<p>Filling out the FAFSA for next year, it asked for our AGI (my wife and I filed jointly). It then asks for my wife's income (which is, of course, the same number). If it going to think we made twice as much money?</p>
<p>No. The question is probably income from work, not just her income. The income from work question is to calculate allowances for expenses directly related to income from working (as opposed to other income such as interest), such as FICA taxes. These allowances reduce your income in the EFC formula so reduce the EFC. Also for independent students the protected income allowance is different depending on whether one or both spouses are working.</p>
<p>The only way your wife’s income would be the same number as your AGI is if you didn’t earn a single dollar in income and you had no adjustments to the income you reported – which may be the case.</p>
<p>this is why I don’t understand what they are asking for. on the fafsa web site, it referred me to line 7 (iirc or maybe 37 for our agi). it didn’t tell me to go back to our w2s and calculate what we each made individually. it’s almost like it is setup that you have to be filing separately.</p>
<p>Ok, now that I can view my fafsa again, these are the three questions that I am unsure what values to put in:</p>
<ol>
<li>What was your (and your spouse’s) adjusted gross income for 2009?</li>
<li>How much did you earn from working (wages, salaries, tips, etc.) in 2009?</li>
<li>How much did your spouse earn from working (wages, salaries, tips, etc.) in 2009?</li>
</ol>
<p>Question 36 seems straightforward from our 1040. Should 39 and 40 come from our W2s?</p>
<p>Yes. Line 36 is your joint, taxable income including wages and everything else.</p>
<p>Line 39 is just your wages from your w-2’s</p>
<p>Line 40 is those of your spouse.</p>
<p>Thanks 3bm, I had confirmed this just a bit earlier with the FAFSA online chat as well. I changed it online, but, unfortunately it didn’t change my efc!</p>