<p>I am trying to help a close family friend apply for federal financial aid but I am hitting a wall.<br>
Circumstances are as follows: full time college freshman, mother divorced and remarried. Aid seeker lived with mother and stepfather prior to enrolling in college. Mother and stepfather file jointly and declare Aid Seeker as dependent for tax calculation purposes. Mother makes <15k p.a. Combined income I am guessing is 100k. Biological father did not have custody and is financially unable and unwilling to contribute toward Aid seeker's education. No financial assistance has been, or will be forthcoming from stepfather or parents, other than lump some of approx $7k that mother saved and has already been distributed to Aid seeker. This amount is currently being used to support education and living. Aid seeker does not meet "independence" criteria for student loan purposes. </p>
<p>What are the options for someone who cannot get money from parents, cannot qualify for independence, yet parental income (almost entirely derived from un-related stepfather) is at 100k range? One more note. Aid seeker has very respectable academic marks but not in top 5 to 10% </p>
<p>FAFSA requires that the income of the parent and step parent be provided. There are no exceptions. Aid eligibility is based on the EFC which determines the family ability to contribute. Willingness or unwillingness of the parents to contribute is not taken into account. </p>
<p>This would not qualify as a special circumstance and a school would not be able to make an adjustment because of it.</p>
<p>I agree, this is a common situation. I never understand how stepparents feel that they did not marry into the whole situation…which includes educational expenses! My advice would be for the mom to work more hours if she wants her child to go to school full time…even living at home, $7K is not going to go very far. Presumably the stepdad’s income is paying most of their living expenses and hers would be available to apply to tuition/loan payments.</p>
<p>*My advice would be for the mom to work more hours if she wants her child to go to school full time…even living at home, $7K is not going to go very far. Presumably the stepdad’s income is paying most of their living expenses and hers would be available to apply to tuition/loan payments. *</p>
<p>I agree. Obviously the mom is underemployed because she’s sharing her H’s income. If she were to work more, she could contribute more. If she’s working less hours because she has more of the household responsibilities than the step-parent should NOT feel that some of his income should be hers to put towards child’s college costs. A step really shouldn’t feel that he can have it both ways…having a under-employed spouse to take care of the household, but then not contribute towards that spouse’s child’s education.</p>
<p>Thank you all for posting your replies so quickly. Your comments confirmed my suspicions the standard for eligibility is defined by ability to pay, not willingness. It makes sense. To address some of the other questions, the aid seeker works full time during the summer and part time during school. The mother also set aside some savings which she has already provided, but these sources are insufficient to cover expenses beyond this school year. Summer and part time work will not fill the gap. The mother has some disabilities which limit her ability to work.</p>
<p>Where is the student living, at home or away at school? How much does he need to come up with to cover next year’s costs? When his mom and stepdad file taxes they may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $2500 for his educational expenses, I think…perhaps they could at least throw that in the pot for next year. Is his mom willing to take on a Plus loan after he exhausts his student loan eligibility?</p>
<p>Sounds like his father doesn’t have much income…has his child support obligation ended? Would the student be eligible for financial aid if he could file FAFSA using his dad’s info? If so, he may want to have a discussion with dad about spending his summers and breaks with him so he can meet the FAFSA requirements in future years. Custody is not really an issue for kids beyond high school age (and often earlier) and I’ve known a few stepkids who moved in with the lower-income NCP after their custodial parent remarried without making adequate provisions for their educational expenses.</p>
<p>What do these kids do? Mostly they go to community college for 2 years and then borrow for the last 2 years at a state school. If they have the grades for significant merit aid they pursue that avenue.</p>