<p>You can file as separated, using only your income. You may be selected for verification - if so, be prepared to submit the joint return and your separation agreement. You MUST declare the child support he paid you in 2009 (but not the expected 2010 payments - those will catch up with you on next year’s FAFSA).</p>
<p>You said the aid office asked why you filed a joint return. Because legally, you CAN! Let them know that you filed with a legal filing status, and offer to give them a copy of your separation agreement. The aid office is just trying to make sure you aren’t trying to get more aid by not including your H’s income (many try to do that), and that you are filing with a correct filing status (which you are).<br>
As far as income info goes … if your schedule c income is actually a loss, you report it as 0. If there are no wages on line 7, your income from work is 0. If there is income on line 7 from your husband, you will need to figure out what your AGI would be WITHOUT his income. If the AGI is negative, you enter that as a negative number.</p>