<p>I recently completed my FAFSA according to my mother's old information, however, she is married but her and my stepdad were filing separately, up until this year for 2009. I wasn't sure if I should put his information down because he doesn't provide me with anything. I got a notice from school asking for verification, including their tax info and mine. What does this mean? Should I make corrections to the FAFSA or have the school do it? I'm confused.</p>
<p>Your stepfather’s income and assets are required for the FAFSA, and you will need to submit his information with your verification documents – the fact that your parents were filing separately and your stepfather does not provide for you is not relavent.</p>
<p>At this point, though, I would just submit the verification documents and let the school make changes to the FAFSA for you rather than go in and make those changes yourself. It could slow down the processing at this point if you file a corrected FAFSA. The college FA office would have to start the whole process over again.</p>
<p>I just don’t want the school to think I’m trying to pull a fast one. I didn’t realize my stepdad’s info was relevant. Should I go and speak to a financial aid advisor?</p>
<p>You could speak to someone, but it probably won’t change anything. They are aware that people make mistakes or misunderstand things sometimes. Whether a student does so innocently or is trying to get away with something won’t change how they amend the FAFSA. They are just responding to the documentation and making sure it all matches with tax returns, etc. It never hurts to talk to a real person, but I don’t think you need to worry about them penalizing you for the error or anything like that.</p>
<p>Does the school make those changes after reviewing the tax papers?</p>
<p>Yeah. They’ll make the changes.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help! 
I feel a lot better…I was freaking out when I saw the verification docs were needed.</p>
<p>It’s very common to be selected for verification. Sometimes it’s because there is a question about something you entered on your FAFSA, sometimes it’s just a random selection. The government requires that schools verify about 1/3 of their FAFSAs. My kids FAFSAs get selected for verification all the time. Not so bad if you know how common it is. And it’s not hard to fulfill the requirements – just send them what they ask for and you’re done.</p>
<p>You will likely see an adjustment to your EFC of course to reflect your stepfather’s info, but then it should all be amended and complete.</p>
<p>I wasn’t sure if I should put his information down because he doesn’t provide me with anything.</p>
<p>that’s not the point. The point is that your mom benefits in some way by having a husband with an income. That means her income isn’t totally covering all home expenses.</p>
<p>well, the other thing is that I don’t live with them, so I thought I just put my custodial parent (my mother) on the form.</p>
<p>In the FAFSA instructions it tells you to include stepparents and explains all kinds of other things about other questions. If you don’t read the instructions, though, there are lots of things you might not know. That isn’t a criticism. You can fill out the FAFSA without reading through the instruction booklet. I never read it either, but have learned a lot more about it from reading other posters on this forum. I think it’s extremely easy to unknowingly answer some of the questions incorrectly.</p>
<p>But it’ll all get fixed with your verification documents.</p>
<p>I’m not taking any of this as a criticism at all, I appreciate the help. Like I said before, I don’t want the school to think I’m committing fraud or anything. I’m almost finished with school and I don’t want any of this to interfere with my future.</p>
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<p>You don’t live with mom and stepfather but your mom is the custodial parent? The person who fills out your FAFSA is the parent that provides more for your support, Generally that is the custodial parent, but I was intrigued by your comment. Was it your mom (and stepfather) that contributed the most to your support? That is the critical point. If so then yes, turn over what the college is asking for and let them make the adjustment. If there is any question about who provided your support, then ask more questions.</p>
<p>I’m 23 years old. I fill out my own application. that’s how much interest my mother and stepfather take in the financial aid process but that’s an entirely different story. Before my mother married, she was my only parent, therefore, I only used her information for the FAFSA. She, along with financial help from my grandmother, provided for me and still does. My stepfather does not provide any money for my schooling or anything else because he has two kids himself, one high school and one college age kid who doesn’t live with them either. </p>
<p>This blended family nonsense is confusing and I think that’s why I screwed this all up.</p>
<p>Your mistake is not all that uncommon. However, you should talk to your school’s financial aid office. If you did not include your stepfather’s name and personal info on the FAFSA, they may want YOU to do that. If that info is already on the FAFSA, the school can just add all of his financial info in when they verify … but the name & social security number may be something you need to add on your own (I won’t make that kind of update - I have the student/parent do it - but other schools may have different policies). If you are told to add that info yourself, please make sure to have your mom sign the changes with her PIN (students often forget that part & hold up processing). Check first, though.</p>
<p>Don’t worry that the school will think you did this fraudulently. Just call, ask for a financial aid officer, explain the situation, and ask what they want you to do. Go from there. In the meantime, you will need to send in your stepfather’s tax documents, so get those in.</p>
<p>The point is that while your stepdad doesn’t provide for your education, his income is shared somewhat with your mom - which suggests that more of her income is available for her kid’s education.</p>
<p>So, instead of your mom having to use all of her income towards housing, utility bill, etc, some/half of that is being paid by your stepdad.</p>