I'm currently 24 and just started school...

Paying for College
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<p>Hey so I'm 24 and just started at a 4 year community college (NY). I already applied for Fafsa an an independent student. I made around 17k last year. My question, is it possible to claim your parents are dependents? My mother was on disability for about 1 month in 2012. She no longer receives it nor can she return to work. My father hurt his back years ago and can no longer work. He currently receives SSDI. In this current year(2013), I have already made a lot more than I did last year with 3 more months to go. Considering that they do not have any working income, and from what I hear, SSDI does not have to be claimed on FAFSA, can I claim them as my dependents? Would that boost up my Financial Aid and TAP?</p>

<p>PS. They do not own a home. We currently rent and I do provide financial support. I'm also first generation to go to college. Thank you.</p>

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<p>It is not likely that you could declare your parents. You would need to demonstrate that you provided in excess of 50% of their living expenses…including any unreimbursed medical expenses, insurances, housing/food, clothing, etc. Are you really doing this for two additional people on $17,000 a year income?</p>

<p>While SSDI income does not have to be declared on taxes, it IS considered when calculating the amount of support provided by your parents for themselves.</p>

<p>I am confused…you say your mom was on disability for about a month…but cannot return to any kind of work? If she is truly unable to work because of a disability, would she be able to get some kind of disability support?</p>

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<p>Unfortunately, I am. Plus, whatever little SSDI my father gets once a month. My older brother lives with us as well(he’s 28, independent in FAFSA terms) but I believe I have made more than him as well.</p>

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<p>Maybe you can declare them if you are providing most of their support. Who pays for rent? Who pays the electric bill? Who pays for food and transportation costs?</p>

<p>BTW…once you’re a full time student, it sounds like you won’t be earning this much for 2014. is that right? If so, what will pay the family household bills at that point?</p>

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<p>Well I’m currently a full time student and still working nearly 40 hours a week. Working isn’t the issue. I could handle both. If I could claim my parents on my taxes, why wouldn’t I be able to claim them for my financial aid. Doesn’t make sense.</p>

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<p>If you can legally claim them on your taxes because you are providing most of their support, then I think you can clam them on FAFSA. </p>

<p>What is your brother providing to the household? If he is also contributing, then won’t he argue that he should claim them as well? If he also contributes a lot, maybe each of you could claim one parent??? </p>

<p>You’ve just started college. Right now, you can work full time and go to college full time. That won’t likely continue unless your major is rather easy. What is your major?</p>

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<p>He just makes enough for himself right now. I think he understands its more important for me to claim our parents. I know eventually I’m going to have to cut back on my work hours for school.</p>

<p>I make a decent amount from work. I work in a hospital making $17/hr. Its not like I’m claiming to support them on minimum wage. It just sucks that because I make above a certain amount, I’m not eligible to receive the most that I can. </p>

<p>My intended major is Biology. Thanks for your responses.</p>

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<p>Ok…so it sounds like you CAN claim them since you’re supporting them. You need to go over the numbers to be sure. If your dad is only bringing in a few hundred a month, and you’re bringing in - say 1500 a month -, then yes you are likely providing most of their support. </p>

<p>What does your dad’s income pay for? Is it enough for rent? food? What are you paying for? </p>

<p>I think your family needs to think more long term. A back injury may preclude doing work that involves physical labor, but often a person can still work doing other jobs that aren’t physically demanding. </p>

<p>if you do go to med school, guess what? You’ll be earning NOTHING during that time. How will your family live? For that reason alone, your parents need to “put on their thinking caps” and figure out how they can earn some money that won’t be an issue with back problems or other physical issues. </p>

<p>Maybe they’re thinking that you’re going to be some highly paid doctor who will support them. Even if that is the plan, you’re many, many, many years away from being able to do that. 4 years of undergrad, 4 years of med school, several years of residency, etc. Your family needs a plan for the meantime.</p>

<p>It sounds like you’re premed. If so, then at some point, you’re going to have to cut back on your hours so that you can focus on grades. My son is in med school and the year that he took OChem was the year that he hardly worked. He needed to be sure to get those A’s in those classes. He couldn’t chance a B.</p>

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<p>The check that my father gets monthly covers most of the rent. I cover the rest and most other bills. I don’t see what other jobs they can work, considering they speak very broken English.</p>

<p>I won’t be going to med school. I have no desire to begin being a doctor at almost 40. I do, however, plan on entering a PA program. At that point, I plan to have money saved since I won’t be able to work. From the conversations I’ve had with PA’s at my job, they enjoy what they do without sacrificing their time to become a doctor. I understand that doesn’t mean it won’t be grueling, as PA programs are very competitive. </p>

<p>I just don’t understand how certain families around here, mostly immigrants, get all of the benefits and assistance while I’m trying to better myself and family and am forced to struggle. I’m not trying to bash immigrants. Both of my parents came from Europe before I was born.</p>

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<p>The question that you are asking is how many people are in your household, not how many dependents.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>the quick and easy answer is this;</p>

<p>take the amount of monies that your parents are receiving and multiply it by 12.</p>

<p>How much is this?</p>

<p>For example; if your parents are receiving 600/month is SS/Disability this is $7200 a year. You would have to provide more than 7200 in support for your parent highly unlikely if you are only making 17k/year). If you are, then you will have to prove it in the verification process.</p>

<p>Have you considered explaining your situation to the financial aid office at your school and asking them to consider using professional judgement?</p>

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<p>Sybbie, I think to be fair, you’d have to split the “dad income” into two parts…for two parents. The dad’s money isn’t just for him, it’s for him and his wife. </p>

<p>So, if the married couple is only bringing in 7200 per year for TWO people (wife and himself), then that marriage is only really providing 3100 for each spouse. Since that is the case, it would be easy for the OP to argue that his/her $17,000 is providing most of each parent’s support. </p>

<p>S/he would list each parent as a dependent and show that those TWO PEOPLE are only contributing $7700 total to the household ($3100 for each parent), while s/he is contributing $17,000. </p>

<p>So, the argument could easily be…the child provides $3500 for each parent’s support, and provides $10,000 towards his/her own support.</p>

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<p>*Both of my parents came from Europe before I was born.</p>

<p>I don’t see what other jobs they can work, considering they speak very broken English.
*</p>

<p>So, they’ve been here for 18 years or more? They can practice their English by speaking to you and your sibling. And, watching American TV can also help. </p>

<p>I’m not trying to be harsh. My grandparents came from Europe as well with little or no education. They all learned English quickly so that they could work and participate in all that the country offers. Encourage your parents to speak English to you so that you can help them.</p>

<p>*The check that my father gets monthly covers most of the rent. I cover the rest and most other bills. I don’t see what other jobs they can work, considering they speak very broken English.</p>

<p>I won’t be going to med school. I have no desire to begin being a doctor at almost 40. I do, however, ** plan on entering a PA program. At that point, I plan to have money saved since I won’t be able to work**. From the conversations I’ve had with PA’s at my job, they enjoy what they do without sacrificing their time to become a doctor. I understand that doesn’t mean it won’t be grueling, as PA programs are very competitive. </p>

<p>I just don’t understand how certain families around here, mostly immigrants, get all of the benefits and assistance while I’m trying to better myself and family and am forced to struggle. I’m not trying to bash immigrants. Both of my parents came from Europe before I was born.*</p>

<p>You’re just starting college, so you really don’t yet understand how full time college will soon cause you to reduce your hours.</p>

<p>It’s unlikely that you’re going to be able to continue working at the same level you have been (nearly full time). </p>

<p>Soon, your school schedule, travel to and from, homework, and studying will take up 50-60 hours per week. I don’t see how you can continue to fit 35+ hours a week working without it affecting your grades, sleep, and health.</p>

<p>When you do have to cut back your hours, your reduced earnings will largely be going towards college costs and family costs. I doubt that you’d be able to save enough over the next 4 years to pay the COA for PA school and to support your parents. As admirable as that all sounds, it’s not likely going to work out that way. </p>

<p>I do think that you should be able to claim your parents as dependents, get a low EFC, and get some aid. Good luck.</p>

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<p>M2K, I know, which is why I stated if his parents (2-people because mom does not work and only has dad’s income) are receiving…</p>

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<p>^^^</p>

<p>Ok…good. :)</p>

<p>So, if the “parent income” total is only about $7200 per year ($3100 for each parent), would it really be a “stretch” for the OP to be able to claim that he provides $3500 for each parent, and the rest for himself? </p>

<p>Sounds like the parents income is ONLY covering part of the rent. So, the balance of the rent, PLUS everything else is being paid for by this student. That would mean that the student is paying for: food, utilities, phone(s), transportation (car?), insurance, gas, clothing, internet, etc, etc…plus the balance of the rent.</p>

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<p>

Not to pick nits, but $7200 divided by 2 is $3600, not $3100. ;)</p>

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<p>Ok…I must be missing something. Why is this being divided by 2? The student would have to provide half of the expenses for each parent…so…that $3600 would be multiplied by 2, right?</p>

<p>This student would need to provide more than $7200 of living expenses for the total for BOTH parents…I think. He would have to demonstrate that the parents were contributing less than that amount.</p>

<p>Unless I’m totally off! Anything is possible!</p>

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<p>patsmom…thanks! lol. </p>

<p>Yes, Thumper. </p>

<p>The student only needs to show that s/he’s contributing more than 3600 for each parent…or more than 7200 for both. Not impossible.</p>

<p>My point about dividing was that the student didn’t have to show that s/he’s contributing more than 7200 for ONE parent. </p>

<p>It may have been an unintentional typo, but Sybbie had written, “You would have to provide more than 7200 in support for your parent highly unlikely if you are only making 17k/year)” </p>

<p>She may not have meant to use the singular “parent”.</p>

<p>Anyway, if the system balks at believing that the student is providing more than 50% for the parents, then why can’t they claim that the dad’s low income only goes for himself, and the student completely supports the mom? At least there would be one dependent he could claim.</p>

<p>BTW…we don’t know how much the dad is getting from disability. The student should ask the dad.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the replies everyone. My income from 2012 was 17,000. I filed my fafsa awhile ago so I don’t know if putting corrections in now will make a difference. However, by the end of 2013, I will earn over $30,000. I have a job that pays a lot more than the job I had in 2012. I’m currently trying to have my mother put under my health insurance plan. Maybe that will show that I actually do provide for them.</p>

<p>Mom2collegekids, thanks for your advice. I have been saving as much as I can on the side until the time comes. The PA programs in my area prohibit working while in the program so I’d have to leave my job. Hopefully by then, my brother will “man up” and provide for them(wishful thinking). I guess we’ll see how it all plays out.</p>

<p>I contacted TAP/HESC today and they told me, even though I’m 24, I’m still dependent because I live with my parents. I don’t know why I originally put that I don’t live with them. The rep I was talking to told me that it would definitely bump me up a bit.</p>

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<p>^ I don’t think that’s correct according to federal aid guidelines. If you are over 24 by the date mentioned on your FAFSA, you are an independent student. </p>

<p>“An independent student is one of the following: at least 24 years old, married, a graduate or professional student, a veteran, a member of the armed forces, an orphan, a ward of the court, or someone with legal dependents other than a spouse, an emancipated minor or someone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.”</p>

<p>-from [Glossary</a> | Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/glossary#Independent_Student]Glossary”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/glossary#Independent_Student)</p>

<p>It may be different for institutional fin aid, however. I would ask for a clear explanation of this to avoid them trying to rescind aid if someone “realizes” that you are actually independent.</p>

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<p>^It was not Fafsa, it was TAP. State financial tuition assistance. I’m guessing their requirements are different than Fafsa’s.</p>