URGENT: Are the cal grant Income ceilings based on AGI or Gross income?

Paying for College
1

<p>Hello, </p>

<p>Is the Cal-Grant income ceiling for eligibility based on Adjusted Gross Income or Gross income? I ask because I have an adjusted gross income of 70,000$, which would make me under the ceiling and allow me to be eligible. But, my parents gross income is $105,000 which is over the ceiling. We are a family above six so the income ceiling for us is 101,000. I searched the cal grant website but it always says "Total Income", i'm hoping their total income means AGI. Can you help clarify this please? Without Cal grant I honestly wont be able to attend my UC. </p>

2

<p>I can’t say 100% sure but most income-based aid is using the gross income.</p>

3

<p>

<a href=“http://www.csac.ca.gov/pubs/forms/grnt_frm/g-20_disqualificationfactsheet.pdf”>http://www.csac.ca.gov/pubs/forms/grnt_frm/g-20_disqualificationfactsheet.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>You can create an account here: <a href=“CSAC - Student Landing Home”>CSAC - Student Landing Home; to check on your grant status.</p>

4

<p>

This is flat out WRONG. The income reported on FAFSA is the parents’ (and student’s) adjusted gross income - not the gross income. As noted by @Alamemom above, Cal Grant eligibility is, in turn, based on the adjusted gross income reported on FAFSA, plus any non-taxed income (such as child support). The parents’ gross income would not be considered.</p>

5

<p>Absolutely correct. For need based aid purposes, the AGI is what is put on the FAFSA form, and the Profile, for that matter. NEVER the gross income.</p>

6

<p>Dodgersmom, thank you very much!!! </p>

7

<p>AGI is what goes on FAFSA. But don’t certain pre AGI income deductions are added back to the AGI for the FAFSA EFC. For instance, contributions to IRAs or 401Ks are deducted from gross income to arrive at the AGI but are added back to income in the EFC formula. I assume this would also be the case for Calgrant. </p>

8

<p>Yes those get added back in to determine the need based aid award. But they are not the income you enter.</p>

9

<p>Agreed, but for the OP’s original question he needs to check what items deducted pre AGI will be added back. $35k difference between gross and AGI is quite a large difference and it really depends on what those “above the line” deductions are whether they will be added back to income for financial aid or not.</p>

10

<p>AGI but Ira deduction go back on top of Agi</p>