I filled out the fafsa for the first time earlier in the year and I thought most of it was simple enough but in regards to the next one I want clarification on what I feel is the most difficult for some people in unique living situations and that is household size. I listed 5 people, me, parents and two younger siblings. But my situation is more complex, my older brother, sister in law, and my 3 year old nephew live here as well, where housing, food, and utilities are provided for. My brother does file taxes, where wife and son are his exemptions. Only he works and they would likely be homeless without my parents support. Together my parents make about triple his income. Just wondering if any of them could qualify for our household for fafsa purposes , because I heard household size does not necessarily have to equal exemptions? How exactly could I figure out if they receive half support if am talking about three separate people who are provided for with both my brothers own support and that of my parents? Sorry for the long post just wanted to make it clear.
“provided for” by who? I don’t think so with your brother working and claiming them. But see a tax person.
Another thing, what exactly are you hoping to get by claiming more people? Are you already attending college? Is there any reason to think that college will give more aid?
Some people are just kinda close to receiving need based grants one way or another so I just think it’s worth it to make sure you receive any sort of aid that you qualify for.
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But my situation is more complex, my older brother, sister in law, and my 3 year old nephew live here as well, where housing, food, and utilities are provided for. My brother does file taxes, where wife and son are his exemptions. Only he works and they would likely be homeless without my parents support. Together my parents make about triple his income.
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How much does Brother earn? What gets purchased with Bro’s income? diapers? food? his car? gas? what else does your brother’s income pay for?
It doesn’t matter that your parents earn 3 times as much. Your brother is likely providing most of wife, baby, and his support.
For instance, if your Brother earns $25k and your parents earn $75k, then I doubt that your parents could show that they’re spending $25k+ per year SOLELY on those 3 people.
With respect to college FA, your married adult brother + his family are not part of your household. Your parents provide monetary assistance to them by choice, NOT by legal obligation.
Lots of people help out extended family members. That doesn’t mean colleges should be on the hook for paying for it.
I have to say I disagree with GMT, the Fafsa does not account for reasons why certain people live with you but only that you are providing them your support. My parents do pay for half of living expenses but I guess what I drew from here is that you take into consideration the earner’s salary my brother in this case, and not necessarily their costs to live correct?
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drew from here is that you take into consideration the earner's salary my brother in this case, and not necessarily their costs to live correct?
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What is your brother’s annual salary?
What does he spend his salary on?
https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1516/help/pnumInHousehold.htm
You can’t just go by income, You would likely have to show documentation that your parents are contributing more than half the support, especially if you change this to 8 from 5 the previous year. There are some “hidden” forms of support such as if your brother gets health insurance through his employer that would count for support he his providing his family.
You can’t figure this out yourself. I’m sure you’re not privy to all the details. Your parents and your brother would have to go through their finances and account for everything each is providing.
Your FAFSA will likely get selected for verification.
Your brother’s income will get requested. For instance, say your brother earns $25k per year.
Then, your parents will be asked to proved that they’re directing spending $25k+ per year on your brother, his wife, and the baby.
It’s going to be hard to prove.
It may not affect the FAFSA, but isn’t this something he could make the college aware of and it might increase aid? I’m thinking like large medical expenses … just asking.
Well this is why I asked him what he thought he would gain before he started messing with his fafsa. If he has run any numbers and found some aid that he thinks would be available… There may be no aid to gain, depending upon the college, because they may not give aid, may already be giving the max they give etc.
Germ, how would this impact your EFC, what is FAFSA EFC now and what would it be revised, would it change eligibility for Pell?
thanks for the replies remember I said that I was just curious as to how one should correctly count household size and judging from responses they are better left out because it causes such a hassle and is likely incorrect if the person earns an income.
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I listed 5 people, me, parents and two younger siblings.
But my situation is more complex, my older brother, sister in law, and my 3 year old nephew live here as well,
where housing, food, and utilities are provided for.
My brother does file taxes, where wife and son are his exemptions. Only he works and they would likely be homeless without my parents support.
Together my parents make about triple his income.
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This is the problem that I see. The brother does earn an income. His earnings are paying for SOMETHING. On one hand, the parents are providing the home, but it’s not as if the brother is unemployed. Is he being asked to contribute something each month or paycheck towards “rent” or “food”? Does his income buy any food?
The point about parents earning about triple his income suggests (to me) that his income isn’t very high…maybe something around $15k - 25k per year.
<<< parents do pay for half>>>
Where is the evidence of that? The reason I doubt that is true because it doesn’t sound like your family’s income is that high and there are already 5 people in the immediate family, plus these 3 extended family members. If your brother is earning $20k per year, and your parents are earning about $60k per year, it would be very hard for your parents to show that they are SPENDING more than $20k per year on those three ALONE (expenses that aren’t already part of the regular household).
Your parents’ rent or mortgage is their expense. It exists whether your brother’s family lives there or not. As for food and utilities, much will depend on whether your brother is paying for any of those expenses. Maybe he gives your parents $XXX every month or every paycheck.
This question often comes up when a grandparent is living in the home and people want to include that person in the Household count on FAFSA, but it rarely flies. If the grandparent is receiving a pension or social security, say $900 a month, then it can be hard for the family to show that they’re directly spending over $900 a month on that person.
Again, the hassle may be worth it if there is something to gain. If it is legitimate that they can be claimed.
If the OP is selected for verification, the school will ask for details about the situation. The fact that the brother and family live with the parents is not in and of itself enough to allow their inclusion in the household size. Housing and food are only one small part of the equation. If the brother is only earning minimum wage and is unable to pay for things like transportation, insurance, etc - then perhaps the parents are actually providing more than 50% of the family’s support. If he is earning more, it becomes problematic … the school may request a statement of income and expenses for the brother & his family. It can be very difficult to prove something like this, but I am not saying it is not possible.
My thought is that unless the inclusion of the brother and family would result in increased aid, it is likely to be more hassle than it is worth. If it would result in increased aid, then I suggest talking to a financial aid officer at the school about the situation. Ultimately, the school verifies the file according to their policies, within federal guidelines (meaning, they can give you much better advice on your personal situation than any of us here can give you).