Confused about Ohio residency date and reporting SSI income on parent FAFSA contribution form

For the residency question, yes, if your daughter has lived in Ohio since birth, you would use her date of birth as the date she became a legal resident. That's the correct approach. Regarding the SSI income, yes, you do need to report it on the FAFSA. Social Security benefits (including SSI) are considered untaxed income and must be reported in the 'Untaxed Income' section. Make sure you report the annual amount (monthly payment × 12). The FAFSA doesn't distinguish between different types of Social Security benefits - whether it's retirement, disability, or SSI - they all need to be reported.

we had this EXACT same question last yr!! the ohio residency thng confused us 2. but yea its just the birthdate if she lived here forever

For the SSI question, you need to report the GROSS amount before any deductions like Medicare. The FAFSA wants to know the total benefit amount awarded, not what's deposited after deductions. Also, make sure you're carefully distinguishing between SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) as they're treated differently. SSI is needs-based and SSDI is based on work credits. Based on your description of workplace injury, your husband is probably receiving SSDI rather than SSI. This matters because SSDI counts as untaxed income on the FAFSA while SSI has some special reporting requirements.

The FAFSA system is a NIGHTMARE with disability income!!! When my husband was on disability, we had to call FSA THREE TIMES because we got different answers each time. The online instructions contradict themselves, and the help section is useless. Absolute disaster.

I work with financial aid applicants at a community college, and these questions come up all the time. Let me clarify: 1) Residency date: For Ohio residents who've lived in-state since birth, the birthdate is correct. But keep in mind this might affect state aid eligibility, not just federal. 2) Social Security benefits: There's often confusion between SSI and SSDI. For FAFSA purposes: - If the benefit is on the Social Security Administration letterhead - If it's based on your husband's work history and injury - If the amount is more than the basic SSI amount (currently $943/month for individuals) Then it's likely SSDI, not SSI. And yes, report the gross amount before Medicare deduction. I recommend having your husband's benefit verification letter handy when filling out the form.

Have you tried calling the Federal Student Aid number? I had the same question last year about reporting my husband's VA disability benefits (different program but similar confusion) and spent FIVE DAYS trying to get through to someone. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours.

jus wanna say, if ur daughter is under 24 and doesnt meet the other independence criteria, u HAVE to include both parents income even if u dont help pay for college. its dumb but thats the rule

One more important point: When you get to the tax information section, you'll notice that Social Security benefits are generally not taxable (or only partially taxable in some cases). This means they might not appear on your tax return, but you still need to report them separately in the untaxed income section of the FAFSA. This is one of the most common mistakes people make - they assume that if it's not on their tax return, it doesn't need to be reported on FAFSA. Always better to report and be transparent!

After you submit the FAFSA, I recommend keeping an eye on the SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation. With disability income, sometimes the formula doesn't accurately reflect your actual financial situation. If the SAI seems too high based on your family's circumstances, contact your daughter's college financial aid office about a 'professional judgment' review. They can adjust the SAI to account for special circumstances like disability and medical expenses.