Fafsa - Divorce Question

Paying for College
1

<p>We have filled out or D's fasfa forms for this upcoming school year already. We are now going through a Divorce (in 2009).</p>

<p>I realize this will affect NEXT years fafsa, but is there anything I should modify on the fafsa or directly with the schools financial aid offices in regards to knowing that income will be less for 2009 which is what we will be paying for school with?</p>

<p>My thoughts are that it would NOT affect fafsa since it is based on 2008 income for 2009-10 school year, but that it MIGHT do good to call the fin aid offices at the schools D is considering? Is this right?</p>

<p>Some of the privates are Fafsa only schools with very good merit aid and reasonably good "need" aid too. </p>

<p>Based on next years anticipated income I think we will qualify for a Pell Grant. The one State U that she is looking at is not very generous with aid at our EFC based on 2008 income, but a good deal none the less. Since they are a fafsa only school. They do have some good Pell Grant and related programs. Even if they wouldn't give any aid directly, would it still be possible to do any of the Pell related stuff for this coming school year, or is that always based on previous years income too?</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>DKC</p>

2

<p>Best thing to do is contact them and ask. It is a ‘special circumstance’ so they may be able to make an adjustment, but that is at the discretion of the financial aid officer.</p>

3

<p>Do you have a formal separation? Or did one of you move out of the residence? If either of those things happened in 2008, you could split up the assets and file as separated for 2008.</p>

<p>Otherwise, it is as Swimcatsmom says. Also, most schools with generous financial aid provisions use PROFILE or their own apps in addition to FAFSA, and so both parents’ finances will be taken into account. However, if the custodial parent does have sufficiently low income, it is possible to qualify for PELL, subsidized Stafford and other FAFSA based programs.</p>

4

<p>You can request a special circumstances review. You will need to provide the date of the separation/divorce, proof of separate residences, and - if you have not already been asked for them - provide tax form(s) and W-2’s for 2008.</p>