<p>Hello, everyone. This is the first time I will be submitting FAFSA since I only became a resident at the end of 2009, and did not know much about it till recently (I am an international student). SDo the question on fafsa:"Money Received or Paid on Student's Behalf", if I recieved money from my parents for the purpose of saving it and paying for my future tuition at a university with it (I'm going to a community college right now), does it count as "Money Recieved or Paid on Student's behalf"? To clarify, those funds would not have made a difference in my ability to pay bills and tuition, and the only reason they sent them to me was because someone was coming to the US from back home and was able to transfer that money to me for free,and my parents get a chance like that every year or so so they save up money and then send it to me in bulk (so they don't have to pay money transfer fees)and I save it for my last 2 years of college...</p>
<p>That question pertains to people who paid money on your behalf other than your parents.</p>
<p>^^I think that is only true as long as you are a dependent student for FAFSA purposes. If you are an independent student then I think it is reported (hopefully someone more expert will chime in).</p>
<p>I agree with Swimcatsmom. If you are an independent student the assumption is that you are paying your own way. If your parents are paying your rent, for example, that would be money paid on your behalf.</p>
<p>I also think sometimes this can be the case for non-custodial parents. If the parents are divorced but the ncp is paying for all of the living expenses of the family anyway…this would also be reported as money paid on the student’s behalf, I believe.</p>
<p>I hope Kelsmom sees this and clarifies.</p>
<p>That makes sense. I was just assuming the OP was a dependent student… but then, why would I assume that? ;)</p>
<p>I am independent, married filing jointly. I guess in this case the money is considered “recieved”, since it was not paid for anything but rather put into savings. Are money gifts also considered “Money recieved or paid on student’s behalf”?</p>
<p>Slight question to Swimcats and rent2, if parents are divorced, I think it can also include payments by non-custodial parent.</p>
<p>kay…I agree with you…posted above.</p>
<p>oops, thank you thumper</p>
<p>Are money gifts also considered “Money recieved or paid on student’s behalf”?</p>
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<p>Money gifts are money received. Money paid on your behalf is money paid for a bill in your name. If someone gave you money to use as you wish, that needs to be reported as money received.</p>
<p>Kels, I would say this a little more broadly. Money paid on your behalf INCLUDES money paid for bills in your name, but it could also include stuff like Grandma gives Mom a check for $10,000 with a note, this is for juniors college. Now student is not recieving money nor is it being paid used to pay bill (lets say mom is parent, so what she pays doesnt go into this question). IMHO, that still has to be included. In other word, routing money around doesnt obviate this.</p>
<p>I didn’t state it that way because the particular discussion was regarding an independent student. This would not apply for an independent student.</p>