Completing the FAFSA?
College Goal Sunday - February 21 from 2-4 p.m. Come and get professional help in completing your FAFSA!
Frequently Asked Questions
- My parents don't provide me with financial support. Can I apply as an “Independent” student?
- But what if I'm an emancipated minor, am I now independent?
- What if a parent refuses to contribute towards my college education?
- If I have a parent who is enrolled in a college or university, can this parent be counted as a family member in college when calculating my financial aid?
- What's the difference between cash support and in-kind support?
- I am entering financial information for my mother and stepfather on the FAFSA. Should I give my father's Social Security number (SSN) and last name, or my stepfather's?
- How does a family decide who should be counted in the household size?
- My parents separated four months ago. I live with my mother. My parents filed a joint tax return and claimed me as an exemption. Do I report both their incomes, or just my mother's?
- If I (the student) am separated but filed a joint tax return, how is the information reported?
- My parents have more than one student in college. Do they need a separate PIN number for each student?
Q. My parents don't provide me with financial support. Can I apply as an “Independent” student?
A. In order to be considered independent for financial aid purposes you must meet one of the following criteria:
- You must turn 24 before January 1 of the academic year that you are applying for
- Be a graduate/professional student
- Be married
- Have children who receive more than half of their support from you
- Have dependents (other than your children/spouse) that live with you and receive more than half of their support from you.
- Be an orphan or ward/dependent of the court
- Be currently serving in the United States Armed Forces for purposes other than training
- Be a veteran of the United States Armed Forces
If you do not meet any of the criteria listed above, but can document extreme family circumstances that prevent you from obtaining your parents information/support, you will need to see a Financial Aid Advisor.
A. If you are an emancipated minor; please submit a copy of your court documents to the Enrollment Services Center. You will also answer question number 56 on the FAFSA as 'Yes'.
A. In fairness to all students, PPCC financial aid decisions are based on the ability, but not the willingness, of parents to contribute toward your college education. A financial aid offer will not be adjusted because of a parent's refusal to contribute. The basic concept of student financial aid, as established by Congress and the U.S. Department of Education, is that the student's parents have the primary responsibility for their childrens' education. Parents are welcome to speak to a financial aid advisor so that they may understand that they are not obligated to provide anything other than information for their child. If the parent continues to refuse, the student may apply for a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. Documentation is still necessary to provide the financial aid office as to what the situation may be.
Q. If I have a parent who is enrolled in a college or university, can this parent be counted as a family member in college when calculating my financial aid?
A. No. When calculating the financial need of students, credit is given for each sibling enrolled at least half-time in a college program leading to an undergraduate degree or certificate. This is a way to recognize the financial impact that children attending college place on a family and it reduces the amount the family is expected to pay toward the student's college costs. Parents cannot be included in this number. The Office of Financial Aid will reduce the number of family members in college if you included a parent in this number; only the student and the student's siblings may be included. If you have a sibling in high school who is attending classes at a college/university, this sibling also cannot be counted as enrolled in college. A reduction in the number of family members in college may significantly reduce your eligibility for financial aid.
- A. Cash support is support given either in the form of money or money that is paid on your (the student's) behalf. You must report cash support as untaxed income. Thus, if a friend or relative gives you grocery money, it must be reported as untaxed income on Worksheet B. If the friend or relative pays your electric bill or part of your rent, you must also report those payments.
- Examples of in-kind support are free food or housing that a family receives, usually in exchange for work or services. You usually don't report such support.
However, the application does require you to report the value of housing a family receives as compensation for a job on Worksheet B. The most common example is free housing or a housing allowance provided to military personnel or members.
Q. I am entering financial information for my mother and stepfather on the FAFSA. Should I give my father's Social Security number (SSN) and last name, or my stepfather's?
A. You should provide the SSN and last name of the same person or people for whom you are reporting financial information. In this case, provide the SSNs and names of your mother and stepfather.
A. Anyone in the immediate family who receives more than 50% support from a dependent student's parents or an independent student and spouse may be counted in the household size even if that person does not reside in the house. For example, a sibling who is over 24 but still receives the majority of his/her support from the parents can be included. Siblings who are dependent (as defined by the FAFSA) as of the date you apply for aid are also included, regardless of whether they receive more than 50% of their support from the parents. Any other person who resides in the household and receives more than 50% support from the parents may also be counted, as long as they will continue to reside with your parents and the support is expected to continue through June 30, 2009. An unborn child who will be born during the 2008-09 award year may also be counted in the household size. Household size and tax exemptions are not necessarily the same. Exemptions look at the previous year or tax year and household size refers to the school year for which the student is applying for aid.
Q. My parents separated four months ago. I live with my mother. My parents filed a joint tax return and claimed me as an exemption. Do I report both their incomes, or just my mother's?
A. Report only your mother's income and asset information because you lived with her the most during the past 12 months. Use a W-2 Form or other record(s) to determine her share of the income reported and taxes paid on the tax return.
A. You should give only your portion of the exemptions, income and taxes paid.
Who qualifies to be counted in the number in college?
Any person (other than your parents) who is counted in the household and will be attending any term of the academic year at least half time qualifies to be counted. The person must be working toward a degree or certificate leading to a recognized education credential at a postsecondary school eligible to participate in the federal student aid programs. You (the student) need not be enrolled half time to be counted in the number in college.
Q. My parents have more than one student in college. Do they need a separate PIN number for each student?
A. Your parents can use the same PIN to sign all the FAFSA forms. They don’t need a new number for each student, but a FAFSA needs to be completed for each student