My friend is in the middle of a separation/nasty divorce. SAHM and nominal reportable income for 2016 and 2017 (w2’s under 1k). Kids are living with her, ex is not supporting college and while she is likely to get alimony once the dust settles, at the moment she has nothing, he cleared savings etc.
She spoke to FAFSA who directed her to file using only her information. Now it is on hold pending additional review. Which makes sense to me as what she inputted would not match what the IRS shows as her filing that year. She’s at a loss as to what to do next and how to move it forward.
My instinct is that she will have to file using the actual IRS numbers (married filing joint) from 2016 and then appeal to the college her S18 wants to attend to amend. But I don’t know if that is in fact true or if FAFSA will allow filing as just her under the circumstances.
Any insight appreciated, it is a difference in EFC at my best guess from 0 to 34k. And while it’s not a meet full need school, it does seem to be on the higher side of meeting need according to their CDS.
As far as I know, if she is separated, she puts only her income information on the FAFSA, and any child support or alimony she received in 2016. She might have to provide her 2016 W2 to the college.
I don’t know if the college will want to have proof of the separation, and any financial support.
Yes, she files asking the questions as asked. It will ask for her income, and she’ll put that only her income. It is likely she won’t be able to use the DRT as that will pull all income for the joint return. She’ll need W-2, maybe a tax transcript (that will show all income on the return but her W2 will show what of that is hers.
She’ll probably be in very good shape this year as she’ll not have child support to show, no cash assets (although most likely an auto $0 or simplified assets on FAFSA anyway).
No…your friend will indicate separated on the FAFSA form. She will list only her income from 2016 and only her share of the assets, if any. She will not be able to use the IRS data retrieval tool if they filed jointly in 2016. She will need to get a tax transcript…AND she will need her w2 forms from 2016. She may also need proof of her husband’s income from 2016 as well. If they filed jointly…his income would be subtracted from whatever is on the tax forms…and the college would likely want some kind of proof of his income.
If she puts $0 income, it is highly likely she will be selected for verification…as the school will want to know how day to day expenses are being paid on $0 income…so she should be prepared to answer that as well.
If the school uses only the FAFSA, the only guaranteed aid with a $0 EFC would be $5900 Pell Grant, and a $5500 Direct Loan for freshman year.
Free advice…your friend might want to have her lawyer include something about college expenses in the divorce settlement.
All 3 kids are living with her. I think we have what we need. Bottom line is she’s filed and has been selected for verification and will have to go from there working with the school. She was a bit confused about what she’d gotten back, not gotten back, how to find her SAR etc. She should have all the data she needs now, was just a bit overwhelmed which is understandable.
It is not a meet full need school, but does seem to be relatively generous overall with FA.I don’t know that it will pan out but she’s at least aware of what she’s up against and what their options are. D3 and they do want her S18 badly for soccer so I pray between some improved test scores that they are waiting on, and FA, the gap will get closed. With an EFC of $349…she will focused on meet full needs schools (that are warm and her S19 has a chance at soccer at) for the next one. He will have to take the max fed student loan, no way around it unless he goes to CC but I was adamant with her that she cannot take a penny and he should not consider a cent more either. She’d not be eligible to co sign anyway, which is good.
For a variety of reasons it would be by far the best option for her son, realistically his best alternatives are CC or a gap year, both of which are problematic for different reasons but she is having that tough talk with him now to prepare him. It is likely too late to find a soccer slot at a full needs school at this point in the game, he had chances at some D1 and D2 programs but will do far far better in the D3 environment so did not pursue.
Generally speaking, courts could care less about college expenses, at least in my experience, and let folks off the hook at 18 or when they graduate HS. Frankly right now she is more focused on ensuring they have a place to live until the last one graduates HS and is picking her battles to remain in the house until then, plus alimony and CS for the HS kid. I’m sure her lawyer is arguing for more but it’s been made clear that ex will not contribute anything he isn’t forced to and only through HS.
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Closing thread. “Asking for a Friend” posts are not allowed for privacy reasons. We have no idea if your friend is allowing his/her info to be posted. If your friend wants to post, s/he can open an account to ask a question. Regardless, I think there’s enough advice given for a starting point.