<p>Hi! I'm going to going to a community college next fall(2013) but I'm trying to plan everything out in advance. I'll be 18 living with my father who is on disability and social security. My mom told me I can receive full grants for that? If anyone can tell me what will happen/ how to apply, I will really appreciate it. Thank you!</p>
<p>Which parent will you have lived with the most in the 12 months prior to completing the FAFSA? In other words, if you fill out your FAFSA in January, 2013, which parent did you live with the most between January 2012 and January 2013?</p>
<p>* My mom told me I can receive full grants for that*</p>
<p>“full grants”???</p>
<p>many people misunderstand what that means. Your mom may be thinking that since your dad’s income is low (no matter the source) that you’ll qualify for grants to pay for all of college.</p>
<p>NO. That’s a dangerous assumption that can lead to having a bunch of unaffordable acceptances next spring. </p>
<p>FAFSA determines FEDERAL grants. The max Pell grant is $5,550. Yes, that the “full grant”, but not enough to pay for college. </p>
<p>Most schools do NOT have the funds to give you lots of free money. </p>
<p>If you’re in Florida and qualify for Bright Futures (based on stats, no income)…AND…you get a full $5,500 Pell grant, $5500 in student loans, and some work study…then you might be able to afford a Florida public school (not a private or OOS school). </p>
<p>If you have high stats and will be applying to top schools that “meet need,” then they use CSS Profile and will likely include your mom’s income as well. Top schools use the incomes/assets from all parents…even non-custodial ones and their new spouses.</p>
<p>Well, she states she’s going to community college. I think full Pell, should she qualify for that, might well cover the cost.</p>
<p>The fafsa will look at the income and assets of your custodial parent. </p>
<p>If your parents are separated or divorced, the custodial parent is responsible for filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The custodial parent for federal student aid purposes is the parent **with whom you lived the most during the past 12 months.<a href=“The%20twelve%20month%20period%20is%20the%20twelve%20month%20period%20ending%20on%20the%20FAFSA%20application%20date,%20not%20the%20previous%20calendar%20year.”>/b</a> Note that this is not necessarily the same as the parent who has legal custody. </p>
<p>[FinAid</a> | Answering Your Questions | Divorce and Financial Aid](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Divorce and Financial Aid - Finaid)</p>
<p>based on what you wrote, since you did not move in with your father yet, and it is August, your mom would still be the custodial parent, when it comes down to filling out the FAFSA for school year 2013-2014</p>