<p>Swimcatsmom, thank you. You are absolutely correct.</p>
<p>"You can claim the deductions on your state taxes according to the people at fafsa, and still file a 1040a federally, so it isn’t so bad. "</p>
<p>Not sure what you mean by this, but I would not take advice from the FAFSA help line regarding income tax issues. When you are considering which form to file that best suits your particular needs with regard to taxes and financial aid, you will need to look to the IRS information ([Internal</a> Revenue Service](<a href=“http://www.irs.gov%5DInternal”>http://www.irs.gov)) and your state income tax guidelines in order to make your determination.</p>
<p>I was talking about taxes as they affect the fafsa form as per the fafsa helpline and not about tax law. I am not an accountant and am not giving tax advice. That said, I checked with the IRS and they said I am free to claim a particular deduction on a state form and waive the right to take it federally. Of course, one should get appropriate advice when filling out their taxes…</p>
<p>The point is that for hanaviolet, she may have trouble with her career in the future, and she has to get her child through 4 years of college. If she is able to get through 1-2 years qualifying for the simplified formula using the means suggested, she may be stuck in the latter years if she cannot qualify for dislocated worker status. It would pay for them to do some tax planning now related to the 1040a return to avert the problem…</p>
<p>Thank you all for raising these issues - a high level of expertise certainly is important to this process. I really don’t know how some people can manage this on their own!</p>
<p>One thing that came up in my particular situation: the FAFSA did not actually ask me about Free/Reduced Price Lunch. I saw it on the printed version only, right near the Dislocated Worker question (which I was able to answer), but there was no input allowed. I wonder if it is because we filed a 1040? </p>
<p>On the CSS Profile, on the other hand, we were able to input the Free/Reduced Price Lunch data.</p>
<p>I have not submitted the FAFSA yet, so if anyone knows how to include the Free/Reduced Price Lunch info, or what this means, that would be very helpful.</p>
<p>That’s right - I wasn’t able to see that question online, but when I saw the preview version, and when it was printed, I could see the question. On the input-able online form, though, I couldn’t see it & wasn’t able to put the answer in.</p>
<p>It’s due to the skip logic, most likely. (That bothers me, though - I often find that families answer the tax return question incorrectly, and if they get to skip the benefits question they may get the short end of the stick. I am going to have to try it myself in the FAFSA demo next week - it also may have been the answer to dislocated worker status that allowed you to skip)</p>
<p>i was confused about the question as well. i called the fafsa help line (1-800-4-FED-AID), explained my situation, and was given a definitive answer regarding which choice i should select for fafsa. but i chose a different answer on the css, because they gave a different definition. the whole thing is kind of unclear.</p>
<p>anyways, maybe you could try the help line and see what they say</p>
<p>I discovered that if I say “no” or “don’t know” to the question “is either of your parents a dislocated worker?” the “free or reduced price lunch” box appears, and I am then allowed to check it. </p>
<p>But if I say “yes” (that I am a dislocated worker), I am not able to answer any question about having qualified for “free or reduced price lunch.” </p>
<p>My guess is the logic of the program says that if you are a dislocated worker the effect is the same as if you use the free lunch program. The logic takes away any further questions that are related. I am not a FAO, so I would check with them first. But my inclinated would be to answer I don’t know on the dislocated worker because that is a question mark as for you qualifying. Then I would answer yes on the free lunch because that is more definitive. But I would run that by someone with more expertise first…</p>
<p>It is the skip logic that causes this. It sounds to me like you would be considered a dislocated worker. If for some reason your school decides you don’t qualify, you can just tell them someone in your family received free/reduced lunch for the previous year — that will have the same effect as dislocated worker status on the EFC formula.</p>
<p>Hi,
I need some help on which to indicate on my sons FAFSA application for parents. I was laid off 4 mos. ago which qualifies me for dislocated worker and our family has been eligible and receiveing Federal Means Tested Benefits (Free School Lunches for my kids for past 4 years)BUT FAFSA application will NOT allow me to select both of these. If I say YES to dislocated worker, it freezes out Federal Means tested benefits program Free Lunch Program selection and I cannot indicate that we are receiving this. If I select No or I DONT KNOW for Dislocated Worker, it does allow me to also select Federal Means tested benefits program Free Lunch Program But then I am worried this is not as important (helpful in qualifing for Aid) as Dislocated Worker.
If I have to choice which to mark on FAFSA, Is it better to select Dislocated Worker or Federal Means tested benefits program Free Lunch Program??
Which of these programs allows 0 EFC or Simplified Needs Test ?? Which requires more verification work? After I was laid off, I helped my friend out in December 2011with her business deliveries for 2 weeks and she paid me with a payroll check with taxes taken out but that was just over holiday 2 weeks but I am worried this will look like job after lay off so I am thinking that less verification problems with the Federal Means tested benefits program Free Lunch Program since we have been receiving this for 4 years BUT DOES THIS ALLOW US THE SAME AID QUALIFICATION benefits as Dislocated worker.
PLEASE HELP WHICH SHOULD WE MARK ON FAFSA??
Thank you very much for your help with this.</p>
<p>Would I be considered a dislocated worker? If so, any guidance on how and when to convey this to the Financial Aid Office would be welcome.</p>
<p>Per FAFSA Instructions: "A displaced homemaker is generally a person who previously provided unpaid services to the family, is no longer supported by the husband or wife, is unemployed or underemployed, and is having trouble finding or upgrading employment.</p>
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<p>I believe I meet the criteria.
I stopped working in 1995 when S was born.
We separated in 2004 and I have not received spousal support/maintenance since 2006. I was a stay-at-home mom for 11 years and started working again after my husband and I separated.
Employment Prior to Children - During my employment, I was promoted several times and earned my MBA. The company paid for most of my credits. My spouse worked in the same department and our salaries were the same when I left. He remained at the company and his salary has more than doubled. If I stayed, I would have expected the same outcome.
Current [Under]Employment - I am currently working in a public school and am earning just slightly more than I did in 1995. My current job only requires a high school diploma.</p>
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<p>Also, I am the custodial parent and have a Court Order re. education expenses. My spouse has not complied since 2010. Has only paid state-mandated child support. Is this something I should address to the FAO before or after we receive the Financial Aid package?
Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>Probably not but you can call and ask. I think not because you chose to drop out of the workforce for seventeen years and you are currently employed. But who knows you might win the “underemployed” argument, however after watching several women I know closely try (all with masters) to re-enter the workforce after 12-15 year periods of staying at home none were able to secure a job reasonably close to what they were doing before they dropped out of the workforce. I think the “spirit” of the question pertains to people who have been laid off and are currently unemployed and looking for work, or who were laid off and have recently been employed but with substantial drops in income not someone who has chosen not to work for a long period of time and is comparing which might have been to what is…but again, you can call and ask.</p>
<p>Thanks momofthreeboys. My S’s a HS senior so I’m new to the process and am really enjoying reading many of the threads.
Is it recommended to wait contact the schools before or after he’s admitted and receives an award?</p>