Really Scared, please help!

Paying for College
1

<p>I hope you guys can help me. Last year I selected no on a Fafsa question that asked if you had a car that you wanted to provide the info for. At the time I assumed it was optional to provide that info because of the way the question was phrased. Added to this, I never really considered the car to be truly mine because my husband is the one who bought the car (Pre-owned) but because his credit was bad, they used my info as the main person and he is listed as a cosigner (I am a student worker, my only income). My husband left me last year and is now in a new relationship (we are still married), but he is still paying for the car. He took it from me for a couple months last year and tried to sell it but he was unsuccessful. He has returned it to me and I currently use it. Due to all of this I have never really considered the car to be mine. </p>

<p>While filing Fafsa this year I encountered the question about the car again and put no as I did last year. The difference with my application this year is that I have filed as separated (even though I am not legally separated) because my husband left me. Almost to the end of the Fafsa application was a question about if I have any assets worth over $13,600. I put no and submitted my application (the car was not on my mind since I never really considered it to be mine). </p>

<p>Now I have been thinking about my application and my mind jolted about the assets question and the question about a car. I can't remember if the question said "current assets" or just "assets". And secondly, I don't know if it was mandatory for me to indicate that I have a car. This question was at the beginning of the application under personal info and not under the financial info section.</p>

<p>I am so scared that I hardly slept last night. I am not trying to defraud the gov't but I am afraid that if I attempt to change it now I might get in trouble. Can anyone advise on these two issues? Was it necessary to list the car and does the question near the end ask just about assets or current assets? If it is current assets then the car would not be considered as such right? </p>

<p>Please help ease my mind.</p>

2

<p>Are you sure it was the FAFSA and not the CSS Profile? FAFSA does not ask about vehicles, which are considered personal property. I think you misread the question but, in any case, assets that FAFSA asks about are reported at their net asset value (after loans). Do not report a car though!</p>

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<p>[Completing</a> the FAFSA: Financial Aid from the U.S. Department of Education](<a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/index.html]Completing”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/index.html)</p>

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<p>Yes, I am sure. I have never completed a CSS profile. At the start of the Fafsa application when you are entering the personal info they ask if you have a car whose info you wish to enter. I selected no.</p>

<p>At the second to last page of the Fafsa, the one before you sign, they asked if I had any assets (or maybe it was current assets) exceeding $13,600. I answered no. This question was surprising because I don’t remember seeing it last year. I supposed it was there because my info changed from married to separated. Not sure.</p>

<p>I am scared because I don’t want to do anything illegal.</p>

4

<p>The FAFSA does not ask about cars. It does ask for a DL number, which is optional. Maybe that’s what you are thinking of.</p>

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<p>You are definitely mistaken…as sandromo said, the first question you’re talking about is asking you if you want to enter your driver’s license information, NOT your car. The question about assets does not include vehicles…I posted the relevant section and link to the detailed FAFSA instructions. You’ve filed correctly, so relax!</p>

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<p>Ok, thank you. I think you are right that it is driver’s license and not a car. Assets question not referring to a vehicle is good to know too. Big relief! My mind is at ease now. I thought I would get arrested or something for fraud. You have no idea how scared I was. Thanks again.</p>

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<p>Why does the FAFSA want a driver’s license number?</p>

<p>I left it blank for my D because it is optional, and I couldn’t think of any reason anyone would need it.</p>

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<p>They want your DL to find you more easily in case of any future need to collect loan payments from you.</p>

9

<p>We skipped the question entirely. </p>

<p>Don’t be afraid to query the FAFSA site directly. Don’t be afraid, truly. They get a zillion questions everyday and they know that some of the questions are for friends so they don’t come hunt you down if you ask something like “if I have a winning lottery ticket and . . .” They just answer the question. </p>

<p>Good for you that you got to the bottom of this. Consider getting “How to pay for college without going broke” from the library. It steps through a lot of information and might put your mind to rest on other points.</p>