<p>I'm filing out my FAFSA and the question "Household Members" comes up. Currently I have four people living in my house which are my two parents, my girlfriend, and me. My parents DO provide more than half the support for her even though her parents help her with car payments, phone bill, and gas. The FAFSA asks if the we provide more than half of the support, which we do. Do we list her as a member of the household or no? </p>
<p>By the way next year we will be transferring to schools and living off-campus from the university we attend. </p>
<p>I believe this will mean the difference between me receiving financial aid and not receiving it. Any advice is greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Someone else will have to weigh in on this one…I do not believe your girlfriend can be listed as a “member of your family” on the FAFSA. She is NOT a member of your family.</p>
<p>That’s what I thought, I just wasn’t sure under the pretense that stated if someone is living with you whom receives more than 50% of support.</p>
<p>For IRS purposes, if your girlfriend lived with your family for the entire 2009 year, AND she had earned income of less than $3.650, AND your parents provided more than half her support, she qualifies as a dependent under the test for a qualifying relative (mis-named, because she doesn’t have to be a relative.) (Publication 501, page 12, 2009 version.)</p>
<p>My impression was that FAFSA was even more liberal in what was considered. The instructions I see say to include, “3) other people, if they now live with your parents, and your parents provide more
than half of their support and will continue to provide more than half of their support from July 1, 2009 through June
30, 2010. Support includes money, gifts, loans, housing, food, clothes, car, medical and dental care, payment of college
costs, etc.”</p>