<p>I was born overseas. My Mom and my biological father got divorced when I was 10 years old. He never paid child support to my Mom. My Mom got remarried and we moved to U.S. in 2005. I live with my Mom and step-Dad. My step-Dad is NOT my legal guardian, there is no court decision or any other papers. We are a family, we live together as one household. My Mom and step-Dad file a joint tax return; my name is on it as dependent.
In Common Application I will put my Mom as a first parent; my biological father will be a second parent (he is alive) without any contact information on him.
My step-Dad will not be on application because he is not my legal guardian.</p>
<p>My question is: how this situation will affect FAFSA reporting and colleges financial aid if the gross family income (shown on 1040) is more than $80000.00, but my Mom is earning less than $35000.00 a year?</p>
<p>For the FAFSA, you will have to list your mom and your stepdad as they are married, and report their total income and assets…for both of them. Their tax filing status has NO BEARING on how you complete the FAFSA. If you live with your mom, and she is married, you are required to report both your mom’s and her spouse’s income/assets. It also doesn’t matter a speck that your stepdad has not “adopted” you and is not your “guardian”. Doesn’t matter. He is a member of your family…and his income and assets must be included on the FAFSA.</p>
<p>Your bio dad’s info does NOT get included on the FAFSA at all…not at all…because your parents are divorced.</p>
<p>Another thing…if you apply to any schools requiring the CSS Profile, you could very well have to list EVERYONE…mom, stepdad, dad and dad’s spouse if he has one. You will definitely need to include your mom and stepdad. If the school requires the non-custodial parent Profile or requires info from the non-custodial parent by using a school form…you will have to include your dad/his wife too.</p>
<p>Thumper is correct - your mom and your stepdad both go on your FAFSA. For the profile it will depend on whether the non-custodial parent information is required. So for Profile, again it is your household - your mom and stepdad and then your bio-father family information on the non-custodial if requested/required.</p>
<p>Thumper and Mom3 are correct. A step parent is treated exactly the same as a biological parent for FAFSA. You will have to report you Mom and Stepdad’s income and assets. His not being your guardian, not being on any court papers, or adopting you is irrelevant. </p>
<p>From the FAFA instructions:
</p>
<p>Your birth dad’s info is not needed for FAFSA and federal aid, but will be required for any schools requiring CSS (in addition to your Mom and Stepdad).</p>
<p>Makes sense to include the step-parent. The mom is not living on her income alone. Not sure what the fair treatment is, but leaving off one income earner in the household wouldn’t be the right way…I’m sure the step-parents out there don’t like it though!</p>
<p>Maybe it works out in the end as a lot of times both of the divorced people get remarried and become the “step” on the FAFSA…If bio dad had been successful and had steps of his own, he’d be on THEIR fafsa, while your step dad is on yours. can’t just be leaving all these people off fafsa entirely or everybody would get divorced when kids hit college! Does that make sense?</p>
<p>My question is: how this situation will affect FAFSA reporting and colleges financial aid if the gross family income (shown on 1040) is more than $80000.00, but my Mom is earning less than $35000.00 a year?</p>
<p>Your household income is more than $80,000. That’s what goes on FAFSA. As mentioned above, your mom isn’t living on $35k per year. The family is living on $80k+ per year.</p>