<p>I was talking with my parents about filling out the FAFSA on Jan. 1 and my mom, who is unemployed, said that I do not need my stepfather's W2 form because I am not adopted by him. Can anyone explain to me how this works? Is it household income or just parents income?</p>
<p>Your step-parent's income is required. All that matters is that your mom is married to him.</p>
<p>Alright, that's what I thought but she said I was wrong. I don't need my birth father's information do I?</p>
<p>For FAFSA you report your Mom and stepdad. There are no exceptions to this - he does not have to have adopted you and things such as a prenup where he he says he will not pay for your school do not exempt him fromit. Your birth father's info is not required for FAFSA.
from
Completing</a> the FAFSA 07-08/The Application Questions(55-83)</p>
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[quote]
A stepparent is treated in the same manner as a biological parent if the stepparent is married, as of the date of application, to the biological parent whose information will be reported on the FAFSA or if the stepparent has legally adopted you. There are no exceptions. Prenuptial agreements do not exempt the stepparent from providing required data on the FAFSA. Note that the stepparent's income information for the entire base year, 2007, must be reported even if your parent and stepparent were not married until after the start of 2007, but were married prior to the date the FAFSA was completed.
[/quote]
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<p>Thanks alot, that answers all of my questions lol</p>
<p>You won't need birth father's info for FAFSA. Some schools do ask for it (either with their own form or on the Profile) - they would have that indicated on their financial aid website.</p>
<p>If your stepfather pays child support for his kids, there is a place to put that on the FAFSA (hey, it's a small break but a break just the same).</p>
<p>The FAFSA helps compute an Expected FAMILY Contribution (EFC). Your step dad is a member of your family because he is married to your mom. His income and assets MUST be reported on the FAFSA...no exceptions.</p>