Zero EFC questions

Paying for College
1

Hello thanks for everything as I have some questions about EFC and what not but here is my backstory.

I am currently a HS student getting ready for college (class of 16) and one of the things I’m leaving looking at is aid and in particular federal aid. You see I live with my mom and my step dad and we have zero “income” since we live off of child support from my dad (who has nothing to do with me at all) and my step dad’s disability (he is retired do to health issues).
Likewise with Zero taxable income I want to know the following

  1. Will my dad's income (100k plus a year) effect me in any way as I don't have anything to do with him and live with my mom and step dad?
  2. Does FAFSA consider child support when I apply?
  3. I've been using the FAFSA calc and it estimates I'll get about 5775 in Pell grants, does that sound to high for a zero EFC?

Thanks for everything

2

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You see I live with my mom and my step dad and we have zero “income” since we live off of child support from my dad (who has nothing to do with me at all) and my step dad’s disability (he is retired do to health issues).


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Will your child support end once you graduate?

I’m not sure, but the stepdad’s disability income may get included as income.

Are all your schools FAFSA only schools.

3

The Child support my mom gets for me will end once I graduate although she will continue to get it for my sister for another year.

Also yes the colleges I currently plan to apply to are only FAFSA

4

For FAFSA only you have to report any child support it doesn’t matter who it is for, it is income for your mom. Not sure how disability is handled, I think mostly not reported but there are some cases it is (when taxible?)

  1. No for FAFSA only schools (yes for others)
  2. yes
  3. No, not too high, that is the full Pell and 0 EFC gets the full Pell. You also have access to a student loan of 5,500 freshman year. Any other money has to come from your family or the college or outside scholarships and hopefuly some work/study and summer earnings.
5

@BrownParent

So for 1 it would matter for CSS/profile colleges?
2. I know that CS is considered (I think its listed as NON-Taxables or something?) but how much does it matter compared to say taxable income? I.e can you have a 0 EFC if non taxable exceeds 25k

6

Both parents income are used for colleges that have CSS Profile yes, but those schools often give more aid. Income is income it doesn’t matter what kind of income. I haven’t run numbers lately to know the highest income for 0 efc, use calculators and see. If you income is showing as very low, keep documentation on how you live because you will likely get verified and they will want evidence of everything, especially the disability.

7

Ok so I think I got it

In divorced couples the non custody parent’s income does not count for fafsa but for css and for certain private colleges?

Also I checked it and my pell grant is about 2225 assuming Child Support and my step dad’s disability+ social security (he is retired) both are considered income.

I guess I’ll just have to ask FAFSA with my parents to clarify everything.

Thanks for everything as its kind of confusing as this is the first time my family has had some one go to college in 40+ years for my step dad so we are learning.

8

What are you going to “ask FAFSA”? The FAFSA is a financial aid application form…not something you can question.

9

@thumper1 I know I just was referring to calling for help regarding it

10

You need to have a specific question to ask them. You now know your father is not included since you don’t live with him and he is not custodial parent, that is settled. Your mother must report any child support, that is settled. That is settled.

About the disability and social security payments that is a little more tricky. Can you please tell exactly what he is getting. If he gets SSI I do not think that is reported. It is confusing to me because the federal guidelines indicate sometimes they are reported. But see this quote from a former thread from @kelsmom who used to be an aid officer post #2
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/864695-effect-of-social-security-disability-on-fafsa.html

SSI is not reported anywhere on the FAFSA for anyone in the family.

For regular social security payments: If they are taxed, they are included in the AGI already. If the social security payments are untaxed, the untaxed portion is not reported.

11

@BrownParent

I was going to ask regarding SS.

My step dad receives Social Security Disability and pays no taxes on it.

I understand the child support now and the thing with my dad but needed to make sure.

This really does effect us as it will drastically change the Pell grant money I receive (SSD+CS vs CS Only)