Can someone explain the $3,000 income protection of a student working?

<p>My son goes to College next year (he is 11th grade now) he has never had a job, if he gets one NOW ,all of this info will have to go on the FAFSA form, how much more complicated does this make things? If he makes LESS than $3,000 for the year, is any of this counted at all --towards the parentes income ? Confused by all of this?</p>

<p>The protected income for a student is @ $3000 (plus some allowances for taxes and it is going up a little next year). Anything under that will not affect his EFC. Anything over that 50% goes to his EFC. The $3000 is not counted at all (except for anything in the bank the day you file FAFSA). Student income is not counted as part of parents income at all. It is students income.</p>

<p>20 % of Students assets also go toward the EFC. Assets in students name = bad for financial aid.</p>

<p>less than or more than $3000/year is not counted toward your income it is counted toward his income.
have him get a job.</p>

<p>The amount he makes does have to be listed on the application somewhere, doesn't it? So if our family makes a total of $49,000 this year, and son makes $2,500, this in no way will bring our family income over that $50,000 mark? I do want him to get a job, I was just worried how this could affect us on this FAFSA form. Would he even be required to fie for income taxes (1040EZ) making this low amount? Thank you all.</p>

<p>Student income is listed separately from parent income. They don't look at the total "family income".</p>

<p>Student income and assets are listed separately from the parent income and assets on the FAFSA. Even IF the student doesn't file taxes, the student is still required to list their income on the FAFSA.</p>

<p>If the student makes a low amount of income and has no taxes withheld, that student does not have to file taxes (assuming also that their interest income is below a certain amount). If the student has taxes withheld and is entitled to a refund, the student probably wants to complete a tax form.</p>

<p>But like I said...whether or not the student files a tax return is irrelevant on the FAFSA. The income gets reported anyway...and if the student does not plan to file indicates so by checking the "will not file" status.</p>