Do stepchildren count on FAFSA?

You can count your stepdaughter in the household size on your FAFSA if you and your husband provide more than half of her support. If you and your husband provide less than half her support, you cannot count her in the household size on your FAFSA, but then you can report the child support paid on your FAFSA.

Does stepparent income affect financial aid?

If your stepparent was married to your parent but is now widowed, that stepparent doesn’t count as a parent on your FAFSA form unless he or she has legally adopted you.

Does having dependents affect financial aid?

Dependency status on federal income tax returns and on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are not related. Claiming a student as a dependent on the parent’s federal income tax return generally does not affect the student’s eligibility for financial aid.

Do I include my stepdad on my FAFSA?

Your biological father’s information is not reported on the FAFSA. Your stepfather’s information is only required while he is married to your mother. Since he is separated from your mother, his information is not reported on the FAFSA.

Does household size affect FAFSA?

If a significant other or other person supported by the family is included in household size, income and benefits received by that person in his/her own name are generally not reported on the FAFSA. Only income and benefits received by the student and parents are reported on the FAFSA.

How much do dependents affect FAFSA?

Currently, the FAFSA protects dependent student income up to $6,660. For parents, the allowance depends on the number of people in the household and the number of students in college. For 2019-2020, the income protection allowance for a married couple with two children in college is $25,400.

At what age are you no longer a dependent for FAFSA?

24 or older
A student age 24 or older by Dec. 31 of the award year is considered independent for federal financial aid purposes.

Which parent should complete the FAFSA?

custodial parent
If your parents are separated or divorced, the custodial parent is responsible for filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The custodial parent for federal student aid purposes is the parent with whom you lived the most during the past 12 months.

Does FAFSA check both parents income if divorced?

If your parents live together, even if they are separated, were never married, or are divorced, you file the FAFSA with income information from both of them. If your parents are divorced, separated, or were never married and don’t live together, you fill out the FAFSA based on your custodial parent.