<p>I have not worked in several years due to a permanent disability. I receive SSDI )social security disability income) not SSI. In Dec 2008 I married a man who at the time was a permanent resident.</p>
<p>I now realize that this marriage may actually prevent my daughter from getting aide.</p>
<p>My husband revoked his green card in 2008, so he no longer pays taxes in the US and didnt need it as he never earned income here (he works out of the country). He was not required to file a return in 2009. We filed jointly in 2008 when was a resident and he claimed foreign earned income exclusion.</p>
<p>As he is not a resident or Citizen, I was able to file under "head of household" in 2009 for just my income which SSDI is non taxable and just $8000 I earned doing some consulting.</p>
<p>If I have to count his income, a) how would they be able to document it? he has no tax return or W2. He will have 1 child in college when I file FAFSA, but not in the US. How will they document this? He supports two children out of the country, it seems as though I can count them in number in household even though again, they live out of country? </p>
<p>He does not have the money or inlcination to pay for my childs college--although he will agree to provide a monthly stipend for her living expenses. </p>
<p>This reality makes me feel I would be better off legally divorcing him so only my income will show. I should have thought of the consequences of the marriage more. If I did divorce him legally, he would still be wiring money into my bank account from out of the country to support the home each month (home is in my name only). He doesnt live here full time but comes to visit when he is off work. Would this money he provides to me be considered income if we are not married in any case that I would have to show on FAFSA under "other untaxed income" and would it be used against her anyway? in determining EPC?</p>
<p>Would I be asked to provide bank statements? that would show these deposits? If so, should I only count the amount we recieve each month as "other income" recieved? Or should I put the amount he provides to us as "stepfathers income" (even if he files no tax return?) </p>
<p>If I make no income and he is unable to provide for the EPC, I need to find a way not to allow this to hurt her chances of getting aid.</p>
<p>I’m not an expert…but I believe you are required to put your husband’s income converted into U.S. dollars on the FAFSA form. It doesn’t matter where he earned his money…it is still income to your family for FAFSA purposes.</p>
<p>Your situation is actually not all that unique, although it’s not common. When you complete the FAFSA, you will report your husband’s income along with yours. If he is not required to file a tax return or to pay taxes in his country, then that is fine — but if your child is selected for verification, you will have to document his earnings in some way. I have accepted written, signed statements from parents in countries where there is no formal documentation of earnings. The earnings are to be reported converted to U.S. currency on the date the FAFSA is filed (there are lots of currency converters available on the internet). If he pays taxes, you add your AGI & his, your taxes paid and his, and report your income from work as well as his income from work. If he isn’t taxed, you report his income under Untaxed Income (“any untaxed income not reported elsewhere”). </p>
<p>If verified, you may have to document why you are able to file as head of household even though you are married - again, I have accepted a written, signed statement explaining the situation - as long as it falls within IRS guidelines, that should be sufficient. The amount of money he provides you each month is not reported because it is already counted in the income amount you will report for him.</p>
<p>When determining household size, you would include the two children who live in his household. If one of those children is in college, you would include that child in the number in college (although if college is free for all citizens in his country, the school may or may not allow you to leave that child in the number in college - I have never run into this, so couldn’t say for sure).</p>
<p>If you were to get divorced or if you were to be legally separated, the money he gives to you would be considered untaxed income. In addition, you would not be able to count him or his kids in the household size.</p>
<p>When you say “When you complete the FAFSA, you will report your husband’s income along with yours” do you mean on line 84 Adjusted gross income? He doesnt file so I was told I should not add it there? or his tax on line 85 as they are asking specifically for 1040 info on both. line 87 says stepfather earnings even if no return was filed, so it seems I could put it there…but wouldnt that be redundant if I put it there and on "other untaxed income? I called the FAFSA line and the woman told me to put it on “other untaxed income”. But I am not sure if that is right? He does pay tax in the country where he works, but the FAFSA speaks of taxes paid to US on 1040. I am thinking I could just write the amount this household receives only under other untaxed income? Would they ask me to document that income source as they would earning from work?? If we were divorced I guess it would be a “gift” under IRS, but under FAFSA is that income?</p>
<p>Also, to confirm, I can count his kids in household even though they don’t live in this country or the one for college even though he doesnt got to college here (college in his country is not free)? Would they ask for university invoice or statement of account? He also pays child support…again how do we prove what he pays? He has a divorce agreement, and wires money from a foreign bank to his ex’s account. </p>
<p>The FAFSA will not ask for verification that your husband’s other kids are attending college. BUT the colleges might. We had to provide verification that our kids were attending to both of their colleges when they were both in school at the same time. My guess is this is not required by all schools.</p>
<p>It sounds from your post that you are hoping for significant financial aid for your daughter to attend college. The FAFSA is largely used to determine federally funded need based aid. The maximum of these awards will still not fund college at a residential university. The maximum Pell Grant (just over $5000), maximum Stafford loan ($5500 for freshmen), SEOG (don’t know the amount of that), and possibly work study (mayby $2000 for a freshman) would be enough to fund college at a community college or in some cases at a four year public university if the student is able to commute from home.</p>
<p>It is possible that the school(s) will award your child some institutional money as well, but the amounts vary from school to school. Some schools will cover your child’s costs and others will leave you with a gap between the cost of attendance and your family contribution.</p>
<p>thanks Thumper. I did provide for her a State Pre Paid Plan that would cover tuition only so I was hoping for financial aide to cover other expenses. Also she is applying for scholarships. I was hoping with all these together we could get her there…or she could take out a private loan to cover the difference.</p>
<p>She can take a federal student loan, but there are limits…$5500 per year for freshmen. she won’t be able to take private loans unless you qualify to co-sign.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that most newish grads do NOT earn enough to pay their living expense, pay for federal student loans, AND pay for private loans.</p>
<p>Also she is applying for scholarships.</p>
<p>Do you mean private scholarships? if so…most are for smallish amounts and ONLY for one year. So, how would she cover years 2, 3, and 4?</p>
<p>Is she applying to any schools that would give her assured merit for her stats? What are her stats?</p>
<p>so I was hoping for financial aide to cover other expenses.</p>
<p>What schools is she applying to? Unless your EFC comes under Pell limits, she may not get much other aid unless she goes to a school that gives a lot of aid.</p>
<p>What is your home state?</p>
<p>What about her natural father? Is he alive? If so, will he contribute? If not, then hopefully she won’t be applying to any schools that will require his income (some schools require info about the dad.)</p>
<p>From the federal application and verification guide:</p>
<p>Application:
If the student or parents filed a tax return using something other than a common IRS form, such as a foreign or Puerto Rican tax form, the student should report on the FAFSA the amounts (converted to U.S. dollars) from the lines of the form that correspond most closely to those on the common IRS forms.</p>
<p>Verification:
Foreign income
As noted in Step 2 in Chapter 2, information from non-IRS tax returns would be reported on the FAFSA, with the value of the foreign income and taxes reported in U.S. dollars, using the exchange rate at the time of application.
For verification purposes, these returns would be considered equivalent to an IRS Form 1040. If the student (or the student’s parents) earned foreign income but did not pay any taxes on that income, it should be reported as untaxed income.</p>
<hr>
<p>What this means is that if he pays income tax in his country, you would treat his income and taxes just like you do your own … and add the two amounts together. For income from work, you use line 7 … for him, you use his earned income (converted to U.S. dollars). For AGI, you use the AGI amount on your return … for him, you use the equivalent of AGI (which is earned income less any direct credits to income that his country allows) … add the two amounts together and report as AGI. For taxes paid, you use your taxes paid after certain credits (line 55 of the 1040) … for him, you use his actual taxes paid (after all tax credits in his country, if any are allowed) … add the two amounts together and report as taxes paid. It is only if his country does NOT have income tax that you report his income as untaxed income.</p>
<p>Yes, you may be asked to provide proof of enrollment for his child in college. In addition, you may be asked to provide proof of child support paid … save those wire transfer confirmations; you can provide them for the year along with a signed statement from your husband indicating that they were for child support payments (include a copy of court orders for the support payment, if any)</p>
<p>Wow, this is such great information! Thank you!</p>
<p>I need some more clarification:</p>
<p>I have my taxes as head of household for 2009 and his income tax report via foreign employer for 2009. </p>
<p>I have account statements from his children’s Universities for 2010.</p>
<p>I can provide prove of wires and separation agreement re: child support he pays.</p>
<p>What years Income tax returns and receipts of Foreign income am I to provide for FAFSA when applying for 2011 aid? Do I supply 2009 or 2010 once filed??</p>
<p>My daughter has a 3.7 un weighted, 4.2 weighted and 1870 on SAT. She has excellent recommendations and lots of awards for extracurricular activities. She wants to go into the Art Field as a career. She has been told she is very talented during portfolio reviews. So I was hoping for some scholarships based on her talent and grades.</p>
<p>Her Father is re-married, with two kids… Our oldest daughter is in community college so he could count her also in his household. I don’t think he makes any real income, but his wife does well.</p>
<p>My daughter has a 3.7 un weighted, 4.2 weighted and 1870 on SAT. She has excellent recommendations and lots of awards for extracurricular activities. She wants to go into the Art Field as a career. She has been told she is very talented during portfolio reviews. So I was hoping for some scholarships based on her talent and grades.</p>
<p>Scholarships are based on grades and test scores. High test scores preferred. Test scores should be in the top 5% of the college in order to get the best merit opportunities. </p>
<p>There is a large pool of students with high GPAs.</p>
<p>There is a small pool of students with very high ACT/SAT scores.</p>
<p>There is an even smaller pool of students who have both high GPAs and high test scores. The ones with both have the best chances of getting into the schools with great FA and/or great merit scholarships.</p>
<p>As for art scholarships…they’re often based on portfolios.</p>
<p>Where is your D applying? Schools that are only art schools don’t usually give much help.</p>
<p>Does your D qualify for Bright Futures? If so, which level? That will probably be her best bet to be used at a Florida public. </p>
<p>*Does my daughters scores on SAT (she hasnt taken ACT yet) and weighted GPA qualify as top 5% or high enough to be considered for awards?
*</p>
<p>*
My daughter has a 3.7 un weighted, 4.2 weighted and 1870 on SAT.*</p>
<p>Top 5% is by school for merit scholarships (from the schools that give them…not all do).</p>
<p>For instance…after looking at the scores of the top 25% at these schools, I can reasonable estimate that the top 5% of students…</p>
<p>at UFlorida (which I don’t think gives merit scholarships), will probably have SATs around 2200+.</p>
<p>at FSU (I don’t know what merit they give), will probably have SATs around 2100+.</p>
<p>at FIU, will probably have SATs around 2030+</p>
<p>A 1870 is in the 81st percentile nationally. So, to find a Florida school where that score is in the top 5% of students means you have to look for a lower ranked school that gives good merit.</p>
<p>is there a Florida state school where she could commute to? If so, then Bright Futures would pay for most costs.</p>
<p>Use only 2010 income info for the 2011/12 FAFSA. Don’t supply any documents until/unless you are asked to by the individual school(s) your D applies to. If you are selected for verification, you will receive a letter from the school detailing what they need…make sure to sign your tax forms before sending in copies.</p>
<p>Go to the College Board website and look for the Profile. I haven’t checked in a LONG time (haven’t done one in a long time) but there used to be a FAQ area about the Profile.</p>
<p>Profile schools will likely require that her dad fill out a non-custodial parent form. They will want info on income and assets (including house value) from him and his wife. </p>
<p>My kids’ colleges required I provide a financial aid officer’s email at the other college to verify enrollment. </p>
<p>Please run some calculators to see what your dd may get. </p>
<p>If you have tuition covered, she could get a loan and a job and it wouldn’t take much money for her to have all her expenses covered. </p>
<p>I want to address the scholarship issue for a minute… Have her apply to as many as possible. Mom2collegekids is right in that, unless your daughter targets colleges with low SAT scores, sher does not have the scores for the huge money academic scholarships just based on scores BUT there are plenty of other scholarships including scholarships from the college for a few thousand dollars for lower scores. Check each college’s financial aid website to see if they have those. As far as outside scholarships, my dd earned so many that she had to turn them down-- and she was not a national merit anything. What I found was that your dd will likely do well if she targets scholarships looking for kids just like her. In other words, if she likes science and did well but hasn’t been involved in research or competitions, she’s not going to win the science scholarships. Focus on her strengths. Have her enter art contests. And, while she’s at it, find out if the library, any gift shops or libraries will hang her work for sale. My cousin has very, very talented daughters and they were able to sell their work even in high school. That may end up providing more $ for your daughters than art scholarships.</p>
<p>Oh, and the basic Profile is the same but schools can add their own questions. Also, there are additional forms each school may require (like the non-custodial parent form). </p>
<p>You do not have to wait until your 2010 taxes are filed. You can submit the FAFSA as of Jan 1 using estimated information. Try to do that because certain financial aid can be first-come, first-serve.</p>
<p>Agreed but I’m going to be firmer. DO NOT WAIT until your taxes are filed…do the FAFSA (and Profile) with the best estimates you can. The FAFSA can be done Jan 1 and by that time you will have your last pay stub of the 2010 calendar year. That will have your year to date earnings and taxes on it. Your estimates should be pretty accurate.</p>
<p>AND the year your child is a senior is NOT the year to file your taxes on April 15. Remember, until you amend your FAFSA to reflect that your taxes are completed and you have changed any info from those 2010 taxes to reflect the accurate amounts…any financial aid award you receive will be an estimate only. The colleges will not finalize your award until YOU get your taxes done and amend the finaid application forms to reflect the 2010 tax return numbers. AND YES…those estimated awards can change. Our DD has one school where her grant was reduced by $6000. Our estimate was only $3000 less than our final AGI. Still, that award was reduced. Oddly, her award wasn’t changed a nickel at three other schools. Go figure. Oh…NO she did not attend the school where her award was reduced.</p>
<p>Oh, and you will need to get pin numbers for you and your daughter (maybe your husband too-- sorry, I’m a single parent so I don’t know if both sign) to sign ‘electronically.’ You can apply for the pin number now because it takes days to arrive by email. That way, you’ll be ready to go on Jan 1. </p>
<p>One parent is needed to sign the FAFSA. There’s a drop down where it asks if it’s the mom or the dad and then you put the appropriate pin in. My H has never gotten a pin as I do all the parents part of the FAFSA forms each year. So I have a pin and each kid has a pin…</p>