suspicion: our rent too close to income?

<p>How are colleges going to react to this situation?</p>

<p>My mom makes 20K/year (father is deceased) and our monthly rent is very high at $1,400/month. This leaves about $3,000/year for other expenses (divided between mom, me, sister). It seems unreasonable, but this is how we've been living. Local churches and organizations are always helping us with food and supplies, as are our grandparents.</p>

<p>Middlebury recently emailed me, asking me to fill out an extra form that explains how we are meeting our expenses on such a tight flow of money, and with such high rent. I'll explain to them that others have helped us continuously, and that we receive other aid, through food stamps, etc. Receiving help from others, such as food, has become so customary to my family's daily life that we didn't mention it on the CSS. I regret not mentioning this on the "extenuating circumstances section".</p>

<p>For all the other colleges, I have already submitted my apps and CSS. I just don't want other colleges to feel similarly "suspicious" and somehow use that against me. Middlebury is kind enough to follow through, by asking me to fill an extra form. However, I am concerned that other schools will simply remain suspicious, and that it will affect the admissions decision.</p>

<p>Will this count against me? How do you think colleges will react? I'm applying to several Ivys, top LACs, top 25 schools, etc. This college app season is really stressful, and I need the money that top schools can offer. I know that no one can know for sure how they will react, I just want your opinions.</p>

<p>Hopefully I am just over-thinking this... :)</p>

<p>I don’t think you’re over thinking this. There are very few families making $20K that could make that rent. It will seem clear that you’re not living on that income. Your grandparents seem like a more probable bet than charity, and help from anyone (including food stamps) is supposed to be reported.</p>

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<p>…but we are living on that income. And my mom used food stamps for a month.</p>

<p>Are we supposed to report that our grandparents and local churches supplied us with food? It has nothing to do with income. They’d bring boxes of canned goods every 3 to 4 weeks. Why would colleges care about that?</p>

<p>They didn’t give money to spend on food. They just gave us food.</p>

<p>We’re poor and there’s no hidden income. We’re not trying to game the system. We barely get enough food to survive.</p>

<p>Anyone else think that colleges will become suspicious? Our situation is 100% real but colleges might be more cynical. What do you think?</p>

<p>I think every school will look at it their own way, but realize, there are few people making $20K spending $17K on rent. It will raise questions.</p>

<p>Ok, thanks. I’ll just hope that they understand.</p>

<p>Would you suggest sending anything supplemental to financial aid offices? Or is there perhaps a way to explain my situation in the oncoming FAFSA?</p>

<p>I agree with those above…</p>

<p>Because along with rent, there’s phone, utilities, transportation, hair cuts, toiletries, personal hygiene products, laundry costs, etc. It’s hard to believe that since your dad passed that no clothing has had to be bought, no shoes, no underwear, no fast food, etc.</p>

<p>don’t the kids who are under 18 get Social Security?</p>

<p>3000 per year equals 250 dollars per month on all of those items listed above.
There’s just no way.</p>

<p>Ahem…if your mom EARNS $20,000 a year, her TAKE HOME pay is not $20,000 a year…it is less than that. There are federal taxes, SS contributions, state taxes (if your state has them) that are deducted from one’s earnings. That being the case…if your mom’s income is $20K, there is absolutely NO WAY your family could even be paying rent and utilities on the after tax dollars.</p>

<p>Colleges have every right to ask questions about situations like this. If it looks like the family has “other financial resources”, then the college has a right to know about them before they determine your need based aid. JUST be sure to have firm explanations for how you are meeting your living expenses, and the school should understand.</p>

<p>It’s none of my business, but if I were a college I’d be pretty darn curious too. I’d be curious how you were living without significant outside aid, and why if you were only making $20,000 a year you were living in such an expensive home. Tell them the truth and the best of luck, but they do have a right to know. What if (and I’m not saying you are) you were one of those self-employed people who are somehow able to hide hundreds of thousands of dollars and declare that your income is “only” $20,000?</p>

<p>Sit down now with your mom and prepare a well thought out letter explaining your circumstances. Include examples of the help you have received from the organizations you mention. Then send it to the FA office of each school you applied to (make sure your student # or SSN is on the letter). You might want to include a “reference” they can call (maybe a pastor) who can speak to the situation objectively.</p>

<p>In most instances I would recommend you wait until someone starts asking you questions. In this instance, I think the smarter course is to be proactive.</p>

<p>I don’t know how this all works…</p>

<p>But if the OP is saying that they get all FOOD and supplies (TP, kleenex, cleaning products, toiletries, clothing, etc) from charities and grandparents in non-cash aid, that is going to be hard to believe for a family of 3. That’s a lot of charity. It would seem that it would almost need to reported as some kind of non-cash income. However, I do think the grandparents are financially supporting this family - as many would lovingly do in such a circumstance.</p>

<p>Is the mom employed in a job that pays tips that haven’t been declared? Are the grandparents spending several hundred dollars a month on food and supplies? I know that my church helps the needy (and it’s a big church), but it can’t be the sole source of any family’s care (aside from rent) for any real length of time - just short-term.</p>

<p>I can’t help but wondering…since the grandparents are so generous, why not live WITH them. It would save a whole bunch on rent.</p>

<p>at my church there are DEFINITELY people living on what food they get from our pantry and what clothing is donated to them. Their kids (18 yo and under) have medical care covered by state insurance. These people make too much for food stamps or welfare, but not enough to live on.</p>

<p>^I’m curious though, if the church sees them living in housing not affordable to them, might they counsel them to rethink and help them find financial balance?</p>

<p>I think the OP is in Los Angeles. I’m not sure what housing costs are there. Is there such a thing as a $800 apartment? In my area, the LEAST you will spend for a 2 bedroom apt (excluding utilities) is 600-700 and that is really not going to get you much. If you go in to some of the really bad neighborhoods you might find something for less. Figure at least $150 for water/gas/electric (heck it costs $22 a month for the service fee on my water bill, my usage is less $$ than that)</p>

<p>There is a spot on the CSS PROFILE that allows you to explain things. Why didn’t you just put on there that your family is getting extra support from friends and family? I’m sure that colleges look at that portion. I had to explain on that portion that we don’t have medical insurance and so have high medical bills even though we never go to the hospital (my dad is diabetic and pays for his supplies). Besides, if you can provide proof that this is what your family makes, the colleges just have to ask for your tax returns and W2s and they will have proof that you are not lying. Good luck! :D</p>

<p>The colleges ask you to supply all sources of income which includes gifts.</p>

<p>I thought the OP was in AZ. Ether way, it becomes even more unbelievable that a family could survive on uner $300/mo in LA. You need a car and the gas alone along with the very high cost of living there has to beg questions.</p>

<p>I do not know jack squat about the CSS personally. But I do know that with anything like CSS, FAFSA, and taxes, you just follow the rules and prepare all your business nicely and good things will follow. </p>

<p>So if the CSS needs proof of a thing or two in the same fashion as the “random income verification checks” for FAFSA, then just bust out your proof and move on. There is no shame in any of that stuff at all, you would just be following a rule. </p>

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<p>So your mother does not get anything for being a widow with minor children? Nor does she get anything from the Department of Health and Human Services? </p>

<p>I live in the Bible Belt, so I know for sure that churches are helpful and would probably do a write up of whatever for your schooling. But, what are the other local organizations which are helping you guys out, they could do a write up of whatever for your schooling also, right? </p>

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<p>I think OP and OP’s family should seriously consider that. I really do. It would probably be easier as well as cheaper on the grandparents to just take them all in for a spell also. Well, unless if one of the grandparents have a serious health issue or something like that.</p>

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<p>Y’all are making a lot of assumptions without any data to go on. Perhaps they don’t live in a place big enough for 3 more people.</p>

<p>OP - I don’t have any particular advice about informing the schools of your special circumstance. But make sure your mom knows about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC or EITC), this could put literally several thousand dollars in her pocket every year. And as someone else mentioned, check with the Social Security office, kids under 18 (under 19 if still in high school) are entitled to benefits. And if your sister is under 16 I think your mom can get benefits too. This will help your family a lot, and are unlikely to affect FA at all.</p>

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<p>That is a wonderful idea for the OP’s mother.</p>

<p>Here is the link from the IRS web site for the OP about the criterion for that…</p>

<p>[Earned</a> Income Tax Credit (EITC) Questions and Answers](<a href=“http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96466,00.html]Earned”>http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96466,00.html)</p>

<p>The Social Security web site has a “screening tool” about things and it is informal. But, it would be a good idea to check it out. </p>

<p>Here is the Survivors Benefits Rules and whatnot from the Social Security web site…</p>

<p>[Survivors</a> Benefits](<a href=“http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10084.html]Survivors”>http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10084.html)</p>

<p>You had some wonderful ideas, notrichenough! Absolutely wonderful!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/804754-my-high-school-separate-state-my-permanent-address.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/804754-my-high-school-separate-state-my-permanent-address.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>OP is living with grandparents in CA and mom is in UT</p>