<p>alright...i started in on some financial aide stuff today...my parents are divorced, i live with my mother and her boyfriend. i do not see my father but he does pay child support. my mother makes less than 20K a year (can't work, health issues) but my father makes 60K+ a year. i called the FAFSA helpline or whatever and they said he does not have to give his info to me? is this true? he seriously doesn't have to pay anything? it's in their divorce agreement that he's supposed to, but FAFSA says no. and im pretty sure he wouldnt pay willingly, but it seems unfair to me that my mother, who pays for rent, food, clothing...all that stuff for me is going to have to take out loans as well. and that he...does nothing...ever...and doesnt have to pay for college either?
then on the CSS profile @ college board.com it says i will need the info of non-custodial parents...but seriously...my father would rather die than hand me his tax info. im not sure what to do here...i know my father should pay, and in an ideal world he would. but i know...for fact that he will fight me every step of the way about it. what do i do here? i'm not...unreasonable, i think that loans and costs should be split as evenly as possible between him, my mother and myself.. sorry this is so long...but im really frustrated about this.</p>
<p>Fair or not (and I agree it's not), colleges include both parents' income in the EFC. That said, most financial aid offices will take extenuating circumstances into account--for example, in the case of an absent non-custodial parent, there are procedures for confirming that reasonable efforts have been made to contact that person. Your best bet is to establish a relationship with a financial aid officer in the colleges you are applying to and be honest about your situation.</p>
<p>If the parent has paid child support, any school requiring profile will expect his full contribution. Your best bet is schools that only require info only from custodial parent, mostly State schools. Should your mother marry her boyfriend, his income would count at many schools!</p>
<p>....i got into several state schools, and a couple others that dont require the profile thing. i did apply to one other private school, my "dream" school, it was a huge reach for me, and i didnt really think i would get in...but i did. i know it would be easier to go to a state school, but...it seems stupid to say...oh well my father is a jerk, i'm poor, i'm going to give up on an amazing school and go to state school...and...another question, if i find out that he has to contribute X amount of dollars based on his income, can i take that loan out myself to cover it? i basically just want to know...if i cant get him to help me, is there any way i can cover it on my own?</p>
<p>What happens is that his income increases the expected family contribution part of the Profile. The school doesn't care who pays - just that you are responsible for it before any aid comes into play - so yes, you can take out a loan for it if you can get the loan. Take some time to explore all of your options - don't give up on your dream school because of your father's unwillingness to accept his responsibility. You may be surprised at what you are able to work out. Outside scholarships is another option.</p>
<p>"Fair or not (and I agree it's not), colleges include both parents' income in the EFC"</p>
<p>Not if it's a FAFSA only school. As the OP says, the FAFSA does not ask for the income of the non-custodial parent, though it does ask for the income of the custodial parent's spouse (not boyfriend, though).</p>
<p>I'm not clear how you are only filling out FA forms now, if you're already accepted into schools.</p>
<p>And to echo Maryland Mom, your father is not committed to pay anything by handing over the info. It just increases your EFC. HOw you meet it is up to you. OTOH, if it's in the divorce agreement, it would seem he's obligated whether or not a school asks for him to pay.</p>