<p>I know that some form of social security is not reportable on FAFSA this year and I was wondering if social security income for disabilities needs to be reported or not. Also, my dad moved to the other side of the state at the beginning of the summer so do I need to report his income (if the SS income isn't reportable it doesn't matter anyway since that's all he makes)? He no longer lives with us, he isn't registered as living at my house, and I'm not sure if my parents filed taxes together or not (does it matter?). My parents are not divorced, we inherited a cabin and my dad is living there since it is closer to better hospitals. </p>
<p>Thanks :). I hope that made sense- I'm very tired.</p>
<p>First … your parents are not “separated” in terms of their marriage, so they are still married & dad is still part of the household. Disability payments, if untaxed, are reported as untaxed income on the FAFSA (under “Other Untaxed Income Not Reported Elsewhere”). Social Security & SSDI are not the same thing … untaxed social security is not reported; disability is.</p>
<p>Judging from the info you have posted in the past, the cabin will not have to be reported on the FAFSA, since your family qualifies for the simplified needs formula (assets not considered). I say this in case someone cautions you that the inherited cabin is an asset.</p>
<p>Even if your parents file taxes separately, you will need to include any income from both on this year’s FAFSA.</p>
<p>^ That’s what I thought, but I wasn’t sure. Another question: would it then be 3 in the household or 2 (that’s the question that I meant to ask when I was talking about my parents being separated physically). </p>
<p>What is simplified needs? We’re making under 30k, but we do not qualify for automatic 0 if that is the same thing as simplified needs (we can’t file a 1040A or 1040EZ).</p>
<p>Yes, it’s still 3 in the household. It’s okay that he isn’t living with you … he’s still part of your household.</p>
<p>If your family has an AGI < $50,000 & you meet one of the following your assets are ignored: can file 1040A/EZ OR one parent is a dislocated worker OR any person in your household has received federal means tested benefits in the past 24 months (this includes free/reduced lunch) … assets are ignored in the EFC formula. If I remember correctly, you most likely qualified for free/reduced lunch?</p>
<p>I qualified, but I never applied for it/received it. The school didn’t have vegetarian lunches so I never ate at school. We also qualify for food stamps, but we don’t get them.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help, I feel like as much time as I spend on these boards, I should know the answers to these questions… but I always want to make sure before I send in the FAFSA :).</p>
<p>I made a mistake … SSDI is social security as far as I know & as such the untaxed portion isn’t reported on the FAFSA. Other types of disability payments are reported (such as private or employer disability payments). At least, that is my understanding. Darned if I can find anything anywhere that actually says that! I think this is really confusing & there should be some written clarification somewhere. To be on the safe side, ask your financial aid office. I haven’t come across any yet this year that made any difference to the EFC (any reported SSDI seems to be on an EFC that’s already 0) - so I haven’t had to ask the more-expert-than-me folks about it.</p>
<p>Another confusing thing is that SSI is considered a federal means tested benefit … SSDI is not. That makes a difference for auto 0 & simplified needs formula consideration.</p>
<p>Oy lol. Thank you for coming back. It is going to make a major difference to my EFC. My mom’s income went up about 10k from last year (last year it was 18k and this year it is around 28k). Our EFC was 10 last year and it didn’t include my dad’s disability. I know he gets over 1k a month from disability (no private benefits- he was injured on the job, but he was self-employed). </p>
<p>We don’t qualify for simplified needs or auto 0 (which sucks, I’m not gonna lie). Also, I think my income from this year is going to add to my EFC (I think I’ve made around 6k- but it all went to my parents to help pay bills). </p>
<p>Gah, I’m kicking myself for not getting free lunch. I qualified, I just knew I wouldn’t use it so I never got it. I never knew it would come back to bite me.</p>
<p>If we were to get food stamps before I fill out my FAFSA for this year, would we qualify for auto 0 or simplified needs? Or does it have to be in 2009? (We might have to get them anyway- my dad just steadfastly refuses to get them because he’s proud. But the little savings we had from before the accident are almost gone). We have a bit in savings from a lawsuit (over the accident… there were no airbags in a brand new truck) but that money is all for his hospital bills. That pushes up my EFC even though I can’t touch the money (I know people have this situation all the time and I shouldn’t complain, but it still sucks) :(.</p>
lol. Thank you for coming back. It is going to make a major difference to my EFC. My mom’s income went up about 10k from last year (last year it was 18k and this year it is around 28k). Our EFC was 10 last year and it didn’t include my dad’s disability. I know he gets over 1k a month from disability (no private benefits- he was injured on the job, but he was self-employed). </p>