Question on the FASFA - my ex is filling out fasfa form for older son. she is remarried but has separate checking and savings account from her husband. I pay monthly child support thru June of the this year. He pays nothing towards kids’ education etc… Does my ex still have to put his income down on FASFA since he will not contribute to sons education. What happens if she “pleads ignorance”.
Curious on any help here. Thanks
The ex has to put her H’s info on the FAFSA. She also has to report the child support you paid during 2015. It doesn’t matter if the new H wants to pay anything … his info must, by law, be on the FAFSA. To omit it is to commit fraud (your ex would committing fraud, that is).
Ignorance is no excuse.
Thanks. I made sure to forward that info on.
She has to report his income because HIS INCOME is paying for some of the rent/utiltiies/food, etc. Your exwife is not paying all the household bills.
If only her income was on FAFSA, then the calculation would be wrong because it would appear that ONLY her income was paying ALL the household bills. Can you see how that would be wrong?
Because her new husband is paying for some/half of the household bills, your ex-wife can put more of her income towards your child’s school costs. Right?
BTW…do you know roughly how much your exwife earns or has saved? It may be too high for a Pell Grant anyway.
This problem won’t just be with FAFSA schools, but also CSS Profile schools.
They’re not going to accept, “I don’t know how much my husband earns or how much he has saved.”
If the former spouse is married, this will be indicated on her tax return at the very least. And this DOES have to be provided to colleges. She is either married filing separately or married filing jointly. In both cases, the schools will be expecting to see income and assets from both Former wife, and her spouse.
She makes about 30,000 and has chosen to work part time. Ironically after she remarried. He makes about 60,000.
Yes, you would think more $$ would go to kids’ education etc… But guess what…
I also help on top of my child support.
Thanks much.
Does she still have to file if they make more than 70,000 together?
Does she have to file what? Taxes? Yes…she has to file taxes?
FAFSA? No one “has” to file the FAFSA ever. But if they want to be considered for any need based aid, it’s probably required. And if they want the kid to take a Direct Loan…it’s required.
Is he applying to any schools requiring the CSS Profile?
Sure. Why not?
BTW, what was said above is right. The money is fungible. Even though the new husband is not paying for college, they live off of his money. So, in all, there is $90k in the household, no matter what each particular dollar goes toward.
I am not sure on CSS profile. UA, Miss St, and Ole Miss are his schools.
No loans will be required with merit pay and 2 households helping to pay expenses.
None of those colleges require the Profile.
Just curious. Did your former wife marry after you wrote this in the summer…or did you think her current spouse wouldn’t need to be included?
Also, you say your son lives 50/50 with each of you. If that is the case, you are required to use the parent who provides the bulk of the support, and usually that is the parent household with the higher income.
She has been remarried for a couple of years. I was not sure on her husband since they had separate accounts. So that is why I was asking for some help to clarify.
The time and bulk of support is shared even though I still pay child support. She pays for educational expenses and rest is divided up. I understand what you are saying.
Bottom line, I was hoping for some type of Pell grav
Pell Grant but do understand that with merit pay and the help of both parents, there is no need to file fasga at this time. That will give someone else a chance.
Thanks for the help.
Your not filing a FAFSA doesn’t give anyone else a chance!
But it sounds like your income levels are too high for a Pell Grant.
Thks