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Question: Fafsa Question please?
Im filling out the Fafsa and I got to question 23 and it says "What degree or certificate will you be working on during the 2008-2009 school year" going into college as a freshman and Want to go for 4 years. Should I say " 1st Bachelor's Degree" or " Associate degree (general ed/Transfer program)"
i already graduated last week from high school
Answer: Associate
Associate
Answer: 1st Bachelor's degree.
You're going for four ...
1st Bachelor's degree.
You're going for four years. Bachelor's degree is a degree you earn after four years. Associate degree is only two years.
Answer: Well, if you're going to a community college, then put ...
Well, if you're going to a community college, then put Associate Degree. If you're going to a four year college or university, then put Bachelor's.
Answer: only if you are goin to a 2 year school then you will put ...
only if you are goin to a 2 year school then you will put associates but if you are goin to a four year school then you put bachelors
Answer: well if you will be a high school senior for the 2008-2009 ...
well if you will be a high school senior for the 2008-2009 year, you put 1st bachelors degree. and if you are a junior in community college then you say associate degree transer.
hope that helps.
Answer: 1st Bachelors Degree
1st Bachelors Degree
Answer: It's just me!: Please do not listen to the people saying an Associates ...
Please do not listen to the people saying an Associates degree.
If you going into a program that is a 4 year program, then it is considered a "1st Bachelor's Degree".
If you were going for just a 2 year degree (normally at a community college) that would be considered an Associates degree.
I hope you get a lot of financial aid for college! Good luck!
Answer: If you are going to attend a community college, put ...
If you are going to attend a community college, put associates degree. If you are going to go to a 4 year school, put bachelor's degree.
Question: Is my sister a dependent for the purpose of the FAFSA?
My sister is 18, not yet graduated from high school. She is a dependent, but she's parents' dependent. They're getting a divorce and she moved in with me at the beginning of this year. I did not claim her on taxes for last year because she wasn't living with me then, and I'm not going to anyway. But on the FAFSA, I need parents' tax information, which I cannot get. However, if I support a dependent who lives with me, then I can be independent myself in FAFSA terms and not need parents' information. She will be graduated by the time I go to college, and no longer a dependent.
This is the dependency question on the FAFSA:
"Do you have dependents (other than children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2009 (question 52)?"
Can I answer yes to this? She's been living with me since January and I pay the bills. She has a job and pays for gas and groceries occasionally.
(I'm not asking about her FAFSA status, only if I can say that I'm providing more than 50% to a dependent living with me.)
She won't be moving out, she'll be graduated and no longer a dependent. Are we really required to predict the future in these things, though?
Well, I suppose I could file her as a dependent on taxes for this year's, but I wasn't planning on it since she'll be graduated and on her own before then.
I'm 21. She's 18. She makes $800/month. I make $2000/month. All this only started this year. I pay the mortgage and most bills through checking account. She occasionally pays a water bill and usually buys groceries.
What kind of verification would be required? Would she need to receive mail at house? She doesn't have anything that she receives mail for right now. She has no bills of her own and no obligations.
She was not on taxes for last year because I did not support her. However, wouldn't I be able to claim her (rather than parents claiming her) on this year's taxes?
My sister is a dependent now, and may possibly stay a dependent if she decides to go to school. I'm thinking she'll be on her own, though.
However, right now, she is custody of parents, though living with me. The FAFSA doesn't ask if you have custody of the dependent in question, but if you're supporting her. I am, right?
I feel that the situation would merit a Yes response, however I would be worried about how to verify it. We have months of payed bills though, by both of us, so maybe that would be something. Would I need to update her bank information with address?
How is she not dependent if she is a dependent living with me which I am supporting over 50%? I understand verification could be a problem, but she is living with me, and she's a dependent (though under parents custody) and I'm paying over 50% of her meal ticket. She wasn't dependent last year, and I'm not claiming she is. She moved in with me in January.
I think that would depend on what they define as support. I am paying for food and housing and electricity and water, as well as cable and Internet. But those are luxuries, and may not count. Who knows? Any idea what qualifies as support?
Answer: Answering "yes" to this question requires that ...
Answering "yes" to this question requires that your dependent (in this case your sister) must live with you "throughout the award year".
If you sister will be moving out at any time before the end of the 2008-2009 academic year (and/or you will not continue to provide more than 50% of her support throughout the entire period) you can not claim her as a dependent for FAFSA purposes.
Hope that helped.
Edit: Remember, she's a "dependent" if she's living with you AND you are responsible for more than 50% of her support. Dependency, in this case, has nothing to do with whether she's old enough to live on her own, or whether she could be working - if you're still picking up the tab, she's a dependent.
Be careful, though - you can't just claim this and cross your fingers. The Department of Education randomly selects up to 30% of all FAFSAs for "verification", and they select other FAFSA intentionally, if certain (unknown to the rest of us) "red flags" call attention to your submission.
It wouldn't surprise me if, after claiming your sister, you got a verification form from the Department, asking you for some type of supporting documentation. Question one would probably ask about whether you were claiming her as a dependent for tax purposes (which you have indicated you do not intend to do.)
If you were not claiming your sister as an income tax dependent, you would probably have a difficult time overcoming the presumption that you were trying to use her as a FAFSA dodge. ESPECIALLY - and I suspect that this is the case - if your parents are claiming her as a dependent on their tax returns.
I don't think the government expects you to be a fortune teller and know what's going to happen with your sister's situation, going forward. However, if you claim her (legitimately) as a dependent now, and at some point she either moves out, or begins picking up her own share of the expenses - you would be responsible for updating your FAFSA information, which would cause the Department to reassess your financial aid eligibility. If, as a result of the new information, you had been receiving assistance that you were no longer qualified to receive, you might well be required to pay back some portion of the "overage".
Answer: The key here is the 50% rule.
She is not your dependent. ...
The key here is the 50% rule.
She is not your dependent. You would still have to put 1 of your parents tax info on your fafsa (since they are seperated). And she will have to do the same if she is going to college in the fall.
This is a good thing because there will be 2 people in the family in college, plus at least 3 people in the household (you, your sister and 1 parent)... be sure to choose the parents income that also claims your sister on thier taxes... even if they won't claim you. This is confusing yes, but it's the government. People in the household are not those who actually live with the parent!! LOL Good luck.
EDIT: Updating bank info will make no difference. Its just an address on a form.
Question: How can I fill out the FAFSA if I can't get my parents' tax information?
Because parents aren't dead and I'm not yet married or paying child support, then on the FAFSA I am labeled a dependent. I filed a separate tax return from parents. My parents have not filed theirs yet, and I can't get any information from dad about it. I need it completed this month so I can get financial aid for college.
What can I do?
Even with "Will File" I'm still asked for their income information and what forms and everything they will be filing. If I do "Will Not File", then I'm asked for their income.
The dependency questions ask if parents are dead, if I'm over 24, if I pay child support and if I'm married. All are no, therefore, I'm dependent. I'm 21.
My sister has been living with me the past few months. She is a dependent, but she's parents' dependent. Would I be able to claim that I'm providing 50% of the support of a dependent living with me?
(My sister has been living with me since the beginning of this year. When I go off to college, though, I'm leaving her on her own to do whatever. Though, technically, she won't be a dependent anymore after that.)
Answer: You don't have to file the FAFSA as a dependent... if ...
You don't have to file the FAFSA as a dependent... if you filed your own taxes you can file independenet. I just did it a few weeks ago.
Answer: Call FAFSA and ask. Sounds like your parents are on the ...
Call FAFSA and ask. Sounds like your parents are on the ball, there.
Answer: How old are you? I think you may have to be a certain age ...
How old are you? I think you may have to be a certain age to file independent, but you don't have to be married or paying child support to be considered independent. If you are financially responsible for yourself then you should be able to file independent. Talk to your financial aid advisor at your college, and they can help you.
Answer: You don't need to be married or orphaned to be ...
You don't need to be married or orphaned to be independent, you just have to make enough money that you take care of more than half of your own financial needs. If you're independent you don't need your parents financial information.
But on the Online FAFSA, there's an option that says "will file", you'll want to choose that. Though, it's awfully late to not have filed last years taxes already :s
Answer: You can submit the FAFSA without ALL the information on it. ...
You can submit the FAFSA without ALL the information on it. Just fill it out as completely as you can, submit it, then go back and make changes after you have gotten the information. This makes the process quicker.
My mom doesn't file, so there is an option to put "non-filer" on there too.
I would honestly call up the school you are submitting it to, or FAFSA.ed.gov themselves.
Answer: You have to be 24 before you can claim independent from your ...
You have to be 24 before you can claim independent from your parents. Isn't there an option where it says your parents haven't filed yet? Try contacting your financial aid office at your school. they should be able to help you.
Answer: Isn't there an option that says "Will File"? ...
Isn't there an option that says "Will File"? There should be direction explaining how to fill out the form if that's the case. And I think they have a worksheet that lets you estimate your parents tax return.
You should call or email customer service just to double check though. They're pretty good with responding quickly.
Answer: ok I actually just filled mine out yet and you cant get out of ...
ok I actually just filled mine out yet and you cant get out of using your parents income tax till you are 24! WOW I EVEN FILED MY OWN TAXES AND EVERYTHING BUT THEY STILL WOULDNT LET ME! There should be a box on ure parents info that says will file! click it and see what happens!
Answer: According to the FAFSA website you will need the ...
According to the FAFSA website you will need the following:Your Parents´ 2007 Federal Income Tax return (if you are a dependent student) . Will your mother give you the information you need ? Most times dependants don't file seperatre returns ,because your parents claim you as a dependant. Here is some helpful imformation that you may use to get some answers.
For assistance with problems or difficulties while using FAFSA on the Web, or for specific questions about the FAFSA, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 1-319-337-5665. If you are hearing-impaired and have questions, contact the TTY line at 1-800-730-8913.
Answer: There's a lot of misinformation going on here, let me ...
There's a lot of misinformation going on here, let me try to set the record straight.
There are two classifications of undergraduate students for federal financial aid purposes, dependent and independent.
Being dependent (or independent) has NOTHING to do with whether you pay your own taxes, whether you have a job, whether you live on your own, whether you pay more than half of your bills, and get this - it has nothing to do with whether your parents give you ANY MONEY at all.
There is a legal concept known as "emancipation" - that's when someone who has not yet reached the age of majority is still treated like an adult because they have achieved financial independence from their parents. I think that's the cause of some of the confusion - but emancipation has NOTHING to do with whether you are classified as an independent or a dependent student.
In writing the laws that govern the federal financial aid program (Title IV), Congress explicitly define the criteria that determines when a student is independent. There are no variations or exceptions - this is the legal definition of dependency for federal financial aid purposes.
To be classified as an independent student you must be able to answer "yes" to at least one of the following questions:
Were you born before January 1, 1985?
Are you married? (if you are divorced, you're not married)
Do you have one or more children for whom you provide more than 50% of their support?
Do you provide more than 50% of the support for any other dependent who lives in your home?
Are you now, or were you, before the age of 18, a ward of the court?
Are you a veteran of the United States military?
Are you an active duty member of the United States military?
Remember - it does not matter if your parents give you a dime - it doesn't even matter if you know where they live, or whether you've even seen them in the last 11 years. If you can't answer yes to one of the questions above , you are a DEPENDENT student for federal financial aid purposes.
Here's why. Federal financial aid is taxpayer money. Quite simply, the government believes that YOUR parents have the primary responsibility to help you pay for school - not the taxpayers. If your parents CAN NOT afford to pay for your school, THEN the taxpayers step in. If your parents simply refuse to help you pay for school, then that's a problem between you and your parents. Why should the government let parents who could perfectly well contribute step aside and demand that the taxpayers fit the bill?
Because you are a DEPENDENT student, the Department of Education needs to evaluate your parents' ability to contribute to the cost of your education. If you do not provide that information, they will not evaluate your FAFSA form, they will not compute an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC), and your school will not be able to qualify you for federal financial aid.
If your parents have yet to file their 2007 tax forms, the FAFSA form allows you to ESTIMATE their income, using W-2s, 1099s, bank statements, and tax tables. You should file the FAFSA with the estimated information, but you must update your FAFSA later, when the final and accurate information does become available. It is always better to estimate and file on time, then it is to hold off on filing until the deadline is near (or passed), because on-time filers qualify for the maximum amount of financial aid eligibility.
If you can't get your father to understand his crucial role in establishing your financial aid eligibility, perhaps you can get someone from the financial aid office of your school to give him a call and explain the situation.
Please don't buy into the respondents here who are telling you that you can file as an independent - that is simply not true. You'll get your FAFSA form sent right back to you for corrections and you'll be in the exact same position - waiting for your dad's income information.
Good luck to you.
Answer: You are dependent until you are 24 or meet one of the other ...
You are dependent until you are 24 or meet one of the other qualifcations (married, parents deceased, children you support, veteran.)
However you can still file your FAFSA. You will check that your parents will file, and you will have to estimate their income. However, your parents need to get their taxes done, because filing a FAFSA this late and indicating they "will file" is most likely going to get your application flagged for verification, so you will have to turn in copies of your parents tax returns to your school before you can receive your award.
Your parents are going to have to help you at least estimate or you will not be able to receive financial aid. A parent's refusual to help, does not consitute you being independent, sorry. If you want aid, they are going to have to get their taxes in line.
Answer: Check "Will File" on one of your parents income ...
Check "Will File" on one of your parents income (since they are seperated) info and call and have them guess on the income, assets and taxes. This will buy you a bit of time, but not much. If you are going to start school in the fall you really should have filed your fafsa in Feb/March.
Question: Renew FAFSA or 2008-2009 FAFSA?
I qualified for pell grants and other aid for the Fall term (although it hasnt started yet). Now Im wondering if in order to get aid for next summer, do I need to fill out the FAFSA renewal or the 2008-2009 FAFSA? When will I need to fill out the FAFSA renewal?
Ashlee said the pell grant doesnt pay for summer classes. I thought a friend told me that same thing a long time ago, however Im in summer classes right now and I have a federal pell grant paying for them.
Answer: plz report me I want to delete accunt
plz report me I want to delete accunt
Answer: Speak with your Financial Aid Counselor. It really depends ...
Speak with your Financial Aid Counselor. It really depends on when they need it. Renewing a FAFSA is usually going to cut out some steps, as it fills in information from the last one. Because I am attending online and we move, I just start from the beginning. It's easier for me. But if you just qualified this year, you shouldn't have need until next year when you are requalifying for your pell again. Do note: there are new grants available this year for students seeking to teach in high need areas. They are advertised on the FAFSA website. Always talk to your Financial Aid Counselor to see if there are scholaships that you qualify for.
Best wishes on your endeavours.
Answer: Once you do the 08-09 fafsa, you won't need to do it ...
Once you do the 08-09 fafsa, you won't need to do it again. Normally schools use your 08-09 info to determine your loans for the summer, but you will have to fill out additional paperwork and let them know you are interested. You will not normally get Pell grants during the summer because students use all their Pell money in the fall and spring and they have nothing left over for summer.... so it's usually loans only unless you want to ask the financial aid office to "save" some of your Pell money for next summer.
(Personally, it would be better to just get it and put it in the bank and get interest on it).
You should look to complete another fafsa in Feb/March of 2009. This is the next time you will need to reapply for financial aid. (This will be for the 2009-2010 school year).
Answer: the pell grant doesnt pay for summer classes well thats what ...
the pell grant doesnt pay for summer classes well thats what I was told!
Answer: There is no such thing as a FAFSA renewal - well, at least ...
There is no such thing as a FAFSA renewal - well, at least not one that you would ever have to pay for. (though there are some websites and other scam services that will offer to take care of your "renewal" in exchange for a fee.)
You'll see claims like this:
"We make annual FAFSA filings easy. When you renew, we'll pull relevant information from your previous FAFSA, eliminating tedious duplication of effort and making the already simplified process even easier"
Don't fall for scams.
You are required to complete a new FAFSA form for each school year. It takes a little while to fill out, but there is NO reason to pay someone else to do it for you.
The FAFSA application is always free - after all, FAFSA stands for FREE Application for Federal Student Aid.
Answer: The PELL grant for summer school depends on if your school ...
The PELL grant for summer school depends on if your school uses summer school as the beginning of the academic year or the end of the academic year. If it is the beginning of the academic year, then you can use your PELL grant, but you don't get any extra because you went to summer school. So for example, if it was determined for your FAFSA that you can get $4000 in PELL for one academic year, normally you would get $2000 in the fall and $2000 in the spring. If you get some in the summer, then the amount you receive fall and spring will be lower, because total you cannot receive over $4000.
If you attend a school well summer session is the end of the academic year, the only way you get a PELL grant for summer school is if you didn't attend one of the regular semesters (fall/spring) or you went part-time one semester. Then any of the PELL you didn't use during the regular fall/spring semester can be used for summer classes at schools where summer session is the end of the academic year.
As for how you get aid for summer school next year, again it depends on how your school treats summer sessions. If summer session is the beginning of the academic year, then you will need to file a 2009-2010 FAFSA in January 2009 to get aid for summer school. If summer school is considered the end of the academic year, then the 2008-2009 FAFSA you already have on file will be used to determine if you have any aid left to use for summer school.
Best thing is to talk to someone in your financial aid office so they can explain their process. Many schools have their own application you have to fill out for summer school.
Question: Are you required to put your parent's information on the FAFSA when applying?
What if you are married and don't live with your parents? Or your parent's won't give you their information to put on the FAFSA? How is someone supposed to go to College if they can't use scholarships and can't get a job? My mother won't give me the information needed to complete FAFSA and I can't take out scholarships because it's against religion(ISLAM) because scholarships have interest.
Answer: Scholarship don't have interest loans do. Your mother ...
Scholarship don't have interest loans do. Your mother has every right to deny you haer tax information. I guess you are going to have to get a job, like everyone else.
Answer: It doesn't matter if you don't live with your ...
It doesn't matter if you don't live with your parents. People who are under 24 and not married and don't have kids usually have to report it. If your mother refuses you will have to convince her to pay for your schooling. Scholarships do not charge you interest, by the way. Scholarships do not need to be repaid.
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