<p>Well I was wondering how to fill out the household size question. My mom was thrown in jail around september of 2010. So I do not have any access to her w2's or her for that matter. So my question, would it be okay to completely omit my mom from the fafsa entirely and have my dad do the same on his taxes even though they're married. I'm worried because my mom is mentally unstable, and if I did include her on the fafsa my school ( Cal Poly Pomona ) would need her w2's and tax returns before they could disperse any aid correct? Seeing as I'm not going to see her documents or her anytime soon, it would be okay right? I need financial aid to go to school, thats the bottom line. Thanks for any help!</p>
<p>If your parents are still married then you have to provide her information as well as your Dad’s on FAFSA. You can’t just “omit” her.</p>
<p>Her W2s will be sent to the address that she was living at when she was working which is presumably your home address. Your Dad can file taxes and just needs her signature (I don’t know if there is a special way of doing it if the spouse is in jail). There should be no problem filing taxes or filing FAFSA…</p>
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No, it really would not. When you and your dad electronically sign FAFSA you swear that the information in it is true. You are warned on FAFSA that deliberately providing false information can subject you to heavy fines and even jail. So just provide accurate information.</p>
<p>Her W-2’s for 2010 won’t be issued until January and should be mailed to the address her employer had on file, which is likely your residence. Your Dad should have any other information needed to file their portion of the FAFSA. In the worst case, FAFSA does provide a way to file without her info (it’s one of the few cases they deem a “special circumstance”) but your aid application will not actually be complete - you’ll have to follow up with the FA office at your school and they will work with you on processing it. Bottom line is, you’re going to have a much easier time if you just file in the “normal” fashion. If her income has a seriously negative impact on your EFC, you might be able to request professional judgement through the FA office after you receive your award…maybe kelsmom would know more about whether you situation qualifies, but it seems like it would!</p>
<p>No, unless this is a CA-only requirement, schools don’t actually need any of those documents unless they choose to verify your FAFSA. About 1/3 of all FAFSA’s are verified each year and the school will send a letter requesting documents if you’re chosen.</p>
<p>There is no verification exclusion for incarcerated parents. If your father is legally married to your mother, he will most likely take care of filing for her. He will probably file married/filing jointly, and I am sure that a tax preparer can advise him regarding a signature for your mother. </p>
<p>I am wondering, though … your post makes me wonder if your parents have any contact. Are your parents married? Does your father still have contact with your mother? If not, does he consider himself to be “separated?” If so, and if he chooses to file married/filing separately (he cannot file head of household unless your mother lived apart from the family the last six months of the year, unless there are special rules for incarcerated spouses), he may be able to file the FAFSA as “divorced/separated” - he will know the situation better than I, but it is possible that he can be considered separated (married in name only). In that case, only his info would be needed. You don’t want to lie, but know that this may be an acceptable option for your situation.</p>
<p>I am sorry about your situation. It sounds like you have some difficult issues in your life. I am glad to see that you are planning early for your future, despite the family worries.</p>