Some FAFSA questions

Paying for College
1

<p>Hello everyone,</p>

<p>I found this site after Googling my question. I'm stuck at the FAFSA Household question. I will be returning to college to work on a second bachelors degree in the fall, so I'm filling out the 2009-2010 application. According to FAFSA, I am considered as independent. I am 24 and will be filing my taxes; my parents can't claim me as a dependent. But I'm unemployed at the moment and they've been helping me pay my bills (student loans) last year. I'm currently living with my parents and sister. What do I put in to the Household question? Or should I answer "Yes" to "Do you want to answer questions about your parents?" I put "No" initially. </p>

<p>And I'm also considering filling out the 2008-2009 application because I might attend classes in the summer sessions. I've started filling that out and, again, FAFSA says I am considered independent, but I do believe my parents were able to claim me for the 2007 tax year. I'll have to double check, but I'm pretty sure they did, as they were paying my tuition (so they were able to get the Hope credit, I think) and I was under their insurance at the time. But do I still fill out my parents' info for this year, as well?</p>

<p>If someone can help, it'll be much appreciated. This was so much easier the first time around.</p>

2

<p>If you are independent for FAFSA (which you are if you are 24 - does not matter if they claim you on their taxes, dependent for taxes and dependent for FAFSA are 2 different things) then you do not have to fill out your parents information. It is an option because certain professional schools such as medical school still want it. But it will not affect your EFC at all. Your EFC will be based on your income and assets. Number in household would be 1 - you. Your parents and sister are not your dependents so you do not include them as part of your household.</p>

<p>Completing</a> the FAFSA 07-08/The Application Question(79)</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the reply, swimcatsmom! That's what I put initially for the 2009-2010 form, but I was not 100% sure. Now for questions about student's untaxed income, where it asks for money received or paid on student's behalf not reported elsewhere on the form, I do include the money my parents put forth to pay my student loans, correct?</p>

<p>Now the 2008-2009 one is more tricky. It does consider me an independent, but what do I put for whether I received Education credits in 2007. I did not file taxes that year since I did not work, but my parents claimed me as an dependent and was about to get an Education credit because of my student status. So do I put "Yes" or "No" for this question? I'm probably making it more complicated than it should be, sorry. :/</p>

4

<p>If you did not get education credits on your own tax return then you answer no to the tax credit question. Your parents got the tax credit not you. You are answering questions about you, not them. Don't mix the two up.</p>

<p>I am not sure about the other question. The instructions for the questions are

[quote]

Money received. Enter the amount of any cash support you received from a friend or relative (other than your parents, if you are a dependent student). Cash support includes payments made on your behalf. For instance, if your aunt pays your rent or utility bill that you would otherwise be obligated to pay yourself, you must report those payments here.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I personally would not have thought to include the payments they are making on your education loans. I would think of it more if they were paying your rent etc. I would not swear that is correct though.</p>

5

<p>Thank again!</p>

<p>Do you think my finaid reward would change any if I put the amount of money paid towards my student loans or 0? Don't know if a change in what I put in will affected things or not. In regards to my student loans, I am out of the grace period so I receive a monthly statement from my lenders and thus obligated to pay. The question shows up for me as, "j) Money received, or paid on your behalf (e.g., bills), not reported elsewhere on this form (question 47j)" I thought my student loans would have to be included in that? </p>

<p>I guess I'm all set to submit in my forms except for this question. I'm confused as to what to put for the 2008-2009 form either for this same question since they paid for my tuition that year.</p>

6

<p>I would not expect you to list the loan payments your parents make. What we ask students to list is bills that are in their name that are paid by someone else (such as a cell phone bill, a car payment, etc). Beyond that, you are not expected to list anything if you don't make any money. If we verify a student like you, we have no problem with the student telling us that they were living with their parents & supported by their parents. The feds consider you independent for f/a purposes, so you are - even if you are not financially independent.</p>

7

<p>Remember that if you're going for a second bachelor's degree, federal financial aid is limited. I think the only thing that you can get for a second undergraduate degree is an unsubsidized Stafford loan.</p>

8

<p>Second bachelor students are eligible for subsidized loans. Lifetime limits for undergrad loans are 23000 sub and 54500 sub/unsub combination (independent). Once that limit is reached ... no more Staffords at undergrad level.</p>

<p>Perkins may be available, if the school has them & you qualify based on EFC.</p>

<p>Be careful --- if you are doing prerequisites into any programs, you may be placed into a classification that limits your loans. Make sure you are getting into a program that is considered a regular, degree seeking undergrad program.</p>

9

<p>Thanks kelsmom! So I should just put 0 for that question. What about the 2008-2009 app when it asks the same question for 2007? My parents paid for tuition, but should I still put 0?</p>

10

<p>I would be returning to work on pre-requisites required with the intended goal of applying for a professional program. It's all up in the air at the moment, as I'd have to gather more information to decide which path I want to take, either doing pre-reqs for the pharmacy program or pre-reqs for the nursing program (leaning more towards the former). Either way, I'll need to complete the pre-requisites. </p>

<p>My advisor told me that I could do this through the school's Bachelors of General Studies program, which would give me the status of working towards a second degree and getting aid. </p>

<p>Since things are not set in stone just yet, my school advised me to just apply for financial aid. If I don't enroll in the summer/fall, then they'll just throw my application out. </p>

<p>I only lived on campus the first year of college. The rest of the years, I went to a regional campus while living at home, so I don't think I've exhausted my financial aid options yet. </p>

<p>Actually, one more question in regards to the FAFSA application. Where it says my student status in 2009-2010, I put "Attended college before/1st year" Is this right?</p>

11

<p>Nevermind on the grade level question. I did some research and I guess BGS programs are junior-senior level, so I should put that down. </p>

<p>Kelsmom, or anyone else, if you can answer the tuition question, it would be much appreciated. I think that's the last thing I want to be sure on before I submit the applications. I should put "0"?</p>

12

<p>0 for that is correct.</p>

<p>Again, remember that second bachelor students are not eligible for Pell or FSEOG.</p>

13

<p>Hi Everyone, </p>

<p>I found this forum extremely helpful in the few remaining hours I have to complete my FAFSA.</p>

<p>I am in a similar situation to frj84 (already completed a bachelor's; 30 yrs old), and I have two questions:</p>

<ol>
<li>Since I am applying to 2nd bachelors' programs AND masters' programs;</li>
</ol>

<p>-in section 1, Student Information: </p>

<p>"When you begin the 2009-2010 school year, what do you expect your enrollment status to be?" </p>

<p>"When you begin the 2009-2010 school year, what degree or certificate will you be working on?"</p>

<p>-Since I am applying to some schools for part-time or full-time undergraduate programs and some other schools as a full-time grad student, and one school as BOTH, should I be completing two versions of the 2009-2010 FAFSA? Or just checking "other/undecided" (for degree program status) and "don't know" (for enrollment status)</p>

<ol>
<li>Am unmarried and claim "single" status on taxes/fafsa but am unsure how to report "cash support," since I live with my fiance and he has helped me with rent / utilities / sundry expenses for the past year as I have been in school part-time.</li>
</ol>

<p>-For the months of which he paid for my portion of the rent, should I include this amount (we do not have a lease, we are month-to-month renters with a verbal agreement with our good friends, thus there is no "bill"...say what you will about the wisdom of this :P)</p>

<p>-In general, I tend to do some grocery shopping, etc with a credit card in his name. Include these expenses?</p>

<p>-He has definitely paid our oil bill, which is listed in my name. </p>

<p>-From your responses above, are you recommending I do not list any tuition payments my fiance made?</p>

<p>-Are transfers of cash into my bank account applicable to this total?</p>

<p>This section of the FAFSA is pretty mystifying to me... </p>

<p>Thanks for your help!</p>

14

<p>Are you applying to different schools for UG and grad programs? If so, you can do a UG version & send it to those schools - wait for processing to be complete - then update it to grad, erase the old schools, and put in the schools for the grad applications. If you are applying to the same schools for UG & grad, it's a bit trickier. Your estimated awards are based on your program - so you need to have a clue what program you will be entering in order to get a true idea of your awards. My advice in this case is to do the UG app, because there is typically more available in the way of institutional aid for UG students. Grads usually just get loans. You wouldn't want to miss out on any institutional UG grants in case you do end up UG.</p>

<p>You would list any financial help you received in your name. So the bills that are in your name that your fiance pays should be tallied up & claimed as cash support. Bills in his name do not need to be reported (although some schools may ask for that info later & take it into account). You should list the amount he paid for your tuition, if he did pay for it - that is a bill that is in your name that he paid.</p>

<p>If you find that your status changes from what you put on your FAFSA (that is, UG or grad), make sure to update it. If you don't, your aid might get messed up (many schools use computer systems linked to the FAFSA to award aid). </p>

<p>A caution: if you end up in a UG program that is actually prereq's into a grad program, your eligibility for aid may be limited. Please make sure you stay on top of the type of program you are in & how aid is impacted by your classification.</p>

15

<p>Thanks, Kelsmom, you're a huge help :)</p>

<p>The ONE institution that I am applying to for both bachelor's and master's programs is actually my alma mater. They have informed me that I will not be eligible for any institutional support for the 2nd BFA degree. I was really not seriously considering matriculating anyway, maybe just attending as a visiting student, and that would not all for any aid. With that in consideration, I guess I am safe just sending the document at the graduate level to that school. </p>

<p>FAFSA re-submission/updating based on the specific institutions makes sense, although I have to verify how long it takes to process the first FAFSA.</p>

<p>I guess this would be easier if I knew for sure what degree I am more likely to take, but I am still totally unsure. Hmm...</p>

<p>...well, thinking about it, I guess the stakes are much higher for me as a graduate student; I think there may really be only 1 UG program I am potentially going to enroll in as a degree-earning-student (and great point there about the prereq thing, although I am not using the UG to do that). </p>

<p>As you point out, the UG awards are more numerous, but in one specific case it could really foul up my Grad app to submit the FAFSA as an UG because I indend to do a "provisional year" at undergrad level as part of my Grad degree, and G loan will accomodate that.</p>

<p>What do you think of this: if I submit my FAFSA today (as Grad) to make my deadlines, and resubmit as needed if my status changes after hearing back from the graduate programs? The UG program I'm really interested in will not review my application until April as I would be considered under "transfer" applicants. </p>

<p>So confusing...thank you for your advice!
And for the advice about the bills, as well. Very helpful.</p>

16

<p>Your FAFSA-submission plan sounds good.</p>

<p>"I indend to do a "provisional year" at undergrad level as part of my Grad degree, and G loan will accomodate that.
Are you sure? Make sure. The provisional programs with which I am familiar have to award loans at an undergrad level, and some are very restricted on the amounts & timeframe. Please check so that you don't have any unpleasant financial surprises. I have had to deal with some very disappointed students in these programs.</p>

17

<p>okay, I'll make sure. Now I know to be careful...</p>

<p>Thanks, and take care!</p>

18

<p>Bumping this thread I made a month back because I think I made a mistake on my FAFSA and wondering if it will make a difference, or if I actually did do this wrong in the first place. </p>

<p>This is the section I <em>may</em> have made a mistake on:</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>I have some credit cards that my parents pay the bills on. I know it says that relative means other than my parents IF I am a dependent student. But I’m considered independent now. Should I have still included my parents paying for my bills on my behalf? </p>

<p>I went to the FAFSA correction page, and it doesn’t seem to have included this question in things you can correct on the form?</p>

19

<p>I think if you are independent you need to include the bills your parents are paying as cash support. </p>

<p>frj, is there a FAFSA hotline you can call to find out how to adjust that total? </p>

<p>Also, is it a huge amount? I can imagine a few thousand $$ will make that much an impact on your award, but I don’t know…</p>

20

<p>You are supposed to include any amounts paid by other IN YOUR NAME as untaxed income. To update the amount, just go back into your FAFSA ([FAFSA</a> - Free Application for Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov%5DFAFSA”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov)) and click the link to correct a submitted FAFSA. It may or may not make much difference - it depends on the amount.</p>