I am in legal guardianship of my grandmother. We both receive SSI ( I think it’s because my father passed away almost 7 years ago). The amount I receive for SSI is greater than hers, 50.6% of our income comes from SSI for me. Should I say she is a dependent of me? (Even when I go to college in the fall she will still receive my entire SSI check). Or just say that I am the only person in the household?
But doesn’t your SSI stop when you turn 18/graduate from high school?
If it doesn’t, why would your grandmother keep getting your check after you turn 18?
I think it does but, she said it’s more of a beneficiaries type thing. So in all honesty I’m not sure. But, I will still be living with her my first year of college.
I would guess that you are not supporting grandma. You live in her house, with her utilities, with her food, and other necessities. Not likely that she is your dependent.
@thumper1 no I’m not. I guess I didn’t think of it that way. But for FAFSA do I just say I am a household of 1? I believe she is my representative payee so the money is paid to her (do I not include that income?).
Did you mean to say that your grandmother has legal guardianship of you?
Yes ma’am. @Madison85
Just so grandma doesn’t get a financial surprise, I suggest you make an appointment with the local Social Security office to find out exactly when your SSI is ending. My limited understanding is that it ends when you graduate from high school or turn 19 - whichever comes first.
Did grandma save any of your SSI money for you for college? Perhaps in a 529 plan?
What is the balance in your bank account (the account where the SSI money is deposited)? That is likely your asset to declare on the FAFSA.
I think you are independent for FAFSA purposes since you are under legal guardianship of grandma. It would be a household of one. I think the SSI income is not reportable as other income or untaxed income on the FAFSA (but the bank account balance IS reportable).
Hopefully more experienced CC posters can chime in with more firm answers for you.
@Madison85 I’ll definitely be sure to let her know to make an appointment. No she did not, to my understanding she was not able to. As of today it should be somewhere in between $90-150.
But her SSI is deposited in the same account. So do I still claim it as asset? (That’s probably a silly question).
Oh! Interesting - I would say that if the account has her name and her SSN listed first, that you would not show it as an asset for FAFSA. But it is very small, regardless.
So if she was not able to save any of your SSI, then it is important for her to learn if the payments stop in May or June when you graduate.
Do you have an affordable option for college? What are your stats?
The only affordable option would be community college and then transfer. What do you mean by stats? @Madison85
Your grandma’s SS may be her own…from her own work history or from a husband.
You will be independent and you will not include your grandmother. You will be a household of one…even if you live with your grand while in college.
It sounds like you’ll be commuting to a local college.
Do your SS payments come in YOUR name or in your Grand’s name? If they come in your Grand’s name, then you will not include that income on your FAFSA.
If your SS payments come in YOUR name, you will need to contact your schools for Professional Judgement so that the income will be removed because it will end very soon.
Yes…make sure grandma understands that YOUR SS will end soon. She may wrongly think that it will continue thru college…it won’t.
It comes to her for me. I spoke to her about it she is aware that it will end around June/July.
‘Stats’ are your GPA, ACT score, SAT score.
Oh. That’s what I thought but I wanted to be sure.
GPA: 4.3 (W)/ 3.9 (UW)
ACT: 24 (super scored would be 26, I know most schools don’t superscore but a few I applied to did)
Rank: 4 of 285 (this number might be larger)
Other posters on CC have stated that untaxed SSI is not included on the FAFSA. You might want to call FAFSA to ask.
Thank you! 