I'm curious about other people's experience with FAFSA !!?

Question

Has anyone ever filled out the FAFSA application as independant and also ZERO income from the year before (didn't file taxes the year before)? If so, were they at all suspicious about you putting zero for the income and saying that you didn't file taxes??

Because I did that and now my application was chosen for review or something (to make sure everything is true). But i didn't lie! ;-)

I'm just curious about someone else's experience in this situation! thank youuu!

Answer 1

It is virtually impossible for someone to live off of zero income for an entire year.  How did you eat?  Did you live on the streets?  Also remember, just because you didn't file taxes doesn't necessity mean you didn't have income from working or others paid money on your behalf.  (Both are questions on the fafsa you must answer even if you didn't file taxes).  

Yes, your application was chosen for verification because you put zeros.  You are going to have to fill out what is normally called a "Low income verification worksheet" for your schools fin aid office.  Sometimes the school has these worksheets on the fin aid website for you to download and complete.

Good luck!!!

Answer 2

My experiences have been fairly good. I recently had to be reviewed b/c I became "independent" this year but I still got my Award.

Answer 3

What will happen is the college is going to have you fill out extra forms.  With those forms they will have you list all of your costs for the year, like food, rent, electric all of that.  They then will ask how you paid for all of that.  If you live with your parents thats all you have to put.

Answer 4

I did that two weeks ago and they send me a letter from the college telling me to provide income. I went in and show them what was my income. IT went through well. You have to present them some income. Just present whatever income you have: Example:paystubs, child support.

What ever you have.

Also try applying for work studying, The work-study is only going to be 9-15 hours per week. The school will pay you and you still get financial aid plus Pell award at the end of the semester ( up to 2,ooo dollars)

Answer 5

I've had this experience before in fact just recently with my husband and I.  We are currently not working and both living separately while we look for jobs and we can move out as a couple.  When filling out the FAFSA we put that we were still dependents on our parents, married, and had no jobs (all true).  Well, the FAFSA people got suspicious since we are married and most married people are supposed to be living together and at least one has a job and that is why they sent us a review letter. We had to fill out the form and had to put an estimate of what bills we have and if our parents give us money and that is supposed to be our "income" and we were considered independent since we are married.  They sent that review to the main FAFSA offices to be reviewed and now we have to wait 3 weeks to see what they say.  Don't worry about anything if you didnt lie cuz you know what happens if you do (jail).  They are just going to make you be more accurate in this review for FAFSA and make sure you have proof if they ask for any. Good luck!

Answer 6

Each school must choose a certain percentage of applications to review, so it may not have been that you put 0 as the income and did not file income taxes but simply that your application was chosen at random; however, that does sound suspicious as they are going to wonder how you lived because it also asks about people giving you money and if you are below the age of 25 you must list your parents' income.

Answer 7

I have heard that they will do a random check.  If what you stated and signed was the best you knew at the time of applying, then there is no problem.