Help w/aid. FAFSA = Negative, workaround?

Hello everyone. I am 20 years old, and have been 'on my own' for three years. I have worked the 9-5, then the P/T, then overtime restaurant business, tried the Army (back injury disabled finishing basic). And now I am at a ropes end with trying to enroll in a 2-year college. My parents have not done taxes in years, which disables me for most aide. Is there a FAFSA workaround or anything I can do aside from pulling out private loans or writing endless essays for scholarships?

Any help is greatful,
--William

Subfreeze,

It is good that you "have been on your own for three years."

Have you discussed your situation with the college's financial aid office?
Certainly your situation is not that unique that the FAO has not seen this before.

A few questions come to mind:
Are you dependent on your parents for support?
As a full time college student could your parents claim you as a dependent?
Why haven't your parents filed income tax returns? Maybe they do not have to file? Maybe they are just negligent? It is possible they may have some refunds coming, wouldn't that be great?

Two web sites may also help:
[www.savingforcollege.com]
[www.scholarshipcoach.com]

Do state your situation with the college's financial aid office.

I too have found that most financial aid offices will help. If you were in the Army, my understanding is that you are considered and independent, so your income is what counts... go to www.finaid.org and use the calculators to determine what your EFC should be. Ben Kaplan at scholarshipcoach has some good tools. You will get loans, however remember to use the lenders that discount like www.chelafin.org in CA and www.northstar.org for the rest of the country.