<p>Hi everyone, I'm filling out the fafsa for 2014 which is my first year of college. The thing is, my mother and biological father were never married and separated before I was born, and I've never had any contact with him, and won't receive any financial support from him. Since I was in elementary school, my mother and I moved in with her new partner, but they were unmarried until a few years ago. But he was incarcerated last year, so he won't be able to contribute any financial support either. Right now we have no income, because my mother is working on the incarceration details and everything; we have some pretty large assets though, and we haven't filed any taxes. So... do I still have to include my stepparent's information on my fafsa, even if he isn't my legal guardian (he never adopted me)? And how would that affect my financial aid?</p>
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Yes if your mother and him are married, AND if his imprisonment is a temporary absence.</p>
<p>Yes, you have to include your mom’s and incarcerated step-father’s info and any 2013 income on your fafsa. If there was little to no income in 2013 you should qualify for the auto 0 EFC or at least the simplified means test. Neither requires asset information to be provided. Be prepared to explain how you manage to live on no income if selected for verification. If your mom and you are living on savings that don’t generate taxable amounts then say so if verified.</p>
<p>If your family has assets (rental property etc) like you say and file a “1040” I don’t think you can get the simplified means test…I think you need to be dislocated worker for that but I could be wrong…complete fasfa and after you enter your agi it will ask you if you want to report assets…if it doesn’t give you that option you know you don’t qualify and at least know if your assets count against you and raise EFC.</p>
<p>You do have to include your Stepfather if your Mom and he are still married. A stepparent is considered a parent for FAFSA - it makes no difference that he did or did not adopt you.</p>
<p>If income is below the $50k simplified needs test cut off and you meet one of the other criteria, assets may not be counted. Last year’s criteria were</p>
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<p>You say there are substantial assets. What type of assets are they? That can affect what type of tax return must be filed and whether you are eligible for the simplified needs test.</p>
<p>See <a href=“http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/091913EFCFormulaGuide1415.pdf[/url][quote]For”>http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/091913EFCFormulaGuide1415.pdf
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<p>I think all our assets are in savings accounts, we don’t own property or anything.</p>