<p>Hi...I qualify for an automatic zero EFC because my mom is on Social Security disability (bad back since 1991). Our resources are extremely limited. However, I just found out that my dad (who I never knew), owes us more than $200,000 in back child support, including interest. The EFC calculator at <a href="http://www.finaid.org">www.finaid.org</a> said that I would still get a zero EFC because my mom is on Social Security and can't work. This sounds too good to be true to me; how could we get more than TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS in child support and still not be expected to pay for college?!</p>
<p>You may, in fact, not get that $200K. No one but your father will pay that, and he may not. He might have to go to jail instead (don't want to frighten you...), but it doesn't appear likely that you will get that. If you do get it, and it goes into your mom's or your bank account, then, no you would not have a 0 EFC. You would have to re-calculate the finances and take that into account.</p>
<p>franglish, I think he would rather pay it than go to jail. He can definitely afford to; his family is worth like $50 million from what my mom told me.</p>
<p>You got me on the bank account...didn't think of that.</p>
<p>And--- he may not have had any contact with you, but you apparently know where he is. Private colleges require you to fill out the CSS Profile (through the College Board site), which takes divorced or separated parents' income into account. You have to let them know that he exists. For FAFSA (mostly public) schools, only the custodial parent's $ is put down as parental assets. So, colleges could still require him to pay for your education. They have ways to communicate with him, and will do so, if it is uncomfortable (or impossible) for you to do that. So, his money may very well have to be taken into account to pay for your school.</p>
<p>For the FAFSA automatic zero EFC the balances in the bank account are not taken into account. If your Mom still qualifies for social security in the year your Dad pays up (I don't know how social security rules work - do they take assets into account to see if you qualify?) or even if she does not but the child support is untaxed income (which I believe it generally is) then you would probably still qualify for the automatic zero EFC. The rules for automatic zero EFC are</p>
<p><a href="1">quote</a>Anyone included in the parents’ household size (as defined on the FAFSA) received benefits during the base **year from any of the designated means-tested Federal benefit programs: the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program, the Food Stamp Program,
the Free and Reduced Price School Lunch Program, the Temporary Assistance Program Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, and the Special Supplemental
for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC);
**OR
the student’s parents filed or are eligible to file a 2007 IRS Form 1040A or 1040EZ (they are not required to file a 2007 Form 1040), or the parents are not required to file any income tax return. AND<a href="2">/B</a>The 2007 income of the student’s parents is $20,000 or less.
• For tax filers, use the parents’ adjusted gross income from 2007 Form 1040A or 1040EZ to determine if income is $20,000 or less.**
• For non-tax filers, use the income shown on the 2007 W-2 forms of both parents
(plus any other earnings from work not included on the W-2s) to determine if
income is $20,000 or less.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If the income is non taxable and she files a 1040a or 1040 ez and the taxable figure is below $20k ($30 for 2009-2010) then she should still qualify for the automatic zero EFC.</p>
<p>However don't assume that a Zero EFC means you will not have to pay anything for college. Unless you are going to a school that promises to meet full need you will probably have a 'gap' as federal financial aid is not usually sufficient to pay for even most State Us. You should make sure to apply to schools that say they meet full need (generally more competitive schools but they also use profile for their own institutional aid which possibly would take the $200k into account) or schools where your Stats would put you into the top few % of freshmen making you more likely to qualify for scholarships.</p>
<p>For tax purposes, child support is not considered income (otoh alimony is income and is taxable). Also, ihavenochance stated mother was receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which is difference from SSI and the rules governing each is difference for various programs as well for taxes. To receive SSI, assets are taken into account, but SSDI is money working individuals have paid into the system. </p>
<p>Additionally, while schools that require the CSS profile expect information from both parents, if the custodial parent can prove there is no knowledge of the whereabouts of the noncustodial parent, a waiver should be requested directly from the specific school. As long as the request is supported by creditable documentation, no reasonable institution should hold it against a student that he/she has a deadbeat parent. If the school denies the request and still requires the information from the noncustodial parent, then franglish and swimcatsmom's suggestions would be your best options.</p>