<p>Here is my situation. By March I have to fill out and submit my CSS profile. However, I do not if I should put both my parents on it. The reason being, is that my father barely ever lives at my home and therefore he does not contribute to the house bills. More importantly, the only reason my father is able to stay with us from time to time, is because my mother is waiting for me to go to college before she gets a divorce. I mean literally the minute "move in" day happens at my prospective college, she is moving. She already has the documents and everything ready for the move. How should I go about my CSS profile?</p>
<p>Does your father have another address? Can he be considered “separated” from your mother? If so, he does nott have to be on the FAFSA> However, PROFILE usually asks for both parents financial info anyways Look at the school that you have applied to that require PROFILE and see in NCP info is needed, which it usually is. Then you might want to call and ask if it makes a difference if you father is separated or not, because some schools do take 2 households into consideration even as it asks for NCP financials. But the ability to consider them separated is determined by whether he is indeed living elsewhere, not by whether or not he pays penny one to your expenses or bills. Also, how are they filing their taxes, as the IRS retrieval tool will be used and that may come up. Read very carefully the requirements for being able to file as “separated” for FAFSA and determine whether your parents can fit in that definition. It does not have to match IRS definitions, but you do have to follow the FAFSA rules carefully. </p>
<p>@Erin’s Dad Believe me, they are absolutely separated as a couple/emotionally/financially. However, legally I am not sure if they would qualify. </p>
<p>@cptofthehouse Firstly, I believe they both file as “Head of Household”. I am not sure what that means. The tax preparer just also uses that because my mother is paying for my house and my father is paying for another house.
Is that enough evidence? I mean, if he is paying for a different house (the one he mainly stays at) doesn’t that qualify as evidence to stay he does not live with us or they are seperated?</p>
<p>I’m not a total expert here, but it sounds like your parents are separated. That being the case, you would include ONLY your mom’s info on the FAFSA but she would have to include any spousal or child support she receives.</p>
<p>For the Profile, if they are actually separated, your mom would complete,the Profile, and your dad would complete the non-custodial parent Profile, if your school requires it.</p>
<p>I believe to file as head of household, they must not have the spouse living in the house for the last six months of the year. That would certainly make them separated. </p>
<p>As Cpte says…read very carefully what allows your parents to be considered separated. And most of all, be prepared to provide documentation to support this separation. You could very well be asked to provide evidence that they are indeed separated.</p>