Parents Won't Help With Fafsa?

What? Parents Won't Help With Fafsa? Oh, no!

What can you do if your parents refuse to help with your FAFSA? The federal government requires your parents to submit their federal income tax information on your FAFSA. I know lot's of kids who haven't started college because their parents refuse to do this.

Kids can ask their parents nicely, explain how they won't get financial aid and cajole with bribes, but some parents absolutely will not, under any circumstance file their tax information with the financial aid department -- regardless of any financial aid their kids might lose.

So what's a kid gonna do?

Before you totally give up on your college dreams, you should know how to get around this problem. Every college has a financial aid office that disburses the funds sent to them by the federal financial aid department. In that office is a special person who can override certain things.

One of those things is the requirement for your parent's federal tax information. This special person, usually called a "financial aid officer" cannot override this requirement for just any old reason. There has to be a specific, reasonable, logical reason for him to make the override.

Just because your parents don't want to submit the information is not a good enough reason. There are really only two or three reasons I know of that fin aid officers will override the parental information requirement.

One reason is that your parents are abusive and you are afraid to push the issue with them. (Police reports or other proof is required.) A second reason is that both of your parents are in jail. Third reason -- you have no idea where your parents are and haven't communicated with them in over a year. All good reasons your parents can't help with Fafsa.

There may be other criteria for overriding the parental requirement -- you should always schedule a visit with your financial aid officer to discuss your problems. Be sure to inform the receptionist or the person you talk to on the phone the reason for your visit so she can put you with the right person.

Some kids are going to court and becoming emancipated before they reach the age of 18 so they don't have to worry about what their parents will do (or not do) regarding Fafsa information. Emancipation is different in every state; it's not easy and I don't recommend it as a strategy.

Don't give up your dream because your parents won't help with fafsa. You can do this. Just jump through all the hoops and voila. College Degree. You.