<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>I have a bit of a dilemma. I live with both of my parents, who have never been married but have lived together for over even my 20 years. (And Tennessee doesn't allow for common-law marriage.) My mom pays most of the bills here; however, after a particularly bad year (resulting with me choosing to take a break this semester to get some things in order), she now will no longer pay for my schooling. She makes about $70,000 a year, so I never qualified for grants and such, but I have used her on my FAFSA apps for the past three years.
My dad, however, is retired and on disability. When he first began receiving disability (and when I was 17 and a minor), he received benefits with my name on (for my care), so clearly the government recognizes me as his child. Obviously he makes little money except what the government gives him, and he doesn't have to do income taxes.
So I was thinking of using my dad on my FAFSA this year, but I'm not sure how this would wash out. After three years, would the department smell something fishy and "verify"? Would this even be wrong in the first place?</p>
<p>I don’t think you have a choice. If you live with your not married parents an equal amount of time (and you do)…I believe you are required to use the parent who provides you with the greater amount of support. Since you mom earns far more than your dad, I would have to say that it would be hard to make a case that your dad is paying MORE than your mom.</p>
<p>Someone else can weigh in here…but I believe you need to use your mom on the FAFSA.</p>
<p>The rules are that you file using the parent you live with the most. If you live with them the same (as you do), then you file using the one that provides the most support (which sounds like your Mom).If they both provide the same support then you use the one that earns the most (sounds like Mom). </p>
<p>Yes it might seem strange if you suddenly changed the parent you use, especially as you are changing to using a parent who does not have the resources to be supporting you.</p>
<p>The trouble is I’m not entirely sure who supports me more. My dad does make SOME money (odd jobs + the disability benefits themselves), and all that’s really required to support me is food and utilities. Dad buys a lot of the grocery and I believe they’ve been splitting the utilities.</p>
<p>Either way, I may just try it anyway, either something has to change aid-wise or I can’t go back to school period.</p>
<p>My mom pays most of the bills here; however, after a particularly bad year (resulting with me choosing to take a break this semester to get some things in order), she now will no longer pay for my schooling.</p>
<p>It sounds like she did pay for your spring 2009 semester, so she is the one who provided most of your support.</p>
<p>
And a house (i.e. rent/mortgage). If your mom pays for those they count.</p>