Hi,
my girlfriend has situation, we applied for FAFSA, someone from university she wants to apply was helping and he obviously did not know what he was doing. He assumed as she is under 24 and FAFSA would not allow her tax information put special circumstances under parents so we missed that part and included her tax info, As I read this means trying to get herself as independent for FAFSA which will not work as she does not satisfy any criteria for independent. Now application is pending for review. She earned 29 000 on taxes, and she does not get any help from parents and helps out parents with some money. What’s the best way to proceed in this case, should we wait for application and edit it to enter her parents information and do not include her taxes part? She is under 24, and want to get whatever is possible and right on her FAFSA grant. Thanks
If I understand this correctly, she’s under 24 and her income is $29k/year? I think she has to report her parents’ income(s) and hers too. I believe the income allowance for students is $6k and 20% of anything over that is added to their EFC.
The FAFSA is a form. The grant she’s applying for is a Pell grant. If you’re not married, she is applying, not we. I don’t believe your information belongs on the form unless there’s a question asking if she receives money from someone else.
Will the parents cooperate and file FAFSA with her? How much did the parents make? Did they file a tax return?
If the parents made under $25,000 in 2015 and could file a 1040 EZ or 1040A tax return, or weren’t required to file a tax return, then I think she could qualify for Auto Zero EFC, which means her parents’ and her assets and student income would not be considered.
Is she an undergrad?
Sorry, I did not provide enough information. Yes, She is under 24, Born May 6 1993, as of December 31 this year still under 24. She is able to provide parent’s information, but once she does so, Form does not ask for her income information. Parents are abroad, never had SSNs and never filed taxes in USA, made below 10$ probably and she has confirmations that she was helping parents no vise versa. What would she need to do.
Parents are abroad, they made probably 10$ or below. Never been in States, no Social security numbers.
Looks like they are being counted as an auto 0 EFC using the Simplified Needs Test. For some people with more experience, should that happen with non-citizen parents living abroad?
Thanks, How would she proceed in that case, person from that university chose option that she has special circumstances for parent, which is not correct. He decided to do so because, form would not ask for her income info. Should we edit application once system allows us to do so, include parents information and so on
@kelsmom, do you have any advice?
I am not sure, but could she ask the FA supervisor at the college if she can file FAFSA and have one of her parents sign a paper signature form? Since they are abroad and not citizens, I don’t think they can sign online FAFSA.
She might also want to find out what kind of income documents they need from the parents.
I am concerned about her turning 24 next year and then FAFSA will just be based on her income. Not sure if she will qualify for same aid. Her 2015 income will be used for 2017/18 FAFSA and that income was pretty high.
Thank you for reply, She will need to FAFSA at least 2016/2017 She is taking ESL classes its not undergraduate, program cost is 3K per semester, next year she will apply with her income and see if they give something if not its fine she can get at least 2 semesters with FAFSA. Just tying to understand what to do next, University financial aid people were not very helpful too.
Is she enrolled as a degree seeking student? If not, she might not get any federal aid. Is she a citizen or a green card holder? Also needed for federal aid.
She is Green Card holder, at Long Island University where she wants to enroll they said she can get FAFSA grant, not sure how it works, only requirement is for her to be full time student. She is not a degree seeking student at this moment.