FAFSA help. Fill out stepmother or birth-mother?

Question

I am filling out a FAFSA for my 2009 entrance to college. I live with my father and stepmother. Who's information do I put down, my stepmother or my birth-mother?

Answer 1

You only have to claim your stepmother if she and your father file a joint tax return.  Otherwise you can not claim either mother figure and then get more financial aid.  It's a little-known trick.

Answer 2

Tricks won't work here.

You live with your father so you will have to use both his taxes and your stepmothers taxes (regardless of whether or not they filed a joint return).

This is assuming that you lived with your father more than 50% of the time in the last 12 months and that he provided more than 51% of your financial support.  If this is true than he is considered your parent of record.  This is what FAFSA wants to know.

Just because someone works with FAFSA at a college does not mean they know their stuff.  

It's obvious that the previous answer does not know their stuff by the answer they gave.  What they are good at is committing fraud.

Good Luck to you.

Answer 3

Who takes care of you financially, and who claims you on their taxes.  

Look on this page for the guide to follow

http://www.fafsaonline.com/fafsa-form/