<p>Our daughter is currently a freshman in college so this is our second fafsa for her. Last summer, our 22-yr old son moved out to live on his own. He is paying all of his own expenses, with the exception of off-and-on college classes which we pay for. He is no longer an exemption for tax purposes. However, I don't beleive he would meet the fafsa qualifications to be classified as an independent student. Should he still be counted in our household size on the fafsa? And for that matter, as one attending college?</p>
<p>Is he working on an undergrad degree?</p>
<p>I’m not sure how you’d count him if he’s not living in your household. What do you mean that he goes to school “on again/off again”?</p>
<p>I have submitted the fafsa with 3 (H, D and me) in household with 1 (D) in college so I didn’t count him. I didn’t think he was part of the household but neither does he qualify for independent status. </p>
<p>The school he attends have 8-wk. evening sessions. He is attending this session (Mar-May). I think two classes is considered full-time. If he continues, how would he apply for FA, as a dependent or independent?</p>
<p>At least 12 (16?) qtr credits is considered full time. It depends on the school.</p>
<p>You are right he won’t qualify for independent on FAFSA till he is 24/military/ own dependent/completes BA.</p>
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<p>Your son does NOT live with you and is paying all of his own expenses. He does NOT get included as a member of YOUR household.</p>
<p>Re: his status for independence for financial aid purposes…he will not attain independent status for financial aid purposes until he is 24. Independence for tax purposes and independence for financial aid are TWO different things. SO when your SON applies for financial aid, he will have no choice but to apply for aid as a dependent for financial aid purposes. Unless he is 24 years of age, a veteran, an orphan, a ward of the state, married, has a dependent child HE supports, or has his bachelors degree already, he would be considered a dependent for financial aid purposes.</p>
<p>Right, I was just making sure I shouldn’t have included him on the fafsa. I’ve been trying to figure out what caused D’s EFC to nearly double. He was in school last year and was included on her fafsa so would that be it? And if S gets his act together and attends full-time this year, he is disadvantaged for FA by our income/assets, correct?</p>
<p>If he is dependent on you for aid purposes, you can include him in your household size on the FAFSA. FAFSA rules require students who are totally self-supporting to get parent tax info and be considered dependent … it works both ways, so if he is in school & has to be considered dependent, you can include him in your HH size and number in college (if he is at least half time) for all FAFSAs. The exception would be if he is in grad school, in which case he is independent. He won’t need your info for FAFSA & you won’t include him in your HH size or number in college for the other FAFSA in your family.</p>
<p>The FAFSA instructions are fairly clear that you do include a child as a member of household if they would be considered dependents for FAFSA purposes. It does not matter that he does not live with you.</p>
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<p>We went through this with our son and when I checked I was told he should be included. It will only make a little bit of difference if he is not in school (it will increase income allowances a little). But if he returns to school it will make a big difference.</p>
<p>Thanks for that clarification!</p>
<p>Is this a field the OP can correct on the FAFSA? If so, they should do it immediately.</p>
<p>Yes, it can be corrected. Sometimes it will prompt verification, but it’s worth it.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your answers. Is there a deadline for correcting the fafsa for 2012-13? We are not currently supporting him, only paying for the classes, so I cannot change it. But if he continues on this track, passes and increases his load, we may pick up support, in which case we’d want to correct the fafsa. I don’t want to deal with verification if I don’t have to. All D is getting next year is unsubsidized Stafford loan. We don’t take the PLUS loans.</p>
<p>Yes you can change it. You do not have to be supporting him. If he can answer no to all the dependency questions, he is a member of household for FAFSA purposes. My son had not lived at home for 2-3 years and was totally self supporting. But he was still a dependent and a member of household for FAFSA.</p>
<p>These are the FAFSA detailed instructions</p>
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<p>It is an or question, not an and question - meaning if you provide more than half support or if he can answer no to questions 45-57 (the dependency questions). Assuming he can do so, he is a member of your household for FAFSA purposes (which is quite different from tax requirements)</p>
<p>Thank you for that OR clarification! I changed the household size as well as the # to be in college in 2012-13, as that is his plan (and has always been his parents’). It did make a difference, bringing the D’s EFC back down to slightly higher than last year’s, and under D’s COA.</p>
<p>Will the corrected FAFSA automatically be sent to the school or do I have to notify the school of the change? Their deadline was at the beginning of this month, but I made both the original submission in Jan. and the update (after our taxes were complete) in Feb., both by the deadline. </p>
<p>The school has already calculated my daughter’s FA for next year. It only included the stafford unsubsidized loan and the PLUS loans. She lost the grant and sub. loan she had this year because our original/updated EFC was greater than the COA but now it’s below. Do I have to call them and ask about it?</p>
<p>Also, if son falls off the college wagon again and doesn’t attend at least half-time in the fall or any part of 2012-2013, do I have to correct and resubmit the fafsa again at that time?</p>
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<p>I don’t believe you resubmit the FAFSA if the above happens. BUT both or our kids’ schools required verification of their school enrollment and they requested this a couple of weeks into the fall term (to be sure that students indeed were enrolled). If you cannot provide that documentation…the school would be well within their rights to adjust your daughter’s financial aid…me thinks.</p>
<p>RE: now…yes, I would contact the financial aid folks. Explain the error you had on the FAFSA, and tell them you have resubmitted it.</p>
<p>Just an FYI…as a FAFSA only school…it is unlikely that they guarantee to meet your need…and they might not do so.</p>
<p>Count me as one of those who missed the “or” in question #72. Does not make a huge change in our EFC but every bit counts. It would be interesting to track the number of FAFSA corrections made today to question 72. Bet there is a spike just because of this forum and the valuable information provided by knowledgeable participants. Thank you to the CC financial aid forum gurus!</p>