FAFSA question about child support

<p>My parents are divorced and I live with my mom for basically 365 days a year. This is our first time filling out the FAFSA for me and she said there is a question about child support. Do I have to put the child support received by my dad or the child support we were supposed to receive? He pays less than half of what he's supposed to and is extremely behind on child support, so I don't want the result skewed if I have to put how much my mom was supposed to get as opposed to what she did get.</p>

<p>You put the amount that you ACTUALLY receive. There would be no point in listing the amount that you’re supposed to receive because you’re not getting that much.</p>

<p>Okay, I thought so. It was a dumb question but I figured I would ask anyway. Thank you!</p>

<p>If the child support will cease or be reduced when you graduate HS, make sure you contact the school to ask for a special circumstances adjustment to reflect the loss of income.</p>

<p>^^^
true…but if the dad is waaay behind with CS payments, he may still be making payments to the mom long after the child is 18. If so, wouldn’t those payments still get included? </p>

<p>The OP says her dad is “extremely behind”. If that means tens of thousands of dollars, then the mom may be getting “back support” payments for a few more years.</p>