<p>My parents are divorced and have been for years, they were simply living together for reasons of affordability. MY dad makes six digits, but my mom has been on unemployment and just got her nursing license. BUt she will still probably not be making very good money for a few years. I am in junior college so i only have school three days a week. I will be staying with her the days i am not in school, so four days a week. </p>
<pre><code>1)WOuld this mean only her income counts? Even if my dad is going to be the one to help me me pay for college if needed?
2)Also if so, and say my EFC drops to 7k, or something, still considering a COA of 25K(UCSD or UCB), how much of that 18k would realistically be covered through govt aide? Lastly, in this case could my dad cover the EFC of 7K eventhough my mom is the one the EFC is being based off of?
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<p>The “government” will offer you a Stafford loan of $7500 if you are a junior. Beyond that the government is not going to pay more than that.</p>
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<p>ANYONE can pay your EFC. The college really doesn’t care where the money comes from.</p>
<p>If your parents are divorced, the test is this: with whom did you live the most in the PAST 12 MONTHS? If it was both parents (that is, if they lived together), you have to use the parent who makes more money (because that parent contributed the most). If they were not living together the past 12 months, you use the parent with whom you lived the most during the past 12 months, even if that parent earns less. It might not make sense, but that’s how it works.</p>
<p>“The parents must be considered legally separated in order to use just one parent’s income.” </p>
<p>Hmmm… The FAFSA form does not say “legally” separated, just separated. The financial aid counselors who I’ve spoken with have always said it basically means the parents live apart, have 2 separate households and have no intention of being one family unit-- even if they aren’t legally separated (which usually means with a separation agreement). I agree with you that it doesn’t mean people who are just living apart for job purposes but I wouldn’t say they have to be legally separated.</p>
<p><a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/siteresources/WhoIsParent%2009-10_tagged.pdf[/url]”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/siteresources/WhoIsParent%2009-10_tagged.pdf</a></p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>I agree. I think the difference is couples who are living apart because of job, etc. (but are still very much married)…and couples who are living apart because the marriage is failing.</p>