Disowning my Parents

[milisia]

What is the name of your state? OH

What would it take to disown my Father?

My father is unwilling to provide me with his financial information so I can get Financial Aid. I am really interested in continuing my attendance at my college, but he is unwilling to allow me to even apply (I am required to provide his tax information until I am 24)! Please, what can I do in order to keep my education going without having to worry about his interference?

 

[Zephyr]

ask mom to provide the info?

it really all boils down to if he won't help he won't help.....and you'll have to figure out a way to make it work somehow for you

 

[lealea1005]

also try calling the financial aid people at your college....speak to one of the superviors or set up a meeting with a financial aid counselor....they have experience with situations like yours and may be able to point you in the right direction....good luck!

 

[milisia]

Zephyr - No offense, but that isn't good enough. I am 21 and my mother has a terminal mental illness and she is divorced from my father. It cannot be possible that I am that out of luck. I have heard of more petty trials. Is there at least a way to take an inquiry to court? Also, the financial aid counselors just shrug at me.

 

[Zephyr]

Zephyr - No offense, but that isn't good enough. I am 21 and my mother has a terminal mental illness and she is divorced from my father. It cannot be possible that I am that out of luck. I have heard of more petty trials. Is there at least a way to take an inquiry to court? Also, the financial aid counselors just shrug at me.

good enough or not your dad's financial information is HIS private business- he is under absolutely no obligation to help or make it easier for you to attend college**************ask me how I know

 

[milisia]

good enough or not your dad's financial information is HIS private business- he is under absolutely no obligation to help or make it easier for you to attend college**************ask me how I know

How is it his private business if FAFSA requires it? Also, I know he's not required to help me so I want to find a way where I can get my financial aid without having to run into a "parent firewall".

 

[Ohiogal]

How is it his private business if FAFSA requires it? Also, I know he's not required to help me so I want to find a way where I can get my financial aid without having to run into a "parent firewall".

Because FAFSA is NOT necessary to attend college. What he earns is HIS business. He does not have to nor is he required to HELP YOU get to college. The best thing to do is get a job and work for a few years.

 

[milisia]

Because FAFSA is NOT necessary to attend college. What he earns is HIS business. He does not have to nor is he required to HELP YOU get to college. The best thing to do is get a job and work for a few years.

Tell that to the IRS. Look, I don't mean to sound like I am getting an attitude, but I really want to be independent an get an education instead of living on minnimun wage because employers say, "You don't have experience/expertise/education."

 

[Zephyr]

Tell that to the IRS. Look, I don't mean to sound like I am getting an attitude, but I really want to be independent an get an education instead of living on minnimun wage because employers say, "You don't have experience/expertise/education."

flat out- you ARE NOT entitled to your father's personal financial info**************I worked two jobs while going to college, so now do what you said you want- be independent, get a job- maybe 2 and sign up for whatever school load you can afford


and if you are college age and have never worked before and only qualify for minimum wage then whose fault is that????

 

[milisia]

I DON'T WANT MY FATHER'S FINANCIAL INFORMATION!!! All I want is a way to get financial aid without him! My original question was, "How do I disown my father?" I'm trying to find a way to not be constrained by FAFSA's requirements to know my father's finances. Is anyone willing to answer my original question? Are we all to be forced into this cycle of "Get a job.", "You don't have the neccessary education.", "I want to be independent.", "Even if you're living on your own, you still are not independent by our standards." ? I have two jobs and am taking as many classes as I can afford already (which isn't very much). Why does everyone assume that I am trying to get my father's financial info? I'm not! I just want to get by in my education without running into interference.

 

[lealea1005]

have you tried scholarships? on campus jobs? going part time and working? student loans? again, please get an appointment with an experienced financial aid rep from the college......thy'll have a bunch of options for you.

 

[milisia]

Both my jobs are on campus. I called FAFSA twice and they both, flat out, said, "No. You must be 24. End of story."

 

[Zephyr]

Both my jobs are on campus. I called FAFSA twice and they both, flat out, said, "No. You must be 24. End of story."

then you need to find a way to pay for college without FAFSA...it's really that simple

 

[HappyHusband]

then you need to find a way to pay for college without FAFSA...it's really that simple

Unfortunate, but true.

When you apply for federal student aid, your answers to the questions in Step 3 of the paper FAFSA or in Step 2 of the online FAFSA will determine whether you're considered dependent on your parents or independent. If you're considered dependent, your parents' income and assets as well as your own must be reported on the FAFSA. Students are classified as dependent or independent because federal student aid programs are based on the principle that students (and their parents or spouse, if applicable) are considered the primary source of support for postsecondary education.

Ain't that a kick in the balls? They're assuming that the parents will foot the bill, but when the parent refuses to even give their financial info so the student can get federal loans for school, where does that leave people like milisia? S**t out of luck.


If I'm an emancipated minor, am I now independent?

The status of emancipated minor is not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for financial aid purposes; such a student must meet one of the other listed criteria in Questions 48-54 to meet the definition of an independent student.

I don't remember what questions 48-54 are, but one of them probabaly says "if you're under 24, the rest of these questions don't mean squat." Unless, you are married, of course.

This is a stupid, outdated policy that leaves people like milisia out in the cold. The only option is to scrounge up low paying jobs in a college town, while trying to take the most classes that you can afford, until you reach the magical age of 24.
You can't even get a private student loan, because your credit is so poor and you have no income. This is a catch-22 of a catch-22.

Good luck, milisia, you need it.

 

[milisia]

Thanks HappyHusband. *sigh* I will just have to keep finding a way around it. The questions are:

Was the student born before January 1, 1983 (question 48)?

At the beginning of the school year 2006-2007, will the student be working on a master's or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, Ph.D., graduate certificate, or Doctorate of Education, etc.) (question 49)?

As of today, is the student married? (Answer "Yes" if he/she is separated, but not divorced.) (question 50)

Does the student have children who receive more than half of his/her support from the student (question 51)?

Does the student have dependents (other than children or spouse) who live with him/her and who receive more than half of his/her support from the student, now and through June 30, 2007 (question 52)?

Are (a) both of the student's parents deceased, or (b) is he/she (or was he/she until age 18) a ward/dependent of the court (question 53)?

Is the student a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces (question 54)?

If you answer "yes" to any of those questions, you are considered independent. Otherwise, you're still dependent. I appreciate all of your opinions and I hope a solution will present itself.