I just wanted to chime in as someone who made this way more complicated than it needed to be! When I was filling out my daughter's FAFSA last year, I spent hours trying to figure out how to handle my ex-husband who hasn't been involved financially. Turns out I was overthinking it completely - the FAFSA truly only cares about where your daughter actually lives and who supports her day-to-day. Since she lives with you and your current husband, that's it! One thing that really helped me was thinking of it this way: the FAFSA is trying to figure out what resources are actually available to help pay for college. Your ex isn't providing any resources, so he's not relevant to their calculation. Your current husband is part of your household and willing to help, so his income matters. It's actually pretty logical once you wrap your head around it. You've got this!

I'm also going through this process right now with my stepdaughter and had the same confusion! It's so reassuring to see everyone confirming that you only need to include yourself and your current husband. I was worried because her biological mom hasn't contributed anything in years either, but lives in another state. One thing I learned that might help - if you're using the online FAFSA form, there's actually a "Help and Hints" section that specifically addresses divorced/remarried parent situations. It clearly states that only the custodial parent and their current spouse (if any) need to provide information. Sometimes seeing it directly from the official source helps ease the worry! Also, don't forget to gather all your tax documents and your husband's before you start - having everything ready makes the process much smoother. Good luck!

Great question! I was confused about this too when I first started college. Everyone's already covered the main points perfectly - it's once per academic year, not per semester. Just want to emphasize what others said about keeping track of your school's priority deadline. I missed my school's February 1st deadline my sophomore year (thought I had until March like some friends at other schools) and ended up losing out on about $2,000 in institutional grants. The federal aid was still there, but those school-specific funds with limited budgets get distributed first-come, first-served after the priority date. Definitely don't make my mistake!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is verification! About 1 in 3 students get selected for verification after submitting their FAFSA, which means you'll need to provide additional documents like tax transcripts, W-2s, and sometimes bank statements to confirm the info you submitted. This doesn't change the "once per year" rule, but it can delay your aid processing if you don't respond quickly. I got selected for verification my first two years and it added about 3-4 weeks to get my aid package finalized. Just something to keep in mind when planning your timeline, especially if you're cutting it close to your school's priority deadline!

I just wanted to jump in and say THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to this thread! I'm a college sophomore who was helping my younger sister with her first FAFSA, and we hit this exact same wall looking for the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. I was so confused because I remembered using it for my own application just two years ago. Reading through all your experiences and solutions here literally saved us hours of panic and potential mistakes. The explanation about the Direct Data Exchange being automatic once you give consent makes so much more sense now - though I agree with everyone that the Department of Education could have communicated this change WAY better. We checked and confirmed we did give consent (buried in those acknowledgments like everyone mentioned), so we're all set. This is exactly why online communities are so valuable - real people sharing real solutions when the official resources fall short!

I'm another parent dealing with this exact same nightmare! My son is applying for his junior year and I was completely lost when the familiar IRS Data Retrieval Tool wasn't there. After reading through all these helpful responses, I realize we're probably okay since we did check the consent box (though like everyone else, it was buried in those acknowledgments). What really frustrates me is how the Department of Education rolled out such a major change without clear communication - they should have had big bold notices explaining that the IRS tool was being replaced with automatic Direct Data Exchange. I've been doing FAFSA applications for years and felt completely clueless with this new system. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences here, especially the financial aid office insider perspective - this thread has been more useful than hours of searching official FSA resources!

This entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! As someone who just started exploring the possibility of returning to school while on benefits, I had no idea how complex these interactions could be or how many resources are actually available to help navigate them. What really stands out to me is how everyone emphasized the importance of proactive communication and documentation. It seems like the key is being transparent with all parties (CalWORKs, financial aid offices, disability offices) rather than trying to figure things out in isolation. The suggestion to start these conversations 2-3 months before enrollment is particularly helpful for planning purposes. I'm also amazed by all the specialized programs and services mentioned here that I'd never heard of - WIPA programs, student navigators, Benefits Access Programs, DSPS offices. It really highlights how important it is to ask the right questions and connect with knowledgeable people who understand these systems. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation: the consensus seems to be that pursuing education while on benefits is definitely doable with proper planning, but the devil is really in the details. Getting everything documented, understanding timing implications, and having clear records of how financial aid is used all seem crucial for success. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating complex life transitions feel manageable rather than overwhelming!

This thread has been such an incredible resource! As someone who's currently dealing with a similar situation (I'm on workers' comp after an injury and considering going back to school), reading through everyone's experiences and advice has been both educational and reassuring. What really strikes me is how many specialized resources exist that most people don't know about - I had never heard of WIPA programs, student navigators, or Benefits Access Programs before reading this. It's clear that there's a whole support system designed to help people in our situations, but you really have to know where to look and what questions to ask. The emphasis throughout this thread on documentation and proactive communication makes so much sense. It seems like the people who run into problems are often those who try to navigate these systems without getting proper guidance upfront. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about starting conversations with all relevant agencies well before I plan to enroll. @Andre, thank you for asking such thoughtful questions that sparked this amazing discussion. Your careful approach to protecting your family's stability while working toward better opportunities is really admirable. Between all the resources mentioned here and the experiences people have shared, it sounds like you're going to be well-equipped to make this work! For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar boat - this thread is proof that with proper planning and the right support, pursuing education while on benefits is not only possible but can be a real pathway to positive change.

As someone who's been through this process with two kids now, I can definitely confirm that yes, FAFSA asks about housing plans! It's in the college selection section where you pick each school - you'll see options for on-campus, off-campus, or living with parents. Don't stress too much about getting it exactly right though. My first kid changed his housing choice three times after we submitted, and every financial aid office we contacted was super helpful about updating his Cost of Attendance and adjusting his aid package accordingly. The housing choice affects institutional aid calculations but won't change federal aid like Pell Grants, which are based on your SAI. My advice? Submit with your best guess this weekend and know you can easily update it later once your daughter makes her final college decision. Better to get it in on time than delay over uncertainty!

As a newcomer to this community and someone currently going through the FAFSA process for the first time, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm in a very similar boat - helping my son with his FAFSA and feeling overwhelmed by every question. Reading through all these responses has really eased my anxiety about the housing question. It's so reassuring to learn that this choice primarily affects each school's Cost of Attendance calculation rather than federal aid eligibility, and that schools are genuinely flexible about updates when students change their minds. I was definitely overthinking it and letting the housing decision delay our submission, but everyone's advice about submitting with our best guess and adjusting later makes perfect sense. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space for parents navigating this complex process - it's clear we're all just trying to do right by our kids!