<p>HI, my husband recently passed away. I am the stepmother, and I do not work due to a disability, and therefore no income . I have never seen a FAFSA form, and I have no idea what to do... My husband and I wanted to have the two boys that are going into their senior year pay for their last year on their own ( It was a pre-made deal with the father that they pay a 1/4 of their education). Do the boys go to the Financial Aid office and explain that their Dad passed a month ago and I have no income? Do I need to do a FAFSA for them? Can they apply for a loan on their own? I keep reading about emancipated...?</p>
<p>First, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your husband.</p>
<p>I would think since you’re the step-mother and their father is deceased, technically you no longer have a relationship with them so no expectation that you would pay. </p>
<p>Is their mother still alive? If not then they are independent. If she’s alive, then maybe her income is what goes on the FAFSA now. (not sure)</p>
<p>Has a FAFSA been filed for them at all for the next school year? If not, then one needs to be filed, but first I would contact FAFSA and ask how this should be done since the dad has recently died and obviously no longer has income. Also, have the boys contact their school(s) and talk to them.</p>
<p>I ,too, am sorry about your loss, and that of your step sons. Whatever private deals the boys and your late husband had is not going to matter a whit to financial aid, and would not have mattered even if he were alive. It just doesn’t work that way. Also financial aid is based on the prior year’s situation, not the current one, for the most part. I don’t know how death would change that. Maybe someone on the boards can explain how the FAFSA figures would change upon the death of the custodial parent.</p>
<p>More importantly is how their schools would look at this situation. They need to meet with their financial aid offices and let them know what has happened. That is really where all the arrangements will be made.</p>
<p>In the case of someone whose income drop precipitously in 2010 after making a good income in 2009, FAFSA does not take that into consideration, even if that 2009 income was a true blip in pay due to some one time payouts with few exceptions. Your need numbers are based on that prior year’s financials. However, in the case of death, the person who is to pay is no longer around to do so. That must change the picture. I don’t know how being a stepmom will affect the issue.</p>
<p>From what I can see, you are released from the FAFSA info since your H died, and the other biological parent, if alive, becomes the custodial parent, automatically, unless independence requirements are met. But again, it is often the school that has the final say, on how things are done. FAFSA is just going to define eligibility for the PELL grant and loans. Most of the rest of the funds will come from the colleges themselves and they can define the situation any way they want.</p>
<p>Sorry for your loss.</p>
<p>A bit off topic but whatever financial aid package you do get, I would strongly encourage talking to your financial aid counselor and explaining your situation. My dad and I did this recently and got about 4 grand more from the school.</p>
<p>Whatever private deals the boys and your late husband had is not going to matter a whit to financial aid, and would not have mattered even if he were alive.</p>
<p>Very true…but probably won’t matter much now. If the bio-mom is not alive, or has a low income, the boys might get good aid - but that will depend on the school.</p>
<p>Do they go to private colleges, in-state publics, or out-of-state publics?</p>
<p>It used to be that if the custodial parent died then the student became independent (assuming the NCP was not providing support) but apparently that has changed. From ifap (info posted to provide FAFSA guidance to FA professionals):</p>
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</p>
<p><a href=“http://ifap.ed.gov/fsahandbook/attachments/0910AVGCh2.pdf[/url]”>http://ifap.ed.gov/fsahandbook/attachments/0910AVGCh2.pdf</a>
(see pg 31 for relevant info)</p>
<p>Find out if the boys have filed their FAFSA for 10/11 - I would think they have since priority deadlines for students were in the spring. If they used their dad’s info, and they would have if he was the custodial parent, they should call/email their FA offices to alert them to the update for FAFSA/request a special circumstances adjusment.</p>
<p>As a side note, if your husband used Parent Plus loans to fund their previous years, remember to contact the loan servicer as these are forgiven upon death. My sincere condolences to you and your family.</p>
<p>I, too, am sorry for your loss. </p>
<p>As stepmother, you not only won’t need to use your info … you cannot use it for them. They will be required to use their bio mom’s info if she is alive. If she is deceased, the kids are orphans and automatically independent (they may need to provide proof of death to their schools - it may seem insensitive, but you’d be surprised how many students actually lie about that). If they have no relationship with her, there may be some underlying issues that could allow them to be considered for a dependency override. If this is the case, feel free to pm me and we can discuss specifics (I am a financial aid officer).</p>
<p>I want to add, though, that even though your information is not required to be reported on the FAFSA, and won’t be considered when your stepson’s aid is calculated, you certainly are free to help him with his expenses.</p>
<p>I think that would honor your husband’s memory, and help both of you with your grief <em>hugs</em></p>