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How long does Fafsa pay for education?

I need college financial aid advice because my parents are refusing to pay?

  • I'm 19 years old and going to be a sophomore at a private $45,000 a year private school. (This price is without financial aid.) My parents have gotten out of control in the last year or as far as their logic goes and their erratic behavior makes me think they have mental illnesses. I believe my mom has Borderline Personality Disorder and my father has bipolar disorder. I am the middle of two children, and both my parents blame me for EVERYTHING bad that happens; they even go as far as makes things up. My older sister left the house when she finished high school, but my mom had her committed when she was 17 for two weeks. At the hospital they diagnosed her with bipolar disorder. I also have a 12 year old sister who takes my mom's ****, but she is obviously the favorite in the family because she follows the "rules." Basically, my mother is refusing to pay for my education, even though she was the one that wanted me to go to this specific school, which she denies ever doing. I had almost $11,000 in a custodial account, which my mom won't let me touch. With the FAFSA and a scholarship I received, each semester cost $5,000. I somehow got my mother to withdraw the money from my account, but I don't think I'm going to be as lucky next semester. She keeps threatening to take away my car (which I pay for myself, I'm simply on their insurance so it's cheaper - NJ has horrible car insurance) and not pay for school. I know I can just leave, but then I will have no health insurance and no car nor will I have any way of paying for school. I have a job as a waitress and I make decent money, but it's under the table wages, so I never file a tax return. The only reason I'm putting up with my mother's unpredictable abuse is so she will pay for college, but I don't think that's even going to happen at this point. Does anyone know how I can get myself emancipated so I will not have to put my parents income down on the FAFSA and hopefully get much more financial aid from my school. There must be some sort of loophole. I mean, how are kids supposed to put themselves through college? I can't even take a loan out without a cosigner, and my mom already refuses to tell me what loans she has taken out in my name.

  • Answer:

    First of all, file a tax return. It will help you in the long run, plus it's the law. At any time your employer can turn in your back wages... and then, you will be in quite a bit of financial trouble for not filing (and legal trouble). You need your tax return for financial aid, plus you aren't currently putting anything into social security... the more you work and earn, the greater the amount you receive at retirement. In addition, visit the IRS website and see if you even qualify to be an independent contractor... sounds like you are an employee and you should be getting a paycheck and a W-2 each year. You can file and report that you should have gotten a W-2. Your mother is not required to help you with college and is not required to support you after the age of 18 -- those are the simple facts. If the car is in your name, then she cannot take it away. If it is in her name, then she can because it's her vehicle... even if you make payments. You CANNOT be emancipated after the age of 18 -- you are already a legal adult. You will have to continue providing your parents' information for the fafsa, until you meet one of the criteria for independent status (although, you would immediately be chosen for verification if you are an independent student with no financial assistance and no income -- another reason to turn in your tax forms. Plus, you're missing out on education credits). If your parents refuse to provide their information next year, then you will have to fill out a form at the school. You will still be considered a dependent student and you will only be eligible for federal stafford loans -- not any need-based grant money. There are no loopholes, unless you can show proof of severe abuse and that you cannot have contact with your parents' for your own safety (medical records, police reports, etc.) If your mother is abusing you, then I would suggest getting a full-time job with benefits (i.e. health insurance) and moving out. If the car is in her name... she might keep it and you'll have to save for another one (walk or use public transportation in the mean time). If you cannot afford your current school, then transfer to one that is less expensive (less than the maximum amount you can borrow and you'll be fine). Kids put themselves through college all the time with federal stafford loans. Choose a school less than $6,000/year and you will be fine. There are tons of schools across the country that can be completely covered by stafford loans. Work a full-time job with benefits, or purchase private health insurance. Get an apartment and use your wages to cover living expenses. You may not live the great life for a few years, but if you work on becoming independent and building a savings and watching your debt load... you'll be living much better in a few years.

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How are you the "middle of two children"? LOL To be in the middle assumes there is one before you and one is after you.

tngandhkm

Kids put themselves through school all the time, they do it by NOT choosing a 45K a year school! LOL That is insane. Do you relalize how much money that actually is? Probably 75% of the american adults don't make that much money in an entire YEAR!!! Seriously. You can attend a state school for less than 4,000 a year in my state. Seriously. Elsewhere, you can attend a perfectly good school for well under what you can borrow in federal student Stafford loans on your own (without a cosigner). Sophomores can borrow up to 6,500 a year and jrs and sr 7500 a year (each year). You can't be emancipated at 19. You are already an adult. With that being said, you can do whatever in the heck you want and go whereever in the heck you want. I promise you aren't going to die if you don't have health insurance and you CAN get car insurance without them. Sure its going to be more, but if you want a clean break it's time to grow up and pay for everything yourself. If the car is in your name then its yours. If she tries to steal it from you then you need to call the police and be prepared for the consequences of doing so. Sure you'll get your car back, but you had darn sure have a place to live set up already and an alternative insurance set up or it will back fire on you. It sounds like the relationship with the folks is quickly deteriorating. It isn't going to get better so you need to do something NOW. 45K for a school that you can't afford it stupid and you should transfer NOW before it's too late. The classes you take as a freshman and sophomore are gen ed classes you can get anywhere, my local community college is dirt cheap less than 3000 a year. Why on earth pay 45,000 for something you can get for 3,000? Working under the table is illegal and you can go to jail for it. File an income tax return. No loopholes, until you are 24, married, have kids you support or earn a bachelors degree you will need your parents tax forms... federal student loans need no cosigner however, so if you choose a school that is less than what you can borrow PER YEAR then you will be fine.

just not that

Hey, I was just gonna say, don't trust Love Presley. They answer all financial aid questions with the same thing... What I would personally do, is steal everything my parents had, sell it, and flee. You could alternatively choose a different school that costs less...

Anthony PhantomNuker

^I hate these people^ seriously no one with a brain is going to get a private loan because everyone knows you'll get ****ed with the high interest they charge. I recommend the same for the person asking this question, stafford loans are the best way to go(since you say its 6k per semester). Good luck and ignore all these stupid loan offers.

Wis-Can-Sin Boi

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