a question ladies and gents

Paying for College
1

<p>i had already filed my fafsa for this year but i have a situation that's nagging me. </p>

<p>i currently live in my father's house. for all of last year i had been supporting my sister who lives with me (i get ssi and ssdi) by paying the cable bill and making sure that the electric bill and gas bill are taken care of (i get help from social services with that). </p>

<p>everyone i have talked to said that i should put her down as a dependent on the fafsa since i give her more than 50 percent support, but i have already reached the maximum amount of changes that i can do with the fafsa form. </p>

<p>my school has already awarded me aid, but i am afraid it is based on the wrong information. should i talk to my faa about adjusting my aid figures or should i call the department of ed for advice??</p>

2

<p>Are you a dependent of your Dad for FAFSA purposes? If you are a dependent you cannot claim a dependent I don't think.</p>

<p>If you claim a dependent you then become classified as independent which may be better for you financial aid wise. I don't know what the burden of proof would be for supporting your sister if your Dad is still alive - you are living in your Dad's house so that means he is partially supporting her? Who buys food for her, clothes, pays her medical insurance etc. When my kids lived at home their 'share' of the cable bill and electric and gas would not have constituted anywhere near half their support. If you really do provide half her support (taking all the above into consideration) I would talk to your FA department about it if I were you. It is an unusual situation.</p>

<p>Oh another thing - Generally who claims a student on their taxes is not relevant for financial aid - this may be a situation when it is - does your Dad claim your sister?</p>

3

<p>put post on wrong board</p>

4

<p>swimcatsmom, </p>

<p>my father does claim me as a dependent on his 2006 tax return (because of my disability), but i am 46 years old, and according to the dept of ed, i am still an independent student for fafsa purposes. nor does my father claim my sister since she is of age to support herself (she is 45).</p>

<p>it looks like i would have to have a talk with my faa doesn't it??? </p>

<p>if i have to, should i bring all tax records with me (mine and my father's) as well as my cable, electric and gas bills with me to show the faa? (all bills are in my name)</p>

<p>if anybody else wants to chime in, please do.</p>

5

<p>baker - yours is such a complex and unusual situation you really should talk to your FA dept. Make an appt and talk to someone senior who knows what's what (as opposed to a WS student - nothing against them but they probably don't have this sort of know how). You are independent because of your age - I would imagine it could be possible to claim your sister as a dependent for FAFSA. Talk to your financial aid dept. Good luck.</p>

6

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<p>Yes, it would seem you are an independent for FAFSA purposes. This is VERY different than being a dependent or not for TAX purposes. It sounds like you are considered a dependent for tax purposes due to your disability.</p>

<p>Call the finaid office at your school. Also, I didn't know there was a "maximum number of changes" you had for the FAFSA. I will say, however, that for this academic year, it's getting mighty late to make changes.</p>

<p>And just a thought...paying utility bills would not necessarily constitute 50% of someones "support". Remember that this support would include housing, medical bills (or insurance), food, clothing, prescriptions, transportation, etc. I have to say...paying the utility bills are a drop in the bucket when it comes to total expenses for an individual. If all you are paying is utilities, I find it hard to believe that you can claim your sister...after all, you all live in the same home and YOU also benefit from the use of those same utilities.</p>

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<p>thumper---you may be right. i will send an email to the fa director tonite and see what she says tomorrow.</p>