<p>While the assumption of financial aid is that parents will help their children, there is no law requiring them to do so. That doesn’t mean the student will never be able to go to school, though. Many, many students have found ways to make it work despite their parents. Yes, it is hard - but it can be done. Kids from homes where the parents are a hindrance rather than a help do make it.</p>
<p>I agree that most parents of “disadvantaged” kids do want to help their kids - they just don’t always know how. Fortunately, there are lots of people willing to help them help their kids … or help the kids help themselves and their parents. There are College Goal Sundays across the U.S. in February, where finaid professionals work with parents and students to complete the FAFSA. Colleges all over the U.S. offer FAFSA days, and aid officers are willing to help parents/students one-on-one if they call & schedule an appointment - and some schools even have walk-in help available on a regular basis during the busy FAFSA-filing months (Jan-March). High schools have college financial aid nights, as do community organizations.</p>
<p>As a financial aid officer, I even called parents directly to explain to them the importance of filling out the FAFSA if the students told me the parents wouldn’t give them the needed info.</p>
<p>There are so many resources available. People want to help. </p>
<p>By the way, if a parent doesn’t file taxes … whether he doesn’t need to or needs to but fails to do so … a mandatory IRS link is useless. In order for the student to get aid when there is no IRS info, the parent must complete paperwork for a non-filer. So the mandatory link thing doesn’t really help those who may need it most.</p>