Can I include my unemployed mom on FAFSA when she lives in another state?

yes u need to include her. fafsa needs bio parents unless ur independent which is hard to prove

For FAFSA purposes, geographic location doesn't matter - it's about your dependency status. If you don't meet the criteria for being an independent student (24+ years old, married, veteran, etc.), you need to report your biological or adoptive parents' information. Your stepdad doesn't count unless he legally adopted you. Since your mom is unemployed, you'd report her lack of income, which could actually help your Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation and potentially qualify you for more need-based aid like Pell Grants. You'll need to contact her to complete the Parent portion of the FAFSA.

Same boat last year!! My mom lives 1000 miles away and doesn't help with ANYTHING. Had to literally beg her for her tax info. So frustrating!!

Unfortunately, just having her unemployment documentation isn't enough. She needs to create her own FSA ID and complete the parent section, including giving consent to transfer her tax information through the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (if she filed taxes). If she didn't file taxes due to unemployment, she'll need to indicate that in her section. If she refuses to provide information, you should document all your attempts to contact her. You can then speak with your school's financial aid office about a potential "dependency override" due to parent estrangement, though these are granted only in exceptional circumstances.

The whole system is RIGGED against students with complicated family situations!!! I was in the exact same position - mom in another state, refusing to help with FAFSA. Ended up losing a semester because I couldn't get financial aid processed in time. They don't care that you're an adult - if you're under 24, they treat you like you're 12 and assume your parents are supporting you. The so-called "dependency override" is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to get unless you can prove abuse or abandonment with police reports or court documents. It's ridiculous!

I had a similar problem reaching my dad for FAFSA info last year. After weeks of being on hold with FSA and getting disconnected, I found a service called Claimyr that got me through to a real agent in minutes. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent explained that in cases of documented inability to contact a parent, they can sometimes process your application with just the available parent's information. I used their website (claimyr.com) and finally got actual help instead of automated messages. Might be worth trying so you can talk to someone who can advise on your specific situation.

There's a lot of misinformation in this thread that needs clarification: 1. For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, parental information is still required for dependent students regardless of whether they provide financial support. 2. If your parents are separated/divorced, you include the information of the parent you lived with more during the past 12 months. If equal time or you haven't lived with either, then use the parent who provided more financial support. 3. Your mom's unemployment may actually help your aid calculation since her income is low. 4. If you truly cannot contact your mother, this is documented under "special circumstances" in the FAFSA. You can initially submit the FAFSA with just your information, but you must then work with your school's financial aid office to explain the situation. 5. Your school's financial aid administrators have professional judgment authority to make adjustments for unusual situations. Contact your school's financial aid office directly - they have more flexibility to help than most students realize.

dont waste time with special circumstances i tried that and they rejected it. ended up having 2 track down my dad in florida and it suuuucked

OK but can we talk about how insane it is that they expect parents who don't even talk to their kids to fill out FAFSA? My brother went through this exact thing and almost couldn't go to college because of it. The whole system needs to be redesigned.

UPDATE: I finally got through to FSA after using that Claimyr service someone recommended. The agent was super helpful and explained that I can start the FAFSA without my mom's information and then document the special circumstances. She also suggested I gather evidence that I don't live with or receive support from my mom (like my current address documentation, utility bills in my name, etc.). I've also scheduled a meeting with my school's financial aid office next week. They said they might be able to help with a professional judgment review once my FAFSA is submitted. Thank you all for the advice - I'm still stressed but at least I have a plan now!