Question about FAFSA Worksheet C

Paying for College
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<p>I am doing son's FAFSA, and am running into an error loop that is making me loopy.</p>

<p>He earned $2252 last year, of which $952 was summer employment and the other, $1300, was federal work study. I entered the $2252 figure on adjusted gross earnings and his earned income (wages, tips, etc) part, and and then attempted to put the figure of $1300 on Worksheet C in the line about federal work study. I keep getting an error message saying that the figure on Worksheet C is too high. </p>

<p>Anyone have any clarity about this?</p>

<p>Many thanks, in advance. I really want to get this done today, and the 4-FEDAID number is not available.</p>

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<p>Unless this was taxable work study, it does not get entered on worksheet C...I don't think. The work study amount on worksheet C is for taxable work study monies.</p>

<p>I'm not positive of this...but my kid has work study...not taxable...and it's not on worksheet C.</p>

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<p>Thumper,</p>

<p>thanks for your response! I was hoping you would be on line! Then, did you put what your kid made for work study in the adjusted gross income amount for the tax return?</p>

<p>thanks!</p>

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<p>We put the kids income on the tax return as earned income because she GOT a W-2 for it. </p>

<p>I'm not an expert in this area, and I could be wrong. I'm hoping someone else weighs in with an answer.</p>

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<p>Double check your entries. The amount you input in Q42 (Work Study income on Worksheet C) cannot be more than the amount you enter on Q35 (AGI) or Q38 (income from work). Maybe you have an extra zero in there somewhere....</p>

<p>Also make sure you're putting all of these figures the Student Worksheet C, not the parent's worksheet C.</p>

<p>(and I believe the workstudy income IS taxable)</p>

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<p>Did you put anything else into the Student's Worksheet C that would cause that worksheet total to exceed AGI or earned income?</p>

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<p>SBlake is likely correct, and I'm not! That's why it's good to have more than one opinion here.</p>

<p>SBlake...why would I put the work study income on Worksheet C AND as part of the earned income?</p>

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<p>sblake7, </p>

<p>Thanks, I have double and triple checked this. Under the section "Your Finances" I put $2252 in both adjusted gross and income from work. I put $1300 on WC3. It is giving me an error message about this when I get past the question "are you a preparer?" </p>

<p>The total for worksheet C is $1300. Maddening!</p>

<p>What would you think of putting "0" (which it will accept) and sending it and letting kid's college know.</p>

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<p>I didn't have any trouble my daughter's total income from W-2 was about $6000.
Her work study income was $2900.</p>

<p>the total of worksheet C is $2900. Did you print out the worksheet, fill it out and enter your numbers from there?
Did you double check to make sure it is the Student's income? In the right spot?</p>

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<p>This is really maddening.</p>

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<p>Ah, I got past it! Had to click "check for errors"!!!!</p>

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<p>YAY FOR YOU!! I was reading this and dreading having to do it next year with work study figured in. I really think this WHOLE THING IS HORRIBLE. I think you have to click "check for errors" after each step????</p>

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<p>Thanks for posting this momofthree...I guess I need to make some changes!! (for $875 in work study earnings for a kid who didn't even have to FILE federal tax returns).</p>

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<p>"SBlake...why would I put the work study income on Worksheet C AND as part of the earned income?"</p>

<p>Thumper- you include it as part of earned income because it IS earned income. Remember that the earned income question is really an expense question- it's used to calculate Social Security taxes paid. So higher is better. Then you include it on Worksheed C in order to have the FAFSA formula deduct it from from the student's total income, so that work study income doesn't adversely affect aid the following year. </p>

<p>So the work study income should be a wash FAFSA-wise (included in AGI but deducted in Worksheet C).</p>

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<p>Thumper,</p>

<p>My accountant did not realize that workstudy was taxed either! Yikes!</p>

<p>I had to correct him. </p>

<p>From my understanding, Worksheet C allows the finaid people to subtract that amount from earned income so that you don't get penalized for having workstudy (or the other stuff mentioned on the worksheet.) Man, I am glad to be done with that. Now I have to do an extensive justification for Brown as to a change in income for me. Brown really makes you think about whether or not you want to mention it. </p>

<p>Thanks, all, for your help.</p>

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<p>Ooops, overlapped with sblake. You all are wonderful, and I am breathing a little deeper.</p>

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<p>Thanks you all...I should have known this.</p>

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<p>franglish,</p>

<p>You generally do not have to click "check for errors" . . . this FAFSA is for my second child in college, and I had NO trouble doing the one for Son 1. Of course, he did not have work study last year!</p>

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<p>I think the check for errors thing is new this year,I have never had it happen before and have had many people PM me back in Jan when I brought it up, any workstudy on Worksheet C seems to bring it up- very annoying as it brings it up repeatedly sometimes</p>

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<p>momofthree, our experience with Brown (and special circumstances) was very good last year. We'll see how this year goes, since we have "new" problems we hope Brown will consider. I met with our FA person and he was encouraging.</p>