<p>If you have a grandparent or other relative that you are supporting or assisting in support, that person does have to meet citizen, permanent residence or other IRS sanctioned category to be considered a dependent The person also has to have an annual income of under $3950, again, as defined by the IRS. Because such family members might be supported by several family members, not just one, the IRS does permit multiple family members to “take turns” in taking the dependency exemptions for tax purposes. One does have to look up the IRS rules as to how this works. </p>
<p>If the family member can be and is a dependent of the student’s household, then medical and extenuating circumstances can be explained, and a request for a professional judgement for this to be taken into consideration is often honored. Now IF the person does not meet IRS standards for dependence, a school might still give consideration, but usually the chances are lower. It’s up to the financial aid office of each school, and if the school decides to give some sort of break, the school would ask for the paperwork and evidence that they required for such situations. So I would not rule out entirely, that if a family has an ailing non citizen, non resident, out of country grandmom, that is being supported, that a college won’t take that into consideration However, from what I have seen, not usually, and not much. The few cases I have seen, the colleges, and these are the more generous colleges, simply gave a larger asset allowance for those documented medical expenses paid for by the family. Not the expenses incurred, not the expenses paid, but those medical expenses direct paid by a family. However, that’s not saying that no school will ever take any consideration for any such case except that way. Absolutely, it is possible a school might I just want the OP and anyone else in such a situation to be aware, that there isn’t much consideration many times in most situations.</p>
<p>My sympathies to all who are in such situaions. As I stated, I have my mother living with me on a government pension (not Social Security). She doesn’t clear $20K in a year, and half of that goes to medical expenses and her insurance premium. She owns nothing. If she did not live with me, where and how could she live on what’s left? Yet she owes federal taxes each year. And I can’t claim her as a dependent because she gets too much money. The only reason she is making ends meet is because she is living with us. Before that, my brothers and I paid her rent and gave her a supplementary allowance so she could afford to live. That and nibbling away at my late father’s insurance payout which is just about gone by now, was how she made it But none of us got a dime in tax deductions, credits or any consideration for anything. It was just money we chose to send to a person. Even now that she is in dire medical condition, living with me, she is considered too well to do to be considered a dependent, and she certainly would not qualify as a consideration for financial aid without a request for professional judgement. That she is not an IRS sanctioned dependent would make that a low probability that any fin aid dept would take into consideration her expenses. </p>
<p>So I do recommend to the OP to send to each financial aid department an explanation of the circumstances, and what amounts are being sent to the relatives(s), Do appeal for consideration Doesn’t hurt, but frankly, I don’t think it will amount to much. I say that to keep your expectations in check about this. Any consideration you get, do treat as a bonus. </p>