Do I need to report grandparent's bank account on FAFSA if I have POA and joint account access?

This is definitely NOT correct information. You do not need to report your grandmother's income on your FAFSA. The fact that you're on her account as a POA doesn't make her income yours for FAFSA purposes. The FAFSA only requires you to report YOUR assets and income (and potentially your parents' if you're a dependent student). Being on someone's account as a helper/manager doesn't make that money yours for financial aid purposes. You should only report bank accounts that you personally own and use. If you're 23 and fully independent (meaning you provide more than half of your own support), you'd file as an independent student anyway, so only your information would be required regardless.

The advice you got was WRONG and could seriously hurt your SAI calculation! I work in college financial aid and I see this mistake all the time. Having power of attorney or being a joint account holder for caretaking purposes is NOT the same as that money being yours. Only report assets that are actually yours. The new FAFSA specifically addresses this issue. You only report accounts where you are the OWNER of the funds, not just an authorized user or manager. Your grandmother's money is still HER money even if you can access it as her POA.

I WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING with my uncle's account! The financial aid office at my school also told me to list it and it COMPLETELY messed up my aid package. I had to appeal and it took forever to fix. Don't make my mistake!!

this is exactly why the fasfa system is so broken. they don't train advisors properly and then people get wrong info that costs them thousands in aid. i had something similar where i was told by my high school counselor to include my 529 account that my grandparent created for me and it totally messed up my aid calculation. took 2 months to fix with tons of phone calls.

When I was trying to reach the Federal Student Aid office to get clarification on a similar issue with my mother's accounts (I'm her caregiver), I was on hold for HOURS and kept getting disconnected. I finally found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in about 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ that shows how it works. Seriously saved me so much frustration - the FSA agent I spoke with confirmed that POA accounts are NOT considered your assets for FAFSA purposes.

Just to add another perspective - I help my students with FAFSA applications all the time as a college access counselor. The rule is simple: if the money belongs to someone else and you're just helping manage it, it's NOT your asset for FAFSA purposes. Your financial aid officer gave you incorrect information.

So what if your name is on the account but its not a POA situation? My mom added me to her checking account when I went to college just so she could transfer money to me easily. Do I have to report that on FAFSA?

make sure you double check EVERYTHING on your fafsa!!! i had a similar situation and thought i was doing everything right but still got flagged for verification and it delayed my aid for a whole semester. ended up having to take out private loans just to cover tuition while waiting for it to get sorted out.

One last important point: Make sure you understand the difference between being a dependent or independent student for FAFSA purposes. At 23, you're likely independent unless you're a graduate student or meet other specific criteria. As an independent student, you don't need to report any parent information anyway - just your own. The FAFSA considers age, marital status, degree level, and other factors to determine this.

I'm so glad you asked this question because I was in a similar situation last year! I'm a college financial aid counselor and I see this confusion ALL the time. The advisor at your school gave you completely incorrect information, and I'm honestly frustrated that this keeps happening to students. You are absolutely NOT required to report your grandmother's income or assets on your FAFSA just because you have POA or are on her account. The FAFSA only requires you to report assets that you actually OWN, not accounts you manage for someone else. Your grandmother's money remains her money regardless of your access to it. Since you're 23 and independent, you only need to report YOUR income and assets - period. Please don't let this bad advice mess up your aid eligibility. I'd strongly recommend getting a second opinion from another financial aid officer or calling the Federal Student Aid helpline directly to confirm this. Document everything in case you need to appeal later. You've got enough stress managing your grandmother's care - don't let incorrect FAFSA advice add to it!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you absolutely do NOT need to report your grandmother's income or assets on your FAFSA. The financial aid advisor at your school was completely wrong, and unfortunately this kind of misinformation happens way too often. As someone who went through a similar situation with my elderly father's finances, I can tell you that having POA or being on someone's account for caregiving purposes does not make their money yours for FAFSA purposes. The Department of Education is very clear about this - you only report assets that you actually own and control for your own benefit. At 23, you're filing as an independent student anyway, so you only need to report YOUR income from work and YOUR personal bank accounts. Don't let this bad advice cost you thousands in financial aid. I'd recommend getting this clarification in writing from the Federal Student Aid office (1-800-4-FEDAID) and maybe even filing a complaint about the incorrect advice you received. Other students shouldn't have to go through this stress because of poorly trained staff. You're doing an amazing thing caring for your grandmother - don't let FAFSA confusion add to your burden!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stress on top of everything else you're managing with your grandmother's care. The advisor at your college was absolutely wrong - having POA or being on someone's account for caregiving purposes does NOT mean you report their income or assets on your FAFSA. I went through something similar when I was helping my mom after her surgery. The key thing to remember is that the FAFSA only cares about assets you actually OWN, not accounts you can ACCESS. Your grandmother's money is still legally hers, even if you can write checks or make transfers for her care. Since you're 23 and independent, you only report YOUR W-2 income and YOUR personal bank accounts. Period. Don't let this bad advice mess up your aid package - definitely get a second opinion from the Federal Student Aid helpline (1-800-433-3243) before you submit. It's worth the wait time to get official confirmation. You're already doing so much taking care of your grandmother after losing your dad. Don't let FAFSA confusion add unnecessary stress to your plate. The people in this thread who work in financial aid are giving you the right information - trust them over that one advisor who clearly doesn't understand the rules.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this confusing situation on top of everything else you're managing! As a newcomer here, I just wanted to add my support to what everyone else has been saying - you absolutely do NOT need to report your grandmother's income or assets on your FAFSA. I went through something very similar when I was helping my disabled aunt with her finances. I was terrified that having access to her accounts would mess up my financial aid, but after calling the Federal Student Aid office multiple times and getting it confirmed, I learned that being a caregiver with POA or account access doesn't make someone else's money yours for FAFSA purposes. The key distinction is ownership vs. access - you can access the account to help your grandmother, but the money still legally belongs to her. Since you're 23 and filing as an independent student, you only report YOUR income and YOUR assets. That's it. I'd definitely recommend calling 1-800-433-3243 to get this confirmed in writing for your peace of mind. The wait times can be long, but it's worth it to have official documentation. You're already doing such an incredible thing caring for your grandmother after losing your father - don't let bad advice from one financial aid advisor add unnecessary stress to your life. You've got this!

I'm a newcomer here but had to jump in because I went through this exact same nightmare last year! The financial aid advisor at my school told me the same wrong information about my mom's account that I help manage due to her mobility issues. I actually DID include her income on my FAFSA (biggest mistake ever) and it completely destroyed my aid package - I lost over $4,000 in Pell Grant money. It took me three months and countless phone calls to get it corrected. I had to provide documentation proving I was just a caregiver, not a beneficiary of her income. The appeals process was exhausting, but I eventually got my aid restored. Please learn from my mistake - DO NOT report your grandmother's income or assets! You're managing her money as a caregiver, not receiving it as income. The fact that you have POA actually supports this - you're legally authorized to act on her behalf, which means the money still belongs to HER. Call the Federal Student Aid helpline at 1-800-433-3243 and get this confirmed before you submit. Yes, the wait times are brutal, but it's worth it to avoid the nightmare I went through. And honestly, I'd consider filing a complaint about that advisor - giving out wrong information that could cost students thousands in aid is seriously problematic. You're already dealing with so much helping your grandmother. Don't let bad FAFSA advice make things worse!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add my voice to support what everyone else has been saying - the advisor at your school gave you completely incorrect information! I'm actually a financial aid administrator at a community college, and I see this exact confusion happen way too often. You absolutely do NOT need to report your grandmother's income or assets on your FAFSA just because you have power of attorney or joint account access for caregiving purposes. The FAFSA specifically asks for assets that YOU own, not accounts you manage for others. Your grandmother's Social Security and pension remain HER income, regardless of your legal authority to help manage her finances. At 23, you're filing as an independent student, so you only report YOUR W-2 income and YOUR personal bank accounts - that's it. Don't let this misinformation cost you thousands in financial aid! I'd strongly recommend calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 to get official confirmation in writing. The wait times can be long, but having that documentation will protect you if anyone questions your application later. You might also want to speak with a different financial aid counselor at your school - preferably a supervisor who can clarify their policies and maybe provide additional training to prevent other students from getting this same harmful advice. You're already handling so much caring for your grandmother after your father's passing. Please don't let one person's incorrect guidance add unnecessary stress to your situation. Trust the multiple financial aid professionals in this thread - we're all telling you the same thing for a reason!

As a newcomer here, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm in a somewhat similar situation - I'm 22 and help my grandfather manage his finances after he had a minor stroke last year. I was also given confusing advice about reporting his accounts on my FAFSA, and reading everyone's responses has been such a relief. What really stands out to me is how many people have encountered this same misinformation from financial aid offices. It seems like there's a real training gap happening where advisors don't understand the difference between account ACCESS and account OWNERSHIP. The stories from Isabella about losing $4,000 in Pell Grant money and others having to go through lengthy appeals processes are honestly terrifying. I'm definitely going to call the Federal Student Aid helpline at 1-800-433-3243 to get official clarification for my own situation. The fact that multiple financial aid professionals in this thread (Gabriel, Laura, Kendrick, Hunter, etc.) are all saying the same thing gives me confidence, but having it documented from the official source seems crucial. Debra, I really hope you get this sorted out quickly and don't let that one advisor's bad information stress you out any more than necessary. You're already doing such an admirable thing caring for your grandmother while managing your education. The FAFSA system is complicated enough without having to worry about getting incorrect guidance from the very people who are supposed to help us navigate it!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to reach out because your situation really resonates with me. I'm currently helping my elderly mother manage her finances after she was diagnosed with dementia, and I've encountered similar confusion about FAFSA reporting requirements. I'm so glad you posted this question and that so many knowledgeable people have responded! The consensus from multiple financial aid professionals here is absolutely correct - you do NOT need to report your grandmother's income or assets on your FAFSA just because you have power of attorney or joint account access for caregiving purposes. What strikes me most about your situation is how that initial bad advice from the financial aid advisor could have cost you thousands in aid eligibility. The fact that your grandmother's $2,300/month in Social Security and pension would have been treated as YOUR income is exactly the kind of devastating mistake that Isabella described going through. I've learned from reading this thread that the key principle is simple: report only assets you actually OWN, not accounts you ACCESS to help others. Your role as POA and executor makes you a legal caregiver and representative, but it doesn't transfer ownership of her funds to you for financial aid purposes. Since you're 23 and filing as an independent student, your FAFSA should only include your W-2 income from work and your personal bank accounts - nothing related to your grandmother's finances. I'm really glad you're getting this clarified with the Federal Student Aid office before submitting! You're already handling so much responsibility caring for your grandmother after losing your father. Don't let one person's incorrect guidance add unnecessary stress to an already challenging situation. This community has your back!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my voice to the overwhelming consensus here - you absolutely do NOT need to report your grandmother's income or assets on your FAFSA! The advisor at your school gave you dangerously incorrect information that could have cost you thousands in financial aid. I'm currently a financial aid counselor at a state university, and I see this exact confusion at least once a week. Having power of attorney or being on someone's account as a caregiver does NOT make their money yours for FAFSA purposes. The Department of Education is very clear about this - you only report assets that you actually OWN and benefit from, not accounts you manage for others. The key distinction everyone has been making about ACCESS vs. OWNERSHIP is spot-on. Your grandmother's Social Security and pension remain HER income regardless of your legal authority to help manage her care. Since you're 23 and filing as an independent student, you only need to report YOUR W-2 income and YOUR personal bank accounts. I'm so relieved to see you got official confirmation from the Federal Student Aid office! That documentation will protect you if anyone ever questions your application. I'd also strongly encourage you to speak with a supervisor at your school's financial aid office about this incident - other students shouldn't have to go through this stress because of poorly trained staff. You're already doing such an incredible thing caring for your grandmother after losing your father. The FAFSA system is complicated enough without having to worry about getting harmful advice from the very people who should be helping you navigate it successfully. This community clearly has your back, and you should feel confident moving forward with reporting only your own financial information!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how invaluable this entire discussion has been! I'm dealing with a very similar situation - I'm 24 and have been helping my disabled aunt manage her finances since my uncle passed away two years ago. I have POA and am on her bank accounts, and I was also told by someone at my college's financial aid office that I needed to include her disability benefits and savings on my FAFSA. Reading through all these responses from actual financial aid professionals has been such a relief! The distinction between ACCESS and OWNERSHIP that everyone keeps emphasizing really clarifies everything. Just because I can write checks from my aunt's account to pay her bills doesn't mean that money becomes mine for FAFSA purposes. What really concerns me is how many people in this thread have encountered the same misinformation from financial aid offices. It seems like there's a serious training issue happening across multiple schools. The story from Isabella about losing $4,000 in Pell Grant funding due to this exact same bad advice is terrifying - that could have been any of us if we hadn't questioned the guidance we received. Debra, I'm so glad you trusted your instincts and asked this question here! You've not only helped yourself avoid a costly mistake, but you've also created a resource that will probably help countless other students in similar caregiving situations. The fact that you got official confirmation from the Federal Student Aid office is perfect - having that documentation protects you completely. Thank you to all the financial aid professionals who took the time to share their expertise here. This kind of community support makes navigating these complex situations so much more manageable!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to jump in and share my experience because this exact situation happened to me last year! I'm 24 now and was helping my grandmother manage her finances after she had a fall. I also have POA and am on her checking account, and I got the SAME incorrect advice from my school's financial aid office. The advisor told me I had to report my grandmother's Social Security income as my own because I was "legally responsible" for her accounts. I was so confused because logically it didn't make sense - I wasn't receiving that money, I was just helping her pay bills and manage her care! Fortunately, I found a community like this one where actual financial aid professionals set me straight. You absolutely DO NOT need to report your grandmother's income or assets on your FAFSA. Having POA or joint account access for caregiving purposes does NOT make someone else's money yours for financial aid purposes. At 23, you're filing as an independent student anyway, so you only report YOUR W-2 income and YOUR personal bank accounts - period. The fact that you can access your grandmother's account to help with her care doesn't change the legal ownership of those funds. I ended up calling the Federal Student Aid helpline at 1-800-433-3243 (yes, the wait was brutal but worth it) and got official confirmation. I'd definitely recommend doing the same to have documentation. And honestly, I'd consider speaking to a supervisor at your financial aid office about this - other students shouldn't have to deal with this stress because of incorrect training. You're already handling so much caring for your grandmother after losing your father. Don't let one person's bad advice add unnecessary worry to your situation!