<p>I'm HS Sr, filed the FAFSA and am an automatic zero EFC, dependent, divorced parents, mother's AGI was $1000, and she gets some child support and SSDI. Answered the questions on the online FAFSA and it asked, at the end of parent information, "do you want to skip the remaining questions about your and your mother's income and assets?" I replied Yes. We signed it with PINS and submitted.
SAR came back processed with 0 EFC as expected, but there was a note "Be sure to review the items marked with a 'h' and make any corrections if necessary..." The items marked with a 'h' are items 32-37, some basic student tax return questions and student agi. Now the strange thing.
When I go back online to make the corrections, I cannot access those questions. I was never asked those questions originally (the skip logic skipped them.) I called the 800 number and they said it was my browser, but I used IE, Firefox and Safari and they all did the same thing. I used the Live Chat Help and they told me that I needed to changed the answer to "do you want to skip the remaining questions" to a "no" and then answer all the remaining questions about parent income and assets and then student income and assets. In other words, pretend like the skip logic did not exist.
I can do that, but that doesn't sound "right" from a common-sense standpoint. Does anyone have any suggestions or have any experience with this?
Thank you so much.</p>
<p>If you are Auto 0, those corrections are not necessary. I would just leave it as is.</p>
<p>I had a 100% identical situation with a student I was helping - I also called and was told not to change anything. I left the questions marked with the “h” alone. </p>
<p>The SAR says that they assumed the student would not file a 2010 tax return, which is correct. It also says that if their assumption is correct - do not change anything.</p>
<p>I agree with you that this is very confusing - but I guess what they are saying is that if the assumption they made is NOT correct - then go in and change it. For example, if the assumption was wrong and the student WAS filing a 2010 tax return - go to the lines with the “h” and correct the info.</p>
<p>Thank you. Those answers make sense. Rockville Mom, did the SAR you were working on also say “(Blank) Data is Required h” for those items 32-37? I was okay with the “if necessary” option (I didn’t think it was necessary) until I got read that, and I don’t like that word “required!” </p>
<p>The “help desk” did say that the application had been sent to the schools so at least I’m not worried that it’s in limbo-land. There was no mention of verification either which was a little surprising but in a good way.</p>
<p>Is there any risk of a FA deadline being missed if I just leave it alone? Thanks you all.</p>
<p>Yes - the exact same thing - and like you - the word “required” is what stumped me. But I am pretty confident that because the assumption the skip logic made that the student did not file a 2010 tax return is correct - he is fine and does not have to change anything.</p>
<p>The skip logic isn’t quite as logical as we’d like! Yes, it allows you to skip … but then it gives some conflicting messages.</p>
<p>The bottom line for a dependent student with an auto 0 EFC is that the student could make a million dollars & the EFC would still be 0. The only problem that would come into play would be if the aid officer discovered during verification that the family does not actually qualify for auto 0 (for example, if the only qualifier is 1040A/EZ and verification reveals that the family was required to file a 1040). Otherwise, all is well.</p>
<p>I was concerned about holding up any processing so I opted to answer questions that I would have been allowed to skip - I didn’t see a downside and it made me feel “safer”. I live in fear of beaurocratic snafus making college financially beyond my children’s reach…</p>
<p>Frankly, I think that’s a good idea. It won’t hurt you, and it might help (if something has to get changed & the result is that the “skip” info is needed).</p>