<p>Alright so here is the lowdown. my parents are basically gonna separate very soon and the general consensus in the family is that I am going to get a job and my mom is going to have to pay for my college because my dad can't afford to contribute if he is to live by himself. so here is my question...</p>
<p>if my parents are married at the moment, however i know they will separate (and maybe get divorced at one point) what do i put under the marital status of my parents on the FAFSA and CSS forms. on the applications for all my schools i put them as married because the situation was quite iffy and we didnt know if they would separate or not, however at this point it is final and my parents are separating soon. so on these forms do i put my parents as separated and if so, do the FAFSA/CSS people take into consideration the income of both parents or just the person i am living with? also because there is a discrepancy in the marital status on the financial aid forms and the school applications, would they think i am trying to cheat the schools and they would not even consider giving me money? </p>
<p>thanx in advance and sorry if i didn't word the question correctly, i am pretty stressed out about this and i need an answer</p>
<p>If they are separating “soon” can you wait until they’re actually separated before filling out the FAFSA? Then you’ll fill it out based on which parent you live with (even if that parent does not have income.) BUT – Don’t miss any college deadlines that may apply.</p>
<p>First, let me say that I’m truly sorry you’re going through this at an already stressful time in your life…I hope the separation will be as amicable as possible and that all three of you can be understanding and supportive of each other, and especially of you!</p>
<p>The marital status question on FAFSA in one of those things that you can’t change later, so it may benefit you to leave it alone until your dad moves out. If you put separated/divorced as marital status, the next question will ask you what the date of the sep/div was. Also, if you’re selected for verification, you’ll be asked to provide some sort of documentation (separation agreement or separate lease in Dad’s name) that you parents actually live apart. It sounds as if your mom has the higher income anyway, so it may not make a huge difference for FA purposes. Do you happen to know your estimated EFC with both parents and with just your mom?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry too much about the discrepancy between the admissions and FA applications. First, they are handled by completely separate offices who often do not share files. Also, colleges are in the people business and they know people’s lives are messy at times and unexpected changes can and do occur without warning. Their job will be just to make sure that the FA they award you is based on true and correct info…not to analyze your parent’s relationship.</p>
<p>If the parents are currently “separated” but still living under one roof (perhaps separate bedrooms), until dad can physically move out, then I think they can call themselves separated now. </p>
<p>there have been cases on CC where the parents are separated, but still living in the same household to save money (because paying for two households is very expensive).</p>
<p>* the general consensus in the family is that I am going to get a job and my mom is going to have to pay for my college** because my dad can’t afford to contribute if he is to live by himself.** *</p>
<p>this is the kind of thing that drives me crazy. Parents have enough money to decide to live in separate households, but then don’t have enough money to help out their kids for college. I feel so bad for the kids.</p>
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<p>Uh, no he can’t, that is not separated.</p>
<p>update: my dad says he is going to leave the house after i leave for college, so i imagine that means i have to put married on the forms.
**** i hate my dad, he’s been trying to ruin me and my mother’s lives for the past few years and i think he might actually accomplish this.</p>