<p>Hello,
I am currently attending college and my only income is Fin Aid. I have a 17 year old daughter who's father makes ~$50k per year, but will most likely not be paying for her to go to school. He just doesn't think it is that important and is living beyond his means leaving no college money for her. My question is, once my daughter begins filling out her FAFSA, does she HAVE to include his income? There will be NO financial support from him to her. </p>
<p>What makes this a bit more confusing is that she currently lives with him in Texas, but will be moving to Florida to live with me when she graduates. Once she moves, he will no longer support her in any way, let alone provide his financial info for her FAFSA.</p>
<p>For FAFSA a dependent student with divorced parents has to put the financial information of the parent she has lived with the most in the preceding year. In your daughter's case that would currently be her father.</p>
<p>I would *think *she could put you in subsequent years if she will be living with you. I am not sure if changing the parent raises any red flags. Hopefully one of our helpful financial aid officers (Kelsmom or Nikkil) will see your post and respond.</p>
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<p>What makes this a bit more confusing is that she currently lives with him in Texas>></p>
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<p>Then her dad's income will need to be reported. For FAFSA, the custodial parent's income is reported on the date when the FAFSA is filed. Since your daughter lives with her dad pm the date of the FAFSA filing...he IS the custodial parent...his income (and his wife's if he is remarried) is reported...yours won't be.</p>
<p>In subsequent years, when DD is living with you, it will be your (and spouse if there is one) income (and assets) only that are reported on the FAFSA because DD will be living with you!</p>
<p>Now for the PROFILE (if any of her schools use that)....you report both parents regardless. Custodial parent info is put on the Profile and the non-custodial parent completes a non-custodial parent form.</p>
<p>Oh...and if the dad is remarried, his wife's income/assets will also be reported on the FAFSA this year. </p>
<p>For Profile all parent spouse income/assets are reported.</p>
<p>Note that if your daughter is applying to private colleges, the $50K income will be seen as low income and the schools with excellent financial aid expect almost nothing from a family at that income level.</p>
<p>Swim and thumper are correct, for federal funding. Now, given their information, institutions can choose to disregard the father's income when considering her for institutional based aid. It will be a hard case to win, but you can always try to explain the circumstances and see if they are willing to consider it...worst case scenario is the answer will be no...and it is already a no unless you ask.</p>