FAFSA: please help?

Question

Here is my situation: I am now a highschool senior and i am really confused about the FAFSA forms b/c of my living situation. I live with my uncle, but my mother has custody of me. She makes minimum wage. I am not sure if she files taxes or not, she's not so good in that area. I have 3 younger bros that live with her. I am not sure how to fill out the form because she doesnt have the documentations needed. Please help me, i desperatly need $ for college and i know i can get money because of the situation, but how without the documents?? PLZ HELP!

Answer 1

I don't know the reason you do not live with your mother, but depending on the circumstances, you may be able to file the FAFSA without her information.  There is an 800 number for FAFSA you can call to find out if you are able to file the forms without her info (as an independent).  But, you want to have the forms in ASAP, so I suggest you complete what you can, "didn't file" for your mother's information, and submit it.  If you are certain of the school you want to attend, schedule a meeting with the Financial Aid office advisor and explain the situation to them.  They will be able to lead you in the right direction and help you complete everything you need to get your education.

Answer 2

You need to put down whichever parent you live with more often.

Answer 3

Regardless of where you live, you must complete the FAFSA as a dependent student using your parents income info.  If your mother is divorced or separated, then you use the parent who you lived with the most, which seems to be your mom because she had custody of you.

Ask your mom for her W-2 forms and estimate her tax information.  On the FAFSA answer "will complete" for your mom's taxes and submit the FAFSA.    In addition, tell your mom she needs to file her taxes in case she is selected for verification, the financial aid office will request a copy of the taxes.

I would definitely get started and complete the FAFSA NOW to take advantage of receiving as many grants as possible.

Good Luck.

Answer 4

When you are filling out the FAFSA, you need to be honest and answer the first set of questions dealing with dependency.  Based on what you are saying here, you are classified as a dependent student and you will be required to get your mother and your fathers 2007 taxes, regardless of the custody situation between your mother or father.  Living with your uncle doesn't matter, you are still "dependent" on your parents in the eyes of the department of education.

If your parents didn't file taxes for 2007 then that's ok.  Just put they didn't file taxes on the FAFSA.   Fill the FAFSA out the best that you can, and when the school receives your that information, if there are any mistakes, they will walk you through how to correct them.

Trust me, I do this for a living and I see hundreds of mistakes every year.

You'll be fine.  Just fill it out, and call your school whenever you get your SAR in the mail.

Answer 5

Call your future school's financial aid office and tell them your situation.  There are special forms to fill out for when your mother can't supply her information.