Help Please!! FAFSA Parent Info

Paying for College
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<p>Hello everyone, I am very happy I found these boards and hopefully someone can point me in the right direction. I have been depressed for over three years now and have had my head in the clouds. Recently coming off of anti depressants (and this is no excuse I assure you) I just realized I may have made a HUGE mistake filling out FAFSA paperwork for my non biological son. I live with a domestic partner for 13 years who is his biological mother. He was receiving SSI since the age of 9 for his ADHD and I was his beneficiary or the person responsible for his financial SSI payment management. Last year he wanted to go to a technical college and I went in with him to discuss financial aid. I explained that I was the person who provided atleast 50% of his care both physical and financial. She said that I should then be the person put on his FAFSA as his parent since I provided his financial support.</p>

<p>I again had to fill out an application for this year even though it was for only (1) month of school as he was about to graduate from his 9 month program. </p>

<p>I was told to put the same info as I put the previous year and ofcourse I did exactly that. Now I am horrified after actually reading on FAFSA's website that no matter what, his biological mother should have been the person on his FAFSA unless I had legal custody which I did not even though he was already 18 at the time.</p>

<p>I was tempted to immediately log into his FAFSA application and correct all the information as I am very concerned that the information provided is not true according to their guidelines. I am no liar and have a very big sense of guilt and fear regarding this. I feel so stupid and ignorant as well.</p>

<p>I would actually rather risk the penalty of correcting the forms than sit back and do nothing. Can anyone please provide information on how the best way to go about this should be. Should I just go ahead and call them and admit my mistake, call the school, what should I do?</p>

<p>Please help, i am very concerned and this is all not sitting well with me right now. Looks like im headed straight back to my meds.</p>

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<p>Called the school this morning they agreed it was a mutual mistake as they missed it as well assuming since I was the SSI custodian I also had custody. We are going to submit corrections immediately with a brief apology and explanation. A lesson well learned for me, never fill out or sign anything unless completely read and understood.</p>

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<p>That's good news, ArmyMedicMom.</p>

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<p>I am glad that you were able to get it all straightened out. However, the real problem here is the college's financial aid office. You were told to do it that way ... and THEY know more about how things work than YOU do. They should have been more thorough before advising you to do something that is not "ordinary." I assume you were not chosen for verification, which would have caught the mistake. Good for you for being upfront & honest.</p>