Parental income on FAFSA Forum

[Elliott_Smith]

So, my parents are separated/filing for divorce, which means FAFSA only lets me report income for one of them.

Do I just get to chose? Are there criteria I'm supposed to base this off of?

[Geetar Man]

So, my parents are separated/filing for divorce, which means FAFSA only lets me report income for one of them.

Do I just get to chose? Are there criteria I'm supposed to base this off of?

Wondering this as well. I wonder if it has some sort of connection to whoever "claims" you on their taxes.

[Elliott_Smith]

See there's my problem, I don't live at home and support myself.

Do I just get to list the parent with a lower income? It's a pretty big difference, seems dishonest. But then again my parents aren't contributing at all, so I'm still a little confused as to why I have to report their income in the first place.

[Geetar Man]

See there's my problem, I don't live at home and support myself.

Do I just get to list the parent with a lower income? It's a pretty big difference, seems dishonest. But then again my parents aren't contributing at all, so I'm still a little confused as to why I have to report their income in the first place.

Yeah, I honestly had the same problem. I was once told that FAFSA and filing taxes are entirely separate, and you should only put the person who supports you, financially, the most. Assuming that you're parents are divorced. But if neither support you, then it seems as if you should put whoever you want.

If neither of them support you what so ever financially, then I would probably just put the one with the lower income. I don't see how it's dishonest, since their income amount is true.

The only problem is that I don't know of anything (law, guideline, principle, etc..) that defines who you should put when you're in that situation. Intuitively, I would just put the person's income who would benefit me the most. I know there will be people who disagree with this, but it just feels like the right thing since neither parent supports you and you necessarily have to put down someone's income.

[sunynp]

Go with the lowest income. It isn't dishonest. You just indicate which parent's income you are reporting.

[lrslayer]

did they seperate/divorce while you were still at home? if so, you would put the income of the custodial parent. also, when you do need access you will have to put both anyways. so you might as well the info together.

[Elliott_Smith]

Nope, they just separated a year ago or so. What's need access?

[lrslayer]

Nope, they just separated a year ago or so. What's need access?

http://www.needaccess.org/home.aspx

used at the following schools:

American University Washington College of Law
Boston College Law School
Boston University School of Law
Brooklyn Law School
Columbia University Law School
Cornell University Law School
Duke University School of Law
Georgetown University Law Center
Harvard Law School
Hofstra University School of Law
Northwestern University School of Law
NYU School of Law
Stanford Law School
Suffolk University Law School
UC Davis School of Law
UCLA School of Law
University of Chicago Law School
University of DC - David A. Clarke School of Law
University of Michigan Law School
University of New Mexico School of Law
University of Pennsylvania School of Law
Vanderbilt University Law School
Yale University Law School

if you think the fafsa is nosey and annoying, just wait. need access blows. they want to know every detail down to how much you spend annually on toilet paper!

[grovevilleroad]

On my fafsa throughout my entire undergraduate, I used my fathers income, which was not the parent who had custody of me. Decide based on their income. They only ask to provide the parent household that supports you most, which they can never prove.

[lrslayer]

here dude, this may help:

http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attac ... ces/67.pdf

[Elliott_Smith]

Awesome, thanks for all the help!

[cal7777]

You don't need parent info for FAFSA, you are professional student at law school, therefore, are considered as independent. However, for need based aid, some schools require parent info, but that's separated form from FAFSA.

[der_saeufer]

You don't need parent info for FAFSA, you are professional student at law school, therefore, are considered as independent. However, for need based aid, some schools require parent info, but that's separated form from FAFSA.

QFT! Parental information is only for unmarried, non-active-duty-veteran undergrads (why yes, I did consider marrying my undergrad GF for aid money. Thank G-d I didn't.).

Need access asks for it, but it asks for both anyway.

[perotinus]

Any point in submitting Need Access if parents are in the 1% (but have many other expenses, so limited-no help)?

[Geetar Man]

Any point in submitting Need Access if parents are in the 1% (but have many other expenses, so limited-no help)?

PROBABLY not. I know plenty of people who don't get need based funding and have parents who are no where near the 1% and can't help their kin due to expenses.

REGARDLESS, you should still apply for it just so that you know for sure that you aren't eligible. It's not like applying costs anything.

[IAFG]

Any point in submitting Need Access if parents are in the 1% (but have many other expenses, so limited-no help)?

At some schools you have to fill this out to be considered for merit aid.

[JuneLSATFail]

What do you do on need-access if your parents are divorced and you don't have access to one of them?

[lrslayer]

What do you do on need-access if your parents are divorced and you don't have access to one of them?

i called and asked and they said do your best then explain in the notes section at the end. hth

[Elliott_Smith]

You don't need parent info for FAFSA, you are professional student at law school, therefore, are considered as independent. However, for need based aid, some schools require parent info, but that's separated form from FAFSA.

Nope. Certain schools explicitly state that they require parent info on the FAFSA.

What do you do on need-access if your parents are divorced and you don't have access to one of them?

I've seen a few schools address that. I'd call in.

[vpintz]

You don't need parent info for FAFSA, you are professional student at law school, therefore, are considered as independent. However, for need based aid, some schools require parent info, but that's separated form from FAFSA.

Nope. Certain schools explicitly state that they require parent info on the FAFSA.

Oh god, I hope the schools I applied to don't require parent info. Dnw to edit my FAFSA and waste time asking my parents a hundred questions. Dx

[citykitty]

If you have any questions, call the FAFSA helpline. They're very nice. I had some odd and specific questions that the rep I spoke with couldn't answer, but her supervisor was very helpful.

[cal7777]

You don't need parent info for FAFSA, you are professional student at law school, therefore, are considered as independent. However, for need based aid, some schools require parent info, but that's separated form from FAFSA.

Nope. Certain schools explicitly state that they require parent info on the FAFSA.

then, how do you fill them, if you select as the professional (independent) student, FAFSA parent's info does not come up?