<p>Does the student see the parent info using just the student PIN? Yes.</p>
<p>Can the parent apply for the student's PIN number and not gice it to the student? Not legally. Only the person whose name is assigned the PIN number is allowed to have that number. If a parent applys for or obtains the student's PIN number it is a violation of regulations. Parents may want to protect their private information, but it cannot be done on the FAFSA. It just isn't possible. "If you sign this application or any document related to the federal student aid programs electronically using a PIN, you certify that you are the person identified by the PIN and have not disclosed that PIN to anyone else. If you purposely give false or misleading information, you may be fined $20,000, sent to prison, or both." Signature</a> Certification</p>
<p>Thumper- I was thinking more of a 50/50 custody but the parent who provides more support files the fafsa. there's now way to keep that info private from the other parent if the student has access with a pin. the css profile safeguards that.</p>
<p>I guess the point to me is that the student's PIN is the same as the student's signature. THey are signing that they agree to everything on the form. I don't see how they can do that without having access. Now, if the parent doesn't want to share that information with their child, it is their right to do so. But they forfeit the right to get Federal aid. Those are individual family decisions. </p>
<p>To me it would be the same as if I went to my bank and asked for a loan but didn't want to give them my private financial information. That's fine, but they are then not obligated to loan me any money.</p>
<p>Well, since I'm the one who started this thread, I thought I'd add clarification. </p>
<p>My son knows what we make. He's been told the dollar amounts. The reason I'm trying to protect the information is that I don't want a copy of it being out there where the ex could obtain a copy if he/she knows the student's PIN. This is the real reason behind this question...to prevent further legal issues with the ex.</p>
<p>We are working with him to understand finances, but he's careless when it comes to things like keeping information private. He's great when it comes to book smarts, but not as much when it comes to common sense.</p>
<p>Just trying to prevent more money from going to the lawyers when it should be going to the kid's college fund!</p>
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<blockquote> <p>I don't want a copy of it being out there where the ex could obtain a copy if he/she knows the student's PIN>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>Then, you have to stress the importance of NOT sharing that PIN with anyone for any purpose other than SIGNING the FAFSA form you submit.</p>
<p>TxSrParent
That is what I had assumed you were questioning.
On a related question and I hope this is not a hi-jack, but what if the family's combined resources show, with each type of calculator, that the family will have to take on 100% of the financial burden?
How do these families deal with admissions officials that insist you fill out the FAFSA anyway? These admissions folks don't seem to understand that it requires a lot of time and work not to mention the potential for private info to become <em>not so private</em>
I have been trying to just ignore the prods we keep receiving, with words used like "strongly urge", ever since I told them we would not be applying for need based aid.
Am I missing something?</p>
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<blockquote> <p>How do these families deal with admissions officials that insist you fill out the FAFSA anyway? These admissions folks don't seem to understand that it requires a lot of time and work not to mention the potential for private info to become <em>not so private</em>>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>Well...first...you never HAVE TO complete the FAFSA. BUT remember that some colleges require it even for the dispersement of merit aid. </p>
<p>Re: Private vs. not. The FAFSA website is very secure. So are the college sites where this is downloaded. The bottom line is that EVERYTHING on the FAFSA is already known by the government and is in a data base in more than one place (your employer, your bank, your investment house, etc...and all of it gets sent to the IRS). </p>
<p>If you want your child to have a Stafford loan in their name, you must complete the FAFSA.</p>
<p>The other thing...you are so fortunate to be able to meet the full costs of your child's college expenses NOW. BUT what if something happens to affect your finances? No one expects this to happen, but sadly this does happen to families all the time...things like job loss or very high medical expenses. If you want the college to reassess your financial aid, it is much easier to provide information that shows the difference in your financial status if you have already filed the finaid application forms.</p>
<p>^^
good point</p>
<p>As far as the colleges WANTING the information, we've been telling them that our income exceeds the cutoff for financial aid. When they prod further, I ask them what the cut-off is for aid. Then I tell them we make $xxxx more than the cut-off. So far this has stopped them from pushing the issue.</p>
<p>In fact, we catch the most flack from our senior who wants to apply for the lottery scholarships (everything paid for). Fortunately there has only been a couple of these.</p>
<p>The most appealing part of the FAFSA is where the student receives loans in his/her name and the interest is paid for by the gov't until the student graduates from college. I'm still working on this one to see if there's a way to get these without filling out the FAFSA.</p>
<p>If I find out anything more, I'll post it here.</p>
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[quote]
The most appealing part of the FAFSA is where the student receives loans in his/her name and the interest is paid for by the gov't until the student graduates from college. I'm still working on this one to see if there's a way to get these without filling out the FAFSA.
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The 2 types of Federal subsidized loans (where the govt pays the interest) are the Perkins loan and the subsidized Stafford loan. They are need based loans. If your income is too high to qualify for need based financial aid then you cannot get subsidized loans. There are also unsubsidized Stafford loans. The government does not pay the interest on these. All students are eligible but, although they are not need based, you have to file FAFSA to be eligible for them.</p>
<p>The government site with information about Stafford loans.</p>
<p>Student</a> Aid on the Web</p>
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[quote]
How can I get a FFEL or Direct Loan?</p>
<p>For either type of loan, you must fill out a FAFSA. After your FAFSA is processed, your school will review the results and will inform you about your loan eligibility. You also will have to sign a promissory note, a binding legal document that lists the conditions under which you're borrowing and the terms under which you agree to repay your loan.
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How much can I borrow?</p>
<p>It depends on your year in school and whether you have a subsidized or unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan. A subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. If you're eligible for a subsidized loan, the government will pay (subsidize) the interest on your loan while you're in school, for the first six months after you leave school, and if you qualify to have your payments deferred. Depending on your financial need, you may borrow subsidized money for an amount up to the annual loan borrowing limit for your level of study (see below).</p>
<p>You might be able to borrow loan funds beyond your subsidized loan amount even if you don't have demonstrated financial need. In that case, you'd receive an unsubsidized loan. Your school will subtract the total amount of your other financial aid from your cost of attendance to determine whether you're eligible for an unsubsidized loan. Unlike a subsidized loan, you are responsible for the interest from the time the unsubsidized loan is disbursed until it's paid in full.
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