<p>Thanks, yes, I had forgotten about the ES box. That is where, if you choose, you can write about the grandparents 529–I did that last year.</p>
<p>However, it should be noted that the grandparent doesn’t have to write the check from the 529 directly to the college. He or she may choose to write the check directly to the student. It is reported as untaxed income by the student the next financial aid year, which is the original question I had…how much of it can the student get before his financial aid will be affected?</p>
<p>And I think I have the answer, thanks to all of your input. I think the student can write down as much as $6000 in untaxed income as long as he doesn’t also have job income. Whether the college acts on the source of the income is still a mystery to me.</p>