<p>D is 20 so is a dependent on the FAFSA.</p>
<p>However, I'm not sure if she is a dependent as I file our taxes and the ramifications if she is not.</p>
<p>She attends out of state private LAC. During 2011 she was home about 5-6 weeks total since she did January term and also got a summer internship in a third state.</p>
<p>She earned about $2K from 3 different jobs for the year, including work-study.</p>
<p>Because of our EFC and her school meeting full need, they cover most of her COA with grants. We (parents) paid around $5K for the year toward our EFC.</p>
<p>I cover her on my health insurance at work.</p>
<p>Her younger brother is a senior in HS and will his EFC be impacted if we do not claim his sister as a dependent?</p>
<p>On the 1040 when it asks if we supported her at least 50% - well, her grants covered the majority of her support. They also provided a stipend for her summer internship that she will need to pay income tax on.</p>
<p>If we don't claim her as a dependent can I still carry her on my health insurance or are the two related?</p>
<p>How do I determine whether to list her as a dependent or not?</p>
<p>It sounds like you supply >50% for your DD. College grants would not count.</p>
<p>EFC will not be impacted either way. Just having two students in college dependent by FAFSA counts.</p>
<p>As far as carrying on your insurance, you need to check with your company about that. I know my company allows it as long as the child is a full time student.</p>
<p>Your DD can stay on your health insurance until she is 26 (you do have to pay the premium). This is mandated by the Health Care Reform law signed by President Obama in 2010. Claiming her as a dependent (or not) has no effect on this.</p>
<p>[5</a> key things to remember about health care reform - CNN](<a href=“http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-25/health/health.care.law.basics_1_health-insurance-high-risk-pool-health-care-reform?_s=PM:HEALTH]5”>http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-25/health/health.care.law.basics_1_health-insurance-high-risk-pool-health-care-reform?_s=PM:HEALTH)</p>
<p>Happykid is carried on our insurance (family plan) under the new regulations. What we do have to certify each semester, is that she is in school so that she keeps the vision and dental coverage. Just being our kid is good enough. We’ve never been required to provide proof of support.</p>
<p>From the CNN article posted:
</p>
<p>So Erin’s Dad, even though both D & S’s schools use both CSS & FAFSA, our EFC will recognize we have 2 kids in college regardless of whether D is our dependent or not on the 1040?</p>
<p>I think that part of the CNN link is incorrect regarding needing to be a tax dependent. Read this link and there is a link to FAQs on the page:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/choices/young-adult-coverage/index.html[/url]”>http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/choices/young-adult-coverage/index.html</a></p>
<p>There are exceptions though to which plans have to provide this coverage and when.</p>
<p>As other have noted, scholarships and grants aren’t support the student has provided herself. There are worksheets you can google to help you figure the >50% support if the amounts are close. Amounts the student earned but did not spend on herself, i.e. saved, aren’t support she provided.</p>