<p>I've already filled my Fafsa for this year and everything has gone smoothly. However recently my father and I got into a petty fight and he told me that he would be changing his Fafsa pin. Now when he said this I paid little to no attention as I could just use my mom's pin next year. The problem is today I found out that he plans to file his taxes separately from my mom (they're married and live in the same household) all in aims of withholding his half of the information so I will not be able to file my Fafsa next year. My mom says he's "just trying to upset me and that he'd never really follow through" however I know my dad and know that he would. In fact his very own sister did the same thing to her son causing him to drop out because he could no longer afford it. I guess my question is, if my dad follows through is there any way I can get around this and still file my Fasfa? My dad has not worked at all this year. He has received a bit of unemployment but due to his criminal record (he was recently released from a 28yr sentence) he has never held a steady job. My mom is the only one who works full time, however they do not make enough to pay all their bill each month let alone contribute to my college costs. ( I received nearly full ride this year) is there any way I can become an independent? I'm 18 so it's too late for emancipation.</p>
<p>The only way you can be considered independent is if you’re emancipated or married. A few other exceptions exist, but they do not apply to most people. So you’re stuck, unfortunately. Does he understand that he will not be held financially accountable for your college education if he gives up his tax information for FAFSA?</p>
<p>If he refuses to provide any information and you cannot find the money some other way, you basically have to drop out of college until you are 24, married, or a military veteran. Check your college’s withdrawal and readmission policy – at many schools, it is easy to return if you withdraw in good standing.</p>
<p>Wow… Guess my husband hunt begins (JK). He understands that he will not be held responsible financially. It’s more of a matter of control, this is really the last thing that he can hold over me. I guess I’ll go into this year, look over the withdrawal policy, apply for a million scholarships ( I’ve received about 10k in scholarships this year), and if push comes to shove ill have to withdraw and work until I can afford it. I really wish there were more options for students in my situation. This really sucks :(</p>
<p>So you are taken care of for 2013-14 and you are worried about what he will do when he files 2013 taxes? Sounds like there is some time for this argument to be forgotten. I’m sorry your mother seems to be taking a passive role in this. Ug. I’m sending you a link that may apply. Much of your aid comes directly from the school, right? Sounds like you need to get all the current year paperwork and supporting attachments to the tax return to show the small portion of income that is your father’s and visit the financial aid office when they have time for an appointment with you. You may be able to receive the college aid, and get unsub Stafford loans for the federal portion if the info I have is correct. You need the help of the FA office to determine this and make it work. But I will send you the link to the info I have on this under the 2008 HEOA.</p>
<p>Wish I was an expert. Maybe some here know more on this.</p>
<p>Look for a PM</p>
<p>1, he probably will not do this, and 2, your mom can probably get a tax transcript anyway. She likely knows all his personal info and is his wife. And 34, I hope you have nothing to do with your horrible dad again (assuming you did nothing to him to cause this, which I am assuming you haven’t, but if you have, ignore 3 and 4).</p>
<p>@Brown Parent, yes my aid for 2013-2014 is taken care of and yes a large portion of my aid comes from my school, but I also have Cal and Pel grants. I looked for your message but did not see it. Maybe it did not send?</p>
<p>@Eightiegreat, yeah I’m kind of hoping he won’t have a job come tax season and will not be able to file separately as it will be a couple hundred dollars to do so. Regarding my mom getting a tax transcript if he files separately, if I have his transcript without his permission is that all I need to complete my Fafsa? They filled together last year so I’m not familiar with how it would work with two transcripts since it is now required to use the fed app to submit the info. Would that be some type of fraud issue? Why is my mom is with him? Honestly think she’s with him because she has 3 kids. I haven’t done anything to my father to deserve this, but we’ve never had a good relationship. When he was released from prison he began to drink a lot and just became really cruel. I feel he’s a toxic person so I spend very little time around him. We live in the same house but I could go days without seeing him.</p>
<p>You may be able to receive the college aid, and get unsub Stafford loans for the federal portion if the info I have is correct. </p>
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<p>Unfortunately, failure of the parent to comply with aid regulations is not enough to allow the student to receive unsub loans. The ability to borrow unsub as a dependent without parent info is only available to students whose parents sign a statement verifying that the student receives and will continue to receive absolutely no assistance whatsoever from the parent … including housing, insurance, money, etc.</p>
<p>OP, my guess is that your parents will be filing jointly next year. If your family qualifies for Pell grants, my guess is that your family also qualifies for the EIC come tax time. Your family would be disqualified from EIC if your parents filed separately rather than jointly. In addition, they would lose your education credit. And, as you noted, your parents would have to pay for two tax returns, if they do not prepare their own return.</p>
<p>I would just avoid arguing about this for the time being and let the figures speak for themselves next winter.</p>
<p>I agree OP, there is an excellent chance your dad would be leaving thousands of dollars on the table if he files separately (potentially giving up all or part of child tax credit, earned income tax credit, american opportunity credit, perhaps others). This is especially true if he only has unemployment and/or limited earned income. Not likely that he would do that just to spite you. I would just ignore the problem, it’s very likely to go away when he realizes this on his own at tax filing time.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for putting my mind a little bit at ease, I’ll be taking your advice and ignoring the issue, one my dad realizes how much money he’d lose by filling separately there is a very very small chance that he would decide to do so since my family is pretty poor.one last thanks to everyone who took the time to respond u truly appreciate it!</p>
<p>Did your mother conceive you and your siblings during your father’s 28 year prison sentence? Were they married before he went to prison? I apologize for my curiosity but yours is a most unusual situation.</p>
<p>@Electronblue, yes we were all conceived during my fathers 28 year sentence, and my mother met and married him while he was incarcerated. Although she has confessed to me that at the time she did not know the severity of his sentence (15-life). And yes it is a rather unusual circumstance no longer possible since prisoners with a life sentence are no longer allowed such privileges.</p>