<p>Hi. Since it looks like you all know a lot of things about financial aid, I have a few questions. </p>
<p>When should my parents file their income taxes by? I'm applying for colleges (Fall 2009)</p>
<p>Also, is there any other preliminary things they need to do besides filling out the FECA form?</p>
<p>I will probably help my parents go through the process after i read up on how to fill up the FECA forums and when the deadlines are.</p>
<p>I dont know what my chances are on scholarships and things because I haven't started applying for any yet, but I think my family is really poor. My situation is also complicated. My mom and dad live apart from each other but they are not legally divorced. </p>
<p>In my dad's house (i think it's not on a mortgage) My dad and my 2 brother live with me. (total of 4)</p>
<p>In my mom's house (on a mortgage), total of 3 people live there. (mom, grandfather, step-brother).</p>
<p>My mom earns about 30-35 k a year and my dad has no income. (he is on disability funds)</p>
<p>What do you think my chances of financial aid? and is there any tips you can give me or a site would be helpful.</p>
<p>Regardless of what your chances are, the best way to get aid is to get the forms over and done with (accurately, of course) as soon as possible and not to miss any deadlines. These deadlines can be found on the "Financial Aid" section of the websites of the schools you're applying to.</p>
<p>"Separation of the students parents or the student and spouse
A couple need not be legally separated to be considered separatedthey may deem themselves informally separated when one of the partners has left the household for an indefinite period and the marriage is severed. While a married couple that lives together cant be informally separated, in some states they can be legally separated. If their state allows this, and if they are still living together and are legally separated, then that is their status on the FAFSA. For a dependent student, use the rules for divorce to determine which parents information to report."</p>
<p>The above is from the federal student aid handbook. This would apply for FAFSA (individual schools may want info for both parents for their own awarding purposes).</p>
<p>"Divorce of the students parents
If the students parents are divorced, he should report the information of the parent with whom he lived longer during the twelve months prior to the date he completes the application, regardless of which parent claimed him as an exemption for tax purposes. If the student lived equally with each parent or didnt live with either one, then he should provide the information for the parent from whom he received more financial support or the one from whom he received more support the last calendar
year for which it was given. Note that it is not typical that a student will live with or receive support from both parents exactly equally. Usually you can determine that the student lived with one of the parents more than half the year or that he received more than half support from one of the parents."</p>
<p>File an estimated FAFSA in January to get in line and save a place, estimate lower income rather than higher if in doubt to make sure you have reserved your best aid. Doing this we have always filed our return April 15th and had no problem</p>