CSS Profile Confusion

Paying for College
1

So, I’ve been reading articles and other College Confidential posts about “modern” families filling out the CSS Profile that seem to butt heads. Thus, I wanted to explain my situation and see if anyone could help me in a similar situation.

My mother and I live with her boyfriend and have been since I was eleven (my mother and biological father divorced when I was seven). My mom does not work (a homemaker) and has not worked since I went into middle school (I’m eighteen now). Her boyfriend provides for everything: his house is in his name, he owns a farm and small business, and gives my mother money each month to provide for me and other household items (e.g. groceries). He does not claim either my mother or me on taxes. My mother is my custodial parent.

I haven’t lived with my father since December 2017. He provided $200 a month in child support until February 2018 and hasn’t provided any aid since. He has not remarried.

What I’ve been searching is whether or not I should provide my mother’s boyfriend’s information on the CSS Profile. Others say no because he is not my bio-father or step-parent, others say yes. I’ve been leaning towards no since he’s not legally my parent in any case, nor should he be paying for my college.

I already used my father’s information on the FAFSA even though he is my non-custodial parent. Since my mother doesn’t make an income, I thought it would be wrong to use her.

Also, I live in PA. There is no “common law” for marriage and hasn’t been since 2005.

2

Your mother is the parent you use for FAFSA. Her boyfriend is ignored for both.

3

Use your mother for FAFSA. If she has no income, she has no income and you write that. If you use your father, you will be getting less than you are entitled to and not filing correctly. Your father’s info will be on the CSS.

4

Bio father goes on CSS (his own form) but not FAFSA. FAFSA only requires custodial PARENT be listed, so Mom’s boyfriend goes on neither CSS nor FAFSA.