<p>My parents plan to have me fill out the FAFSA as if I am not dependent on them. I guess to work the system and get more financial aid. Since I am dependent on them can't I get in trouble for not including their income while filling out the FAFSA?</p>
<p>Unless you meet certain criteria ( being over 24, or married, etc. etc.), you can’t submit the FAFSA without parent information.</p>
<p>Colleges have seen it all. There are seven questions on the FAFSA regarding independent status. If you SAY you meet the independence criteria, but it looks like you don’t (you are not over 24, not married, don’t have a dependent child you support, aren’t an orphan or ward of the state, aren’t an armed forces veteran), the school will likely figure this out…you will be selected for verification, and you will have to PROVE that you really fill one of those independent criteria.</p>
<p>You also need to know that completing a financial aid application using false information is considered FRAUD, a crime. You would not only lose any financial aid but also would likely lose your admission offer, and face a fine.</p>
<p>These forms need to be filled out HONESTLY. It’s not hard to figure out forms that are in accurately filed.</p>
<p>You might also tell your parents that FAFSA links to tax records for verification.</p>
<p>Erin’s dad, I think this student’s parents want him only to use his info on the FAFSA. So…the parent tax link would not be used IF he were really an independent student…which he is not.</p>
<p>OP…also, tell you parents that their tax filing status has NO relationship at all to you FAFSA. Even if they do NOT declare you as a dependent, the parent info is still required on the FAFSA unless you satisfy one of the dependency questions…which you don’t.</p>
<p>Since you’re the one signing the form, you’d be guilty of criminal fraud . . . and you could well be facing more than a “fine.” This is not a traffic ticket, it’s a felony!</p>
<p>The good news is that since it’s your parents who are encouraging you to do this, and since they’re the ones who came up with the plan, they could be charged with conspiracy to commit fraud . . . so at least you wouldn’t be alone.</p>
<p>Translation: bad idea . . . very bad idea!!!</p>
<p>jordanhemphill -</p>
<p>Every college and university website has a Net Price Calculator. Ask your parents to help you run the NPCs at the websites of the places you are applying to. Then talk with them about just exactly where the money might come from to cover the cost of your education. </p>
<p>If the truth is that your parents don’t have any money available to help you pay for your education, and that they have been hoping that if you didn’t include their figures when you file FAFSA you would be able to get more money, then it is time to accept that they can’t help you much (if at all). Lots of families are in that situation, which is why nationwide most students commute to a local CC or four-year institution while working at least part-time. If all your parents can do is offer you a place to live and three meals a day while you commute to school, you will still be saving a significant amount of money.</p>
<p>Thumper, yes but unless the OP files his own taxes and makes enough money to live on, the natural question would be “then how do you live as an independent”?</p>
<p>Unless you qualify as an independent student, which is being married, having a dependent, being a veteran, a ward of the state as a child, or age 24, you have to use your parents info for college fin aid purposes. Doesn’t matter if you do support yourself and live independently. Them’s the rules.</p>
<p>My parents plan to have me fill out the FAFSA as if I am not dependent on them. I guess to work the system and get more financial aid. Since I am dependent on them can’t I get in trouble for not including their income while filling out the FAFSA?</p>
<p>Your parents’ “plan” is naive and is proof that they don’t understand the rules. Unless you’re 24, a vet, have a dependent child, etc, you will NOT BE ABLE to submit FAFSA without their info.</p>
<p>Have your parents ask themselves these questions…If students could do what they are suggesting, then why wouldn’t all students do this? Do they think that the feds are that stupid??? If this were possible, every student would qualify for full Pell grants. lol</p>
<p>See [Privacy</a> Notice - FAFSA on the Web - Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/privacynotice.htm]Privacy”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/privacynotice.htm)
The following are the current dependency status questions: </p>
<ol>
<li> Were you born before January 1, 1989? </li>
<li> Are you married? </li>
<li> At the beginning of 2012-2013 school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program (such as an MBA, MD, JD, or PhD, etc.)? </li>
<li> Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training? </li>
<li> Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? </li>
<li> Do you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013? </li>
<li> Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2013? </li>
<li> At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court? </li>
<li> Are you or were you an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence? </li>
<li> Are you or were you in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence? </li>
<li> At any time on or after July 1, 2011, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless? </li>
<li> At any time on or after July 1, 2011, did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless? </li>
<li> At any time on or after July 1, 2011, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless? </li>
</ol>
<p>If you answer “Yes” to any of the above questions, you are considered “independent” for Federal student aid purposes and parental information is not required on the FAFSA</p>
<p>If you answer “No” to all of the questions, you are considered “dependent” for Federal student aid purposes and parental information is required.</p>
<p>I don’t get this- what is someone is actually dependent by the time they are, let’s say, 18- many kids are without any financial support from their parents after high school. What the hell do these law makers expect those kids to do for college?</p>
<p>All students who complete the FAFSA are eligible to take out a 5500 federal loan for the first year of college. This amount goes up slightly each year to 7500 each year for junior and senior year. Students whose families are low income also can qualify for a Pell grant from the federal government. Some states also have state loan and grant programs for students who qualify. </p>
<p>Most of the substantial aid for college is provided by the college itself either in the form of merit or need based scholarships. Most schools that offer substantial need based aid require additional information from the family about resources and assets.</p>
<p>The expectation is that the student and their family are the first in line of responsibility for paying for college. If all 18 year olds could indicate on the FAFSA that their parents will not pay for college and as a result receive additional federal grants, most families would likely instruct their children to say this. Honestly, the $5500 in loan and $5500 in Pell grant is still not going to be enough to pay for a “sleep away” college experience.</p>
<p>If a “sleep away” college experience is important to the student’s family, and they can afford it, the expectation is that that they will pay for it, or at the very least help the student pay for it out of saving, current income, and future income… AKA loans. High stats students can seek out merit aid directly from the schools regardless of income. Some schools do offer substantial merit aid to high stats students.</p>
<p>With 5500 in federal loans and a full Pell grant a student can likely commute to a local college. If a student’s family does not qualify for a Pell grant, and the family cannot (or will not) help with college expenses the student can still take out the 5500 loan, work, and go to college … perhaps part time… But maybe full time if they can commute and earn a substantial amount over the summer to pay towards tuition.</p>
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<p>Get a job and pay for college!</p>
<p>To use your words, why the hell should I pay for you to attend college when your affluent parents aren’t willing to???</p>
<p>And if your parents are not affluent and cannot afford to support you after you turn 18, then you’d likely qualify for financial aid at those schools that offer need-based aid, so this is a non-issue. But if they can afford it, and simply refuse to, why should the rest of us have to pick up the slack?</p>
<p>Most people go to college part time, paying as they go, working to pay. The average college student does NOT live on campus, is part time, has a job and is in his mid/late 20s. They are not the ones who get the press. You are lookiing at the primo college model which is what kids get when their parents buy them a sleep away college experience. Just like some kids will get a brand new car with all of the bells and whistles, with insurance paid, and maintenance also covered, courtesy of mom and dad. And, some will either buy a pre owned one costing 4 digits or be paying it off monthly, a bit at a time, working to make the payments, maintenance and ownership costs. </p>
<p>There may be schools willing to subsidize the cost for you to go there. Look at Momfromtexas 's thread on Full Ride Scholarships in the archives, and using that methodology, you may find such possibilities. You are looking for schools and programs seeking someone like you. The higher your stats (test scores and grades and difficulty of courses taken), the better your chances of finding such schools. Top students can find merit scholarships from those schools that offer them.</p>
<p>OP needs to give the parents a FAFSA primer. 4kidsdad gave a great outline. I read the original post to question the parent’s motivations, not trying to get around the system.</p>
<p>What happened to the OP?</p>
<p>It was the OP’s first and only post …</p>
<p>Ah yes…it’s college break time!</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all the replies! It has really helped!</p>