My son’ll attend college. My husband and I am separated, we live in different states,we filed the joint married tax return in 2015.
My son live with me, how can we fill the FA to get financial aid? I need to put my husband’s and my income to the FA, or only mine?
On the FAFSA…if your son lives with you, then only your financial information would go on the FAFSA.
You already submitted FAFSA as married.
To the OP…please clarify. If you lost yourself as MARRIED on the FAFSA, you need to include both parents. If you are really separated and can prove this, you would list yourself as separated…and only list your income and assets.
You will most likely be verified because your taxes say married…and your FAFSA says separated…if you do that.
Be prepared to provide documentation that supports your separation…leases or mortgages for,the two different places of residence, etc.
oops…wrong thread!
In your previous lengthy thread, you indicated that your H works/lives in another state in another home that you own. You had already filed FAFSA as married, and were upset that your son didn’t get aid. Not once did you indicate that you were “separated” …meaning that you no longer considered yourself a couple and that the marriage is over.
Now, it appears that since your H lives/works in another state, that you want to claim “separated” and get more aid.
First of all, your child is trying to get aid at OOS UIUC or similar. That’s not going to happen.
Maybe you think that by just using your income, he’ll get a Pell Grant and “that’s better than nothing.”
Since you’ve already filed FAFSA as married, I don’t think you can go back and change it to divorced/separated (or whatever it says). It will likely cause a verification, and/or the school will figure out what’s going on.
Make sure the forms you fill out are accurate. Three weeks ago you said you and your husband live in different states and your “family income” is $90k. My impression was that you live in separate homes due to his work. Is that incorrect?
I don’t know your situation, but you don’t seem very familiar with the US education system. Authorities will pursue, and prosecute, families who knowingly provide inaccurate information on their financial aid forms. Students can be expelled if it’s discovered while they’re in college or lose their degree if it’s discovered after graduation, even if it’s decades later. A VA dad was charged not so long ago for using a residence in GA (that he had for business) to get his daughter in state rates at a GA college. His daughter was kicked out of school.
If you and your husband are separated because the marriage is over, you use only your finances on the FAFSA. But colleges are going to require verification if your status is different from whatever you’ve already filed.
If you and your husband are married and intend to stay married, you need to file your paperwork that way. If your son doesn’t get enough aid to attend the colleges he’s been accepted to he can take a gap year and apply to a new list.
^^^
That’s all well and good, but – if your “separation” is simply a separation of physical distance, as you have indicated in other threads, than both your income and your husband’s income must be reported on FAFSA.
Only you know if you are separated or married.
Those two conditions are not mutually exclusive - it is possible to be separated and married.
Do you live in separate states because you are trying to get instate rates for your son? That is a separation of physicality and that is a big no-no and you will be caught if you are not honest with your paperwork.
You signed the FAFSA stating that you were providing honest and true information. You signed your federal taxes indicating that you were being true and honest. Worse, your son signed that all of his statements were true and correct and he must live with your consequences which could affect his future. If something doesn’t mesh together, then you will be red flagged and possibly prosecuted.
@austinmshauri is correct in stating that the states will prosecute. It will make it very difficult for your son to EVER get his education in any state, if you are trying to game the system. The universities use a clearinghouse to gain information from other US universities, such that anywhere your son tries to apply, his actions will be listed in that clearinghouse.
I wish my husband and I didn’t separate
@jhsiao, I get the impression from your posts that English isn’t your first language. I apologize if that’s not correct and this is an over simplification.
“Separation” can mean living in 2 different places. Married people can live in different homes for a variety of reasons, but still consider themselves a couple. My husband used to spend part of the week in Jersey for a job and come back to NY on his days off. That’s not the definition of separation that allows you to include only your income on financial aid forms.
The definition of “separation” that allows that means your marriage is not doing well and you’re considering divorce. If you’re living apart from your husband for a reason other than your marriage is failing, don’t file as separated.
If you tell us your son’s SAT score, GPA, and what your family can afford to pay, we can try to help find an affordable school.
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wish my husband and I didn’t separate
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Are you saying that your marriage is over, and could be heading towards divorce?
Or are you saying that you wish that your husband’s job didn’t require him to live elsewhere?
Your previous thread gave no indication that the marriage is over. You filled out FAFSA as if you’re still a couple.
@jhsiao, It’s important to note that the schools you are talking about are public colleges, so even if you were able to use only your income on financial aid forms the most you’d probably qualify for is ~$5k/year Pell grant. It wouldn’t be enough to cover the cost of an OOS college.