I’m going to be attending UofL in fall of 2016 and my mom is on disability due to a deteriorated hip. My father passed away my freshman year of high school, so I’m not able to create a FAFSA for him. How will my financial aid be affected, and how will I even be able to fill out a FAFSA for my mom if she has no W2s or 1040s forms?
Thanks
Is this social security disability or private disability? Social security disability isn’t reported on fafsa. Private disability is reported, either as taxed or untaxed income depending on it’s tax status. If your mom has no income, the school(s) will likely want to know how you survive on no other income with no tax returns. There will be forms to fill out for this. If you and your mom are receiving support from other family members, then that may affect things depending on the nature of the support.
File your FAFSA using your mom only. Do you have any other source of income to live on or is the disability it? Are you on any benefits programs like free lunch?
The way aid works is that you can get federal aid but grants max is usually 5770, loan 5500. Anything else has to come from state aid or college aid, if it is available.
UofL is Louisville, and you are accepted already?
I’m on survivors’ benefits from my dad working and him being a veteran of the vietnam war. I was wondering also if I could even get a waiver since my father is deceased and was in active duty during a wartime period. I have been accepted to UofL and I’m going to be applying for scholarships in the next month. Sorry for the late reply I’ve been busy with school and work.
Also, I’m no longer living with my mom as she can no longer support me due to her medical issues. I am living with my girlfriend and supporting myself off of my survivors’ benefits check. So am I considered independent since my mother isn’t supporting me?
You are not independent for federal financial aid until you are in the military, 24 or married .
Aren’t I eligible for a dependency override though since my situation I’m no longer dependent on anyone in my family. My mother can’t even legally claim me on her taxes because I’m not living with her.
Because my mom isn’t physically and semi-mentally capable of taking care of me, so I have to care for myself without her help.
Sorry for this difficult topic. My situation is just very different from others and it’s going to be a long journey to resolve for college.
Sorry, but you still have to use your mom’s info… doesn’t matter that you’re living with your GF and living off your benefits.
Some of your benefits will end once you turn 18. Are you aware of that? Or are these GI education benefits?
If you’re “living off your aid,” then I’m not sure what you mean by saying that you can’t live with your mom. If you can live off with a GF using your aid, then why can’t you live with your mom? I guess it doesn’t matter, it’s just doesn’t make sense.
Anyway…if this is U of Illinois, then even as a low income student, it may not be affordable, since it gives LOUSY aid.
Is this another school?
Are you getting some kind of VA benefits and went to a community college first?
If your mom isn’t required to file a tax return, then you would just indicate that. If she is, then use that info.
Her income may not be taxable. Try to find out.
The OP has said U of L but hasn’t clarified if that’s Louisville.
The OP used the term “semi-mentally” in saying the mom isn’t able to provide any support. If this is a documented mental illness or something like beginning Alzheimer’s, I think the OP should at least inquire about a dependency override. Not that it will result in much more, if any, additional aid. OP, can you clarify your mom’s mental issues?
But it sounds like even if the OP needs to supply mom’s info on fafsa, that there will be a very low income. You can fill out fafsa with her info even if she doesn’t have W-2s or file taxes. There will likely be some other forms the school will require you to fill out. But it can be done.
Having himself declared independent might hurt him now or at some point. His mom likely earns so little that he may qualify for auto zero.
If he gets declared independent, then his earnings could hurt his EFC.
Even if it’s ULouisville or Iowa or some other school, it may not give much aid.
@nemesiis Do you live near UL? Do you plan on commuting? If not, do you plan on getting an off-campus apt near school?