<p>Okay, due to a younger child having to train for a sport in a different state, there is a chance that my H & I will be living apart for most of the year and maintaining two households. We are married and plan to stay that way :)</p>
<p>Anyone have this situation or something similar that can tell me whether or not this could help the FAFSA formula? It will be a financial hardship and challenge for us but it just doesn't seem like there is a way to convey this on the form.</p>
<p>"If your parents are legally separated, the same rules that apply for a divorced couple are used to determine which parent's information must be reported. A couple doesn't have to be legally separated in order to be considered separated for purposes of the FAFSA. The couple may consider themselves informally separated when one of the partners has left the household."</p>
<p>So I suppose you could make an argument that you're "separated" if you're living apart when the FAFSA is filed. That could have benefits, since only one parent's income would be considered. However, I don't believe this is within the intent of FAFSA's guidelines, since you're married and intend to remain married.</p>
<p>I think you're asking whether the situation wherein you're maintaining two households, and shouldering the expenses that go along with that, can be taken into consideration in the FAFSA formula. The short answer is no. In fact, the equity in your second home will likely be considered an asset, and hurt your eligibility for financial aid, while the expenses and related consumer debt won't be considered at all in the formula.</p>
<p>You might be able to contact the finaid officer at the college, and explain the situation, and see if they can apply some professional judgment to adjust the EFC somewhat.</p>