How to calm independent if under 24 and one parent that I dependent on dies and is the only one I use to claim on my fafsa.
I don’t know what to put if my dad passes this year for next years fafsa. I am on my 1st year of community college. I get the full pell grant because we are very low income family. I don’t have my moms information and I put dependent on my dad I feel like it is irrelevant since she was abusive and there hasn’t been contact in 8 years between me and her.
My dad is currently handicap, low- income, 74 years old, and has lung cancer which is getting so bad he might be put into hospice soon :’(. They say he doesn’t have much longer to live. He’s putting up the strongest fight Ive seen.
My parents are divorce and my so called “mom" lives in CO and my dad lives in CA. I have been living with my dad since 16. My “mom” kicked me out at 13 sent me on a one way ticket to “visit" my dad while he wasn’t even at the airport since he was getting a back surgery. I stayed that summer at my sisters till the end of that summer. While I was trying to figure out when I would go back to school but my mom wouldn’t let me come back she didn’t send me a ticket back to CO and wouldn’t let me come back to live with her. When I did live with my mom she was very abusive anger management issues so you can get the picture she was arrested for domestic violence. Some of the abusive acts were throwing chairs, threw a guitar at me, didn’t feed me, punched me and just many awful things causing emotional and physical abuse. It was a very bad environment. Social services were involved a few times they were going to put me in foster care because of her/ unfit parents. I had relatives who wanted me but she wouldn’t sign custody over me so at 15 since my dad was homeless and at a rehab center for his back surgery. I flew out to Virginia where I lived with cousins for a year. To get into the school system out there I entered into the homeless program so when I was 15 I was considered homeless. At 16 I went back to CA with my dad because he was able to get an apartment were me and him have been living / I have been taking care of him.
I have 0 contact with my mom since around being 13 and now I’m 20. I do know she makes a lot of money so even if I could get her tax stuff it would not help out since she wants nothing to do with me.
Currently I am jobless but full time student. Most of my time is helping my dad/taking care of him. When my dad does pass the only thing will be left is a bunch of medical bills and I am going to be living out of my car and crashing at friends till I can afford to rent a place.
I’m sorry for your situation. Take it one day at a time.
Do you know if your mother’s parental rights were terminated by the courts, possibly brought about by an action from social services as a result of the abuse. If so, then I think you would qualify as independent when your father passes. Otherwise, I agree with bjkmom. I don’t think you should have any contact with your mother.
Joe- I am so sorry for what you are dealing with- big cyber hug to you.
You might want to ask your dad’s doctor for a referral to a social worker. Even without the complication of financial aid, you will benefit from some help and counseling. There may be programs you and your dad are eligible for (unpaid medical bills, emergency food or utilities assistance, free counseling) that you don’t know about. Then- take bjkmom’s advice and make an appointment with someone in Financial Aid. They want you to continue your education and will help you navigate this.
You are a good, focused, strong person. There are organizations and programs to help a kid in your situation- someone who has been treating your dad will know how to plug you in to this infrastructure.
If you can’t, then the circumstances you describe should allow for the override. Gather what documents you have. Write out a very clear brief timeline.
Also, if he dies, do not let debt collectors bully you into paying any of his outstanding medical bills. While they can collect from his estate (if there is any – probably not based on what you wrote), you are not responsible for his debts if you did not co-sign them (do not co-sign).
Thank you for sharing your story. I am sorry to hear that your dad is not doing well - it is encouraging that he is bravely putting up a valiant fight, but if hospice is what is needed, know that he will get the best care and comfort available. Lung cancer sucks. While I have not been a particularly religious person, your story has touched me, and I pray for you and your father.
In addition to contacting a social worker at the hospital, be sure to ask if there is a social worker associated with your school, in addition to the Financial aid department. While it may seem beaurocratic, it may be the case that the SW at the hospital may not be trained to help with the school issues, nor will the one at the school be familiar with the hospital issues. So be prepared to be patient with them - what they learn from your situation will be helpful to others down the road. You may have to repeat your story a few times, and if you get seemingly conflicting information, there are plenty of folks here to help you sort it out.