<p>my son's non-custodial father wants to use his too-low-to-believe income for the FAFSA. he's trying to convince our son that by playing with the number of days he spends in each household that he can claim he's custodial parent. Has anyone else had this problem?</p>
<p>My son is stuck in the middle and stressed. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>That is a really bad idea. First of all if he isn’t technically living with his father and he claims that he is he could possibly get in trouble. Second, with the economy being the way it is, schools are looking to admit students who can pay as much as possible and claiming such a low income as his primary support will greatly reduce his chances of being accepted anywhere. Check out the thread called “Ability to Pay and Other Trends in Admissions.”</p>
<p>I thought I read that Arne Duncan, the Sect of Education, has announced that income figures reported to the IRS are NOW going to be compared to FAFSA reported income, in order to catch exactly this kind of thing. You might want to warn your ex that this kind of hanky panky is likely to come back and bite him in the butt.</p>
<p>I believe it’s actually the number of nights the child spends in each home that is a determining factor for custodial vs non-custodial for FAFSA (this is not the legal definition, of course). And of course there’s the list of 7 or 8 other factors, such as who provides the most support, when it’s not immediately obvious who the FAFSA custodial parent is. </p>
<p>If the mother is truly the custodial parent and the child spends 51% or more nights in 2009 at the mother’s home, then the mother can nip this in the bud by creating a FAFSA account for the child and apply for a PIN. At that point only the mother can log in to submit FAFSA. Problem solved. </p>
<p>Explain to son that following the rules is not only the right thing to do, but that there are severe consequences for fraud and that approximately one third of all FAFSA applications are verified.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. I agree–bad idea–and have tried my hardest to convince non-custodial dad to no avail. Unfortunately, He’s a tax preparer so carries more credibility than I with son on these matters. Son does not realize he’s shady.</p>
<p>I like the idea of pointing out that schools will be less likely to accept him with such low income numbers and I didn’t know I can sign a FAFSA for him without his signature. I have a pin. I’ll give that some thought. Can I do that if he has already started the FAFSA? </p>
<p>He did start one giving soc. sec numbers, etc. and got about 75% through and saved it. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>What home address did your son use when applying to colleges? If yours, then colleges can easily match up home address on the application vs home address on FAFSA; if there’s a discrepancy the financial aid office will want to know why. Your son could be expelled from college if his FAFSA is verified and found to be fraudulent.</p>
<p>The custodial parent needs a PIN for FAFSA as well as the student. Sounds like you and your son each have one. Does the father have one as well? </p>
<p>If your son has started filling out the FAFSA, has he used his father’s income/assets? If so, these need to be updated with yours. If he’s only about 75% through, it’s not too late to make a correction. The son “signs” the final online form using his PIN, and you “sign” with yours. By signing you state that you are not committing fraud. You seem to be doing your best - good luck :)</p>
<p>Since your son would be stuck if this “playing with the numbers” ever surfaces, your son should refuse to go along with this…</p>
<p>His dad should realize that he’s setting a bad example, too.</p>
<p>OP, I suggest you also post this problem on the Financial Aid Forums, and specifically ask swimcatsmom for advice. She is the FA guru on CC and knows far more about the ins and outs of applying for FA than most parents.</p>
<p>My son has used my address for his college aps and FAFSA pin. He used my income and assets for the FAFSA but now his dad wants him to change and use his.</p>
<p>I know I’m “right” but I tell him one thing; his dad tells him the other and he doesn’t want to disappoint either parent. So, you see my son is really in a bind.</p>
<p>If he does end up using his dad’s income, I was thinking I’d call the FA office at the college where he will go and explain the situation and the financial aid administrator can act accordingly. </p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>Thanks–you all have been very helpful.</p>
<p>I think that involving the FA staff with what is inherently a family dispute is a very bad idea. Your family needs to resolve the dispute, and come to a decision of what to do even if everyone doesn’t agree, and then present a common front to the college FA office.</p>
<p>Are all of his schools FAFSA only? If not, unless your son would qualify for a Pell grant, you can explain to your ex that at Profile schools the FAFSA EFC doesn’t matter.</p>
<p>Well, I hope son uses my numbers, but if he doesn’t I really am not willing to have him or me commit fraud.</p>
<p>His dad’s numbers would qualify him for Pell grant. Sorry, but what do you mean "at Profile scholos the FAFSA Expected Family Contribution doesn’t matter? "</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Has your ex specified a particular amount that he’s willing to pay towards your son’s education?</p>
<p>If not, I think he may be hoping that this ploy will result in huge aid, which will “let him off the hook.”</p>
<p>I don’t like the idea of you contacting the school, because your ex might use that as an excuse not to contribute anything.</p>
<p>I would calmly explain to my son that everything is going to show that he lives with you…his school records, his test scores, his applications, etc.</p>
<p>Because Profile schools use their own methods to determine what families should pay.</p>
<p>And some Profile schools are going to include the income of whoever is the non-custodial parent.</p>
<p>^^^
How would that make a difference?</p>
<p>Idk itz jist what mi canselor told meh.</p>
<p>The age of the parent at the time of divorce and/or at the time the child was born has nothing to do with FAFSA. </p>
<p>To the OP, just to be clear, this is what your son will state when he “signs” the FAFSA with his PIN:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Thanks for supplying that language. I’ll show it to son.</p>
<p>Thanks all.</p>
<p>If you purposely give false or misleading information, you may be fined $20,000, sent to prison, or both</p>
<p>that should show him which parent is telling the truth.</p>
<p>IBMom…has your ex committed to how much he’ll contribute to your son’s education?</p>
<p>Is your son applying to in-state publics? out-of-state publics? privates? Or a combo??</p>