<p>My wife and I are sending our last daughter to college in the fall. Finad department was not very kind to us. No grant money! (my wife and I make less than 100,00). Heres where we need help. Our 20 yr son moved back home. He has decided to attend a 2 yr college. He wants to claim himself instead of us claiming him and helping our daughters situation. I need some advice.</p>
<p>If you are contributing more than 1/2 of your son's support, you can claim him as a dependent and then he would count as a member of your household. </p>
<p>Does your son think he will get financial aid at his two year college as an independent...because that is highly unlikely. For finaid purposes HE will be considered a dependent regardless of whether he is independent for tax purposes or not.</p>
<p>He is a dependent for FAFSA unless he can answer yes to one of the dependency questions (age 24, married, has a dependent of his own, veteran, active duty, etc). Being independent for FAFSA is not a choice. It is based strictly on the FAFSA questions. Unless he can answer yes to one of the questions he is a dependent.</p>
<p>Being claimed or not claimed as a dependent for tax purposes is not relevant to FAFSA dependency.</p>
<p>Dependency for FAFSA is based strictly on how your son can answer the dependency questions (48-60) on FAFSA. If he can answer yes to one of the questions he is independent. If he cannot answer yes to one of the questions he is dependent. It is not a choice he (or you) can make.</p>
<p>Dependency for tax purposes is not relevant for FAFSA. Only how he can answer the dependency questions. For instance my son returned to school at 22 after 2 years living on his own, working full time, and not being claimed as a dependent on our tax returns. For FAFSA he is a dependent.</p>
<p>The issue the OP has is that for the family to count the son as a FAMILY member on the fafsa, I believe he has to be a dependent, doesn't he? If he isn't included in the family member count, then he can't be included in the number in college count on the fafsa.</p>
<p>They want to include the son as a family member AND then have TWO kids as the number in college on the sister's FAFSA.</p>
<p>Household member is a different thing than either "dependent" for tax purposes or "dependent" for FAFSA purposes. Different instructions for each. Household member uses a support criteria for the student's siblings (regardless of their IRS or FAFSA dependency status).</p>
<p>No. He can be included as a member of the household as long as he can answer no to all the dependency questions.</p>
<p>
[quote]
75. Number in parents’ household. Enter the number of family members in your
parents’ household. </p>
<p>The following persons are included in your parents’ household size: </p>
<p>• You (the student), even if you do not live with your parents. </p>
<p>• Your parents (the ones whose information is reported on the FAFSA). </p>
<p>• Your parents’ other children, if your parents will provide more than half of their support from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 *or if the other children could answer “No” to every question in Questions 48-60. *
[/quote]
</p>
<p>By the way I did not mean to double post. My posts are taking a while to post and I thought the 1st had disappeared so retyped it.</p>
<p>Swimcats..I knew you'd know the answer. So...as long as the family is providing more than 1/2 the support for the son, they can declare him as a household member regardless of his tax return. </p>
<p>Can I do the same if my son files his taxes using an address that is OOS from us (we would declare him...he would not...but he would use his NC address).</p>
<p>Grr - I am having problems posting - my posts keep not posting. Trying again.</p>
<p>According to the FAFSA household question you do not have to be providing half their support. it is an 'or' question - half the support or able to answer no to the dependency questions.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Your parents other children, if your parents will provide more than half of their support from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 or if the other children could answer No to every question in Questions 48-60.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>my fiancee and i bought a house in november we have lived together for the last two years shared accounts insurance ect.. her mother does not pay any of her bills she made 10 thousand this year and she is a full time student her mom has insurance on her and her moms name is on the fafsa we want to claim ourselves on our taxes instead of her mom claiming her the house has her name on it before mine can her mom legally claim her just because fafsa</p>
<p>Her mother can't claim her if she didn't provide more than half of her support, but she is still not independent for FAFSA purposes unless she's 24 or if you guys get married. However, her insurance may not allow her to cover the daughter if she isn't a dependent. Be careful what you do.</p>