<p>Okay so this whole year I thought I had financial aid. Then after 6 weeks of classes I went to do something at the cashier and she told me I owed the entire balance of my classes. She said I had no financial aid at all! Like, when were they going to let me know that I hadn't paid anything towards my classes?</p>
<p>Anyway, I went to the FA office and she told me I registered on FAFSA but not with the school. She then gave me the forms that I'm absolutely positive I picked up and turned back in before the semester started.</p>
<p>My parents don't work. My dad is disabled. They were not required to file last year. I think the problem might have been that before the semester began I asked the girl working the financial aid office (couldn't have been over 20) if I have to submit any tax forms since my parents didn't file. She said no so I handed her my filled out data form alone.</p>
<p>I'm now thinking there should have been something more to that. She was a student and I don't think she knew what she was talking about.</p>
<p>Anyway, now I was given that same form again AND the verification form. Another girl (again, a student. I don't think there's a single adult that works there) told me that I could still fill both out and receive financial aid for this current semester. I hope this is the case because I see on this paper that anyone after Auguest 23 would be "processed as time permits"</p>
<p>So I guess my question is should my parents have federal income tax forms or W-2 forms if they did not file?</p>
<p>This is really going to suck if I'm going to have to pay out of pocket for the whole semester. I might have turned in the form wrong the first time but they could have at least let me know either on the spot or afterward.</p>
<p>You need to make sure you speak with one of the counselors in the FA office. I think you probably will only have to provide W-2s if you are selected for verification.</p>
<p>Honestly, I’m not required to file this year (or least year), but I do anyway, because it’s just so much easier than the stress with FA offices about not filing. As you’re seeing, they will expect more forms, more hassle, etc. The stress of filing a tax form with zero’s for the income from work, etc, is just much smaller than the hassle of not having the completed tax form.</p>
<p>You don’t have to report SS income on FAFSA. But you may need to provide documentation proving income etc. Make an appointment ASAP with a financial aid officer (not a student but actual officer) and go and sit down with them and find out what you need to do/provide and what aid you may actually be eligible for. Hopefully it will be enough to pay your bills.</p>
<p>You bear a large part of the responsibility for this situation. It is very much your responsibility to know and understand what you have/have not been offered in the way of financial aid and what more you need to come up with financially. You cannot just assume you are covered. At most schools even the maximums available in federal/state aid may not cover the full COA of the school. Also sometimes people fall through the cracks. No one should ever start class at a school without knowing exactly where they stand financially - down to the penny. Don’t ever assume you have financial aid or that the aid you do have will be enough. This bill is in your name and is your responsibility so making assumptions and then finding out you cannot pay the bill can really cause long term problems. If you cannot pay the bill you will usually not be able to enroll in classes next semester, may get dropped from current classes (depending on the school policy) and you won’t be able to go to any other school until you pay this one what you owe them. Do you go into a restaurant with $5 in your pocket and eat a $100 meal and just assume somehow $95 will magically appear in your wallet? Well this is what you did but on a much larger scale involving much larger sums of money. </p>
<p>Please follow swimcatsmom’s advice & speak with a financial aid advisor. I am one … our job is to help students. As mentioned, though, YOU are responsible for helping yourself. It has been far too long. You need to take care of this now.</p>
<p>You will most likely be required to fill out a non tax filer statement for yourself. Your parents will also need to fill out non tax filer statements. Depending on the school, you may also be asked to have your parents fill out an additional form that describes more about your financial situation (maybe not, though). Please do this as soon as possible. The school is not allowed by law to release your financial aid funds until your verification is complete.</p>