<p>Hi all. I'm trying to complete the FAFSA (clearly) but I'm getting really confused with the household size and child support questions. Can anyone help me out? </p>
<p>Here's my situation:
I've been living with my dad full time for about 9 months. I have 3 other siblings who go back and forth between my mom and dad's house, spending a bit more than half of their time with my mother. My dad still pays child support for all of us. (Not sure if this is important but my parents each claim 2 kids on their taxes - I happen to be on my mom's)</p>
<p>One of the first questions on the FAFSA asks about my dad's "household size," which I am automatically included in. But then another question asks what my dad pays for child support, and that number includes child support for myself.</p>
<p>Sounds like household of 2 people…you and dad. And your dad needs to include the total amount that he pays for child support. I don’t think it matters that some was really for you. Your mom is being paid X amount and that should be listed.</p>
<p>Since you live with your dad, your dad’s income is used and child support will be listed.</p>
<p>Your dad should not be including the amount of child support attributed to you in the child support paid amount. If you are selected for verification, this will become an issue.</p>
<p>^^^
What is that amount considered to be? A gift to the mom? And is the child support broken down (divided by number of kids)? IF there are 3 kids, does the dad list 2/3 the amount?</p>
<p>OP…How much will the child support go down once this child goes to college?</p>
<p>Your father is your custodial parent. So he fills out FAFSA. He gets to declare two of you kids as dependents without any issue , but if the child support amount is enough that it can come down to him being able to show that he pays for more than half of your siblings’ costs, he could declare all of them as dependents even though they are not so counted on the IRS 1040. It gets tricky there, because you can have kids as dependents on . any place, however, if I remember correctly. That your siblings are counted as dependents on FAFSA is not a big deal thing as all it does is increase the asset protection allowance a bit. </p>
<p>Kelsmom, how is child support that a custodial parent and spouse pays towards children that live with other parents handled? Is that amount deducted from income in some way? </p>
<p>If a parent claims a child in his household, he is not allowed to also report child support paid for that child. From the most recent Handbook: Child support payments - Count those made during 2012 (2013 for 2014-2015) because of divorce, separation, or legal requirement by the student, spouse, or parent whose income is reported on the FAFSA. Don’t include support for children in the household (see the example in the margin). </p>
<p>Here is the margin note in the Handbook: Child support payments example - Steven and his wife each have a child from a previous relationship who doesn’t live with them and for whom they pay child support. Because Steven provides over half of his daughter’s support through his payments, he counts her in his household size. Therefore, he doesn’t report the amount of child support he pays on his FAFSA. Steven’s wife isn’t providing over half of her son’s support, so he isn’t included in Steven’s household size. Therefore, Steven can report the amount of child support his wife pays.</p>
<p>Although this is not the OP’s situation, it is inferred that because the child is included in the household of the parent who is paying the support, the child support payments are not counted for this child.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks so much for all of the responses! So… If I’m correct here, my dad should claim me as his only dependent and include the child support he pays for my siblings? Thanks again, this has been so helpful! </p>
<p>If you are the only child living in your dad’s household, you are the only child he will include in the household for the FAFSA. Any child support paid for your siblings who do not live in your household are reported in child support paid.</p>
<p>Is your dad paying a court-ordered amount? Is there a “per child” breakdown" </p>
<p>kelsmom…if child support isn’t court ordered, but is just an arranged amount between ex-spouses, can it still be listed? For instance, say the dad is ordered to pay $1000 a month, but chooses to pay 1500, can he list the 1500?</p>