the case here. To complicate things, kid may live with neither parent, but former step-grandparent. If that's the case, seems like they should go through the step of switching custody to lower wage parent, if it is a benefit to the kid for FAFSA. I'll do some more checking, just so the kid is aware...
Dependent v. independent student
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Post by anxiousmom on Mar 4, 2015 12:26:56 GMT
We are divorced in a income disparate situation. I am as poor as a church mouse, dad has a significant, professional income. But I have primary custody, so I am the one who fills out the FAFSA. It works in our favor, in this case. Dad contributes, the National Guard contributes, and I contribute in the form of being poor enough that we are eligible for Pell money.
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 15:04:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2015 12:41:00 GMT
This is helpful and the links have very clear info, much easier than when I filled it out ages ago. Custodial parent has given kid permission to go live elsewhere and given escalating circumstances by custodial parent, may happen sooner than later. Not sure they planned to go through court and get custody changed, but this may be significant for kid's future. I want to make sure kid knows that.
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Post by sincity2003 on Mar 4, 2015 12:55:09 GMT
We just went through this last year. DSS lived with us for high school years, but as soon as he graduated he moved into an aunt's house. For last year's FAFSA, he had to use OUR household income. I think I even asked about it here, because in Florida, my income does not come into play for anything related to him, but for the FAFSA it did. We make significantly more individually, and combined, than his mother, but because he resided with us, and my DH was the custodial parent, it was our income that was used. He got a bunch of nothing.
This year, he lives with his aunt (his mom's sister) and I am fairly certain that she and her husband make an income similar to ours, so he won't get anything again.
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MerryMom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,539 
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Post by MerryMom on Mar 4, 2015 14:38:53 GMT
This probably won't be the popular opinion, but even if the parents are divorced, both incomes should be reported just as it would be if they were still married. The divorce doesn't negate the FAFSA concept that the "family" contributes to the cost of education. How does that end merely because the parents are divorced.
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Post by Really Red on Mar 4, 2015 14:41:12 GMT
I am divorced. I used only my income. But quite frankly nearly all the schools wanted another form of financial aid and we had to use the noncustodial parent for that.
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Post by littlemama on Mar 4, 2015 14:44:45 GMT
This probably won't be the popular opinion, but even if the parents are divorced, both incomes should be reported just as it would be if they were still married. The divorce doesn't negate the FAFSA concept that the "family" contributes to the cost of education. How does that end merely because the parents are divorced. I agree 100%. Both parents are expected to contribute to the upbringing of the child when he is under 18, so both incomes should come into play when applying for Financial Aid. |
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 15:04:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2015 19:19:16 GMT
There are lots of non-divorced parents out there who can't or won't help with college expenses and the child still has to claim that income and assets on the FAFSA. I am not sure why being divorced allows those parents off the hook, but not non-divorced ones. I agree both parents income (divorced or not) should play into the equations.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Mar 4, 2015 19:30:03 GMT
I am glad that they won't take ex's income into account when my kids apply for college. It would be nice to think that he would take the money he had been paying in child support before they turn 18 and use that money to help them with college but I am not holding my breath. The way he complains about child support, I doubt he will give them any money for college. So I'm glad they will look only at me.
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Post by littlemama on Mar 4, 2015 19:56:35 GMT
I am glad that they won't take ex's income into account when my kids apply for college. It would be nice to think that he would take the money he had been paying in child support before they turn 18 and use that money to help them with college but I am not holding my breath. The way he complains about child support, I doubt he will give them any money for college. So I'm glad they will look only at me. I get that, but in my dh's case, his mother/stepfather refused to help him pay for college, and his dad couldn't afford it, so I don't think the fact that an ex refuses to pay should be treated any differently. My dh still had to count the income of the people who were refusing to pay. It should all be counted, as it isn't up to the government to determine who is willing to pay or not, it is up to them to consider the possible sources of income.
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 15:04:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2015 20:18:35 GMT
What about a child who has never been adopted by her step father and has little to zero contact with the biological father? The bio mother has never received child support. How do you prove bio dad is a dead beat? There might be a good chance he won't even be found.
ETA: bio mom and dad were never married
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Post by jeremysgirl on Mar 4, 2015 20:28:30 GMT
I am glad that they won't take ex's income into account when my kids apply for college. It would be nice to think that he would take the money he had been paying in child support before they turn 18 and use that money to help them with college but I am not holding my breath. The way he complains about child support, I doubt he will give them any money for college. So I'm glad they will look only at me. I get that, but in my dh's case, his mother/stepfather refused to help him pay for college, and his dad couldn't afford it, so I don't think the fact that an ex refuses to pay should be treated any differently. My dh still had to count the income of the people who were refusing to pay. It should all be counted, as it isn't up to the government to determine who is willing to pay or not, it is up to them to consider the possible sources of income.
The thing is, when my kids go to college they are going to count my household income. That includes my new DH's salary even though they aren't his kids. We file a joint tax return. So at least for those that are remarried, the rules aren't exactly fair to the new stepfather either. He should not have to support my kids. But it's the way life goes. |
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