FAFSA - Grandparents included as household?

<p>My granddaughter is presently filling out the FAFSA form. Our situation is as follows. My granddaughter's mother is deceased. She and my son (her father) live with us. She receives a social security death benefit and my wife and I provide any additional support needed and claim her as a dependent on our tax return. We will be using my son's information to file for FAFSA since he makes a minimal salary and has no savings. </p>

<p>My question is as to whether she should list the household as two members (her and her dad) or include us to make a total of four members. Any help would be appreciated.</p>

<p>Your son will be listed as the parent. He is NOT supporting you, so I don’t believe you can be listed as members of HIS household. On the FAFSA, however, there is a place to indicate money paid on your grandaughter’s behalf. I believe your financial support will need to be listed there. </p>

<p>But I do not believe you can be listed as members of your SON’s household.</p>

<p>Thumper is right.</p>

<p>FAFSA will be filed using son’s income and he won’t be listing the grandparents because he doesn’t provide for their support. The grandparents are self-supporting.</p>

<p>Think of it this way…if the grandparents were to be included, then it would make sense to include THEIR income and assets as well. That’s why the grandparents aren’t included.</p>

<p>And, if you’re providing for the D or her Dad, the dad may have to include that in some way as well…not sure how that all works.</p>

<p>Whether your support is included or not depends on what form it takes. If you pay a bill that your granddaughter is legally responsible for, that is included. If you provide housing, food, etc. to your son and granddaughter that is not included. Cash, including gifts, that you give to your granddaughter would be reported as untaxed income. Monetary gifts that you give to your son are not included. Students do have an income protection allowance so it’s probable that none of that would affect her EFC.</p>

<p>You can search the pdf FAFSA instructions for definitions of household, untaxed income, etc. Just make sure you know which questions apply to students as there are similar topics for parents:</p>

<p><a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/index.html[/url]”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I am glad you posted the above, sk8rmom. Independent students and dependent students whose parents live with and are basically supported by others don’t have to claim the value of the help that is given to them unless it is bills paid in their own names by someone else (car insurance, rent (if your name is on the lease/mortgage), credit cards, phone bill, etc). They may be asked to prove how they live on so little, and schools can adjust living expense components downward, but they just complete forms to prove the situation.</p>

<p>We will be using my son’s information to file for FAFSA since he makes a minimal salary and has no savings. </p>

<hr>

<p>You wouldn’t be able to do anything else - you can’t use your own information. Only the parent can provide the info.</p>