Need advice for Financial Aid for a friend

[Taera]

My friend is going into her senior year of college this coming fall and she's always put her dad's tax information on the application so she could qualify for loans. Well this past year, her dad worked, recieved the W2, and didnt file. On top of that, no one knows where he is. She's so scared that if she says something about her dad not filing that it will become a legal matter but she doesnt qualify without his tax info because she isnt old enough to file as independant. The advisor at the college tells her there's nothing she can do because she's listed him the last 3 years, so there is no way they will make an exception. Is there any thing she can do? I know she is filing a form that would make her qualify as independant or something, but the advisor who refuses to help her says that wont work. Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated.

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

My ex-girlfriend had the same problem. There's some serious bullshit involved with financial aid from the government. Tell her to get married, get pregnant, or wait until she's 24.

[oldoldman]

FAFSA is a broken system, I'm pretty sure there is an option for "I cannot find my parent".

I've lived on my own since I was 17 without support from my parents but I still have to claim their 100k income and am thusly eligible for shit in aid.

[netz]

FAFSA is a broken system, I'm pretty sure there is an option for "I cannot find my parent".

I've lived on my own since I was 17 without support from my parents but I still have to claim their 100k income and am thusly eligible for shit in aid.

If every kid could file as an independent for financial aid, how could the system possibly work? Virtually every kid entering college makes shit for money by virtue of the fact that they don't exactly have jobs that make them money; hence, the likely reason that they're seeking an education. Thus, parents become the deciding factor in receiving assistance.

The government considers parents responsible for your education. You're supposed to get help from them. It's only when your parents don't have the means to help that financial aid is supposed to step in and provide you with an affordable means to receive an education. This does screw people who are in messed up families/situations.

[Xiona]

You can file for an exception if you were on your own. This is where they classify you as an independent and you use your own tax info, usually requires you to get signatures from other individuals to back up your claim.

As far as the father bouncing i think there is an option where you can list that you dont know where he is or any information about him. Its really best to go to the financial aid dept of your school and explain to them the deal, theyll be better equipped to direct you in what route to follow.

Is that her advisor or the financial aid dept? that advisor is full of crap if so as there are always cases for exceptions.

[Taera]

You can file for an exception if you were on your own. This is where they classify you as an independent and you use your own tax info, usually requires you to get signatures from other individuals to back up your claim.

As far as the father bouncing i think there is an option where you can list that you dont know where he is or any information about him. Its really best to go to the financial aid dept of your school and explain to them the deal, theyll be better equipped to direct you in what route to follow.

Is that her advisor or the financial aid dept? that advisor is full of crap if so as there are always cases for exceptions.

It's the Financial Aid advisor that told her she is SOL. I think she's trying the exception right now, but things arent looking good.

[sekaran]

When I tried to claim myself independent.. it'd only work if I was, a) married, b) out of the military, c) had a kid, or d) was 25. Got no help from my parents with college yet had to claim them anyways.

[Woozie]

Yeah, she's going to have to file a dependency appeal (or whatever it's called at her school). She's going to have to get a bunch of documentation and notarized letters from the pope himself to prove she's not lying.

It might not necessarily work out for her though, unfortunately. They are rediculously strict about this. My mother is a crack addict who's been in jail for the vast majority of her life (this is the kind of stuff they can easily get proof of) and I still almost didn't get a dependency override. I had to get notarized letters from teachers, high school counselors, my family, court documents, police reports, bills and bank records showing that I support myself financially (as opposed to being supported by parents), etc.

In her case, the only thing I can think if is that she can get notarized letters from teachers, her advisers, and anyone else. The more the better. She should get one from pretty much everyone who knows anything about the situation. If there is some way to prove her dad didn't file, that would be perfect, though I don't see how she could get that proof.

She should also try getting bills and bank statements showing that she's been supporting herself (i.e. not supported by parents/dad).

I still don't see how this can be successful unless she can somehow prove that her dad disappeared.

Edit: I started college at 18 (as independent), so it's certainly possible to get a dependency override without being married, having children, or being older than some minimum age.

[MarkM.]

Not trying to flame you, but unless your friend started college when she was 12, she's old enough to file her taxes independent of her parents. My family and I did this after I graduated high school so I could qualify for Financial Aid.

[Taera]

Well th eoption on the FAFSA form says "Were you born before this date" and I think you have to be 24 for that option. If you click no, it makes you list your parents.

[Xiona]

there might be an option in the fasfa where you list you can no longer locate your parents. if anything she can put her father didnt work and did not receive a W2.

The financial aid person at her school might have just been one of the front desk peons who pass the stuff off to the actual aide workers in the back. have them ask to see someone above them because im certain there are ways around this kind of crap.

By the way, if the father does not file for taxes then its safe for your friend to put that they did not receive w2's. The blame will ultimately fall on him and you can make the claim that you were not aware of him getting w2's because he told you that he didnt file and didnt have w2's. Personally i would take that risk because school to me is that important. I know that if i did not have the aid that i receive that school would not even be remotely a possibility.