Hello Everyone!
I am currently a high school junior and have recently been looking at the fafsa, however, I am unsure how to fill out the section about taxes and income due to my family situation. I live with my mom and her boyfriend however my mom doesn’t work and hasn’t filed her taxes since 2015/2016 (last time she worked). My father hasn’t ever payed child support and doesn’t reside in the U.S. (Nothing on that side). My mom’s boyfriend does claim me as a dependent on his taxes every year (Also my mom has no assets). So yeah, how exactly do I go about completing the fafsa parent section?
You live with your mom and you would report her income from 2017.
If she is not married to the boyfriend, then I don’t think his income is reported on the FAFSA.
If her income is really $0 then you probably will be subject to verification by the school. They will probably want to know how your mom pays for living expenses.
And if no tax return was filed she will probably need a non filers verification letter from the IRS.
Thank you for the advice! My mom didn’t have any income from 2016/2017, She stopped working in July of 2015 when we moved in with her boyfriend. He works and supports us both. He has also claimed me as a dependent.
You won’t file the fafsa until Oct 1 of your senior year.
For school year 2020-21, you’ll use 2018 income and tax info. if your mother has ANY income in 2018, she might want to file a return. It’s unlikely she’d owe any taxes, but if she files she could use the data retrieval tool to transfer her information on the FAFSA website. It’s much easier.
Or maybe just would indicate no income. But it will be flagged to have you explain how you live. Then you’d indicate that your mom’s BF supports you.
WARNING…make sure your mom and BF understand that if they marry, then new-step-dad’s income will count, so if BF won’t help pay much/any for college, then they shouldn’t get married while you’re in college.
I just wanted to add…
It’s very likely that you will not get enough aid to attend college, so you might mention to your mom that it would be a good idea for her to get a job, even if only part-time, and start saving some money in a 529 for college.
Most low income students do NOT get enough aid to attend college.
Hello, first just me thank you for helping me!
Some more information:
My mom has no income and no assets as she stays home and looks after my little sister so she will not be filing anytime soon. My mom and her bf also have no intention on getting married while I am in college. As for aid goes, I expect most of my undergraduate schooling to be payed for in scholarships.
What was your PSAT score? Is it high enough to qualify for NMF status in your state?
What schools are you targeting? You do realize that you will need to be near the top of the applicant pool to receive significant scholarships?
The schools that meet full need for all should be viewed as reach schools, if you are anticipating need based full funding aid.
In terms of full FREE rides via scholarships...you need to understand...these are not particularly plentiful and go,to the very tippy top accepted students.
You need to research schools and cast a broad net...looking at schools that will be affordable. This should include schools where you can commute, as well as places where your will get decent aid.
As a single parent, the net price calculators will not be accurate UNLESS they specifically ask about marital status.
Where is your bio dad? Most of the colleges that meet full need require info from both parents either via the non-custodial parent Profile, or a school form. Exception is University of Chicago.
Unless you are a tippy top student, please don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Getting full funding for college is not easy.
My current GPA is a 3.97 unweighed and 4.15 weighed.
PSAT score was not as high as I wanted it to be probably doesn't qualify
I plan on going to the university of minnesota twin citites (as a target school) and possibly missouri science and technology university, with my safety school being the university of arkansas at fayetteville. I do realize that but I feel as if my ACT score (34) plus my accomplishments should put me up at the top of the applicant pool. I am very lucky to be attending the Arkansas School for Mathematics Science and the Arts (ASMSA), which is a school that offers great opportunities to the students who get accepted into it.
-- 7. Understandable
My father left the US when I was 2, He isn't a US citizen and he resides somewhere in Saudi Arabia (Not exactly sure where).
Do not assume that at all. Most schools do not give that much aid.
Arkansas is Your home state, correct?. A school like Missouri S&T may give you a merit award, but you’ll also be gapped in coverage…especially if you’re OOS.
You’re also OOS for MinnTC so don’t expect a lot of aid there either. There’s lots of top students there. Run the Net Price Calculator. You’ll get some aid but likely be gapped.
Run the Net Price Calculators on various schools’ websites.
Apply to a few schools that will give you HUGE merit for your stats…at least free tuition. With free tuition, a Pell grant, WS and a Student loan, you may get enough at some schools…but probably not at UMinnTC.
Full financial aid is difficult to get. The earlier posters are right on target in giving you these warnings. Yes, there are schools out there that may give you a full ride, but you have to find them, and there are very sure that guarantee awards up front on test scores and grades. Several of the ones I saw a few years ago no longer offer these scholarships as sure things. You have to apply for them, and not everyone who is qualified gets one.
Those who need or expect a lot of financial aid should cast a wide net in types of schools and look at what is available in terms of need and merit at each school on the list. Most schools gap and there are very few full ride scholarships out there and the competition is fierce for most of them. Ironically, the most selective schools, like HPY give the most generous financial aid awards, but getting into any of those schools is truly competitive and a long shot for anyone.