Do I report my dad's Social Security and SNAP on FAFSA when I claim him as dependent on taxes?

Yes, you should check those boxes. The FAFSA asks about benefits received by anyone in your household, not just the student. The good news: reporting these benefits typically helps rather than hurts your aid eligibility. Social Security and SNAP are considered means-tested federal benefits, and having someone in your household receive these can actually qualify you for the Simplified Needs Test or even Auto-Zero EFC, which can maximize your daughter's aid eligibility. So definitely report it accurately!

I had like the exact opposite situation last yr. My mom lived w/ us but I DIDNT claim her on taxes & still checked the boxes for her benefits. Financial aid office made me redo my whole application bc they said it didnt match my tax info!!! Such a headache

The FAFSA rules for multi-generational households can be super confusing. You're right to check those boxes because your father is part of your household AND you claim him as a dependent. The system is designed to give EXTRA consideration to households with limited resources, not penalize them. His benefits actually help your case. Just make sure your household size matches what's on your tax return (should be 3 - you, your daughter, and your father).

THIS is why the FAFSA is such a nightmare!!!! The forms dont account for real life situations at ALL. I had to answer these exact same questions with my grandmother who lives with us. The whole system is broken. Its ridiculous we have to jump through these hoops just to get aid our kids deserve!!!!

My sister had to deal with this exact question when my grandma moved in with her. The financial aid office at her kid's school told her to report everything exactly as it appears on her tax forms. Since you claim your dad, his benefits count for your household.

If you're still having trouble getting this sorted out, I'd recommend using Claimyr to get through to a FAFSA agent directly. I spent DAYS trying to call about a similar household reporting issue and kept getting disconnected. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an agent in under 15 minutes who confirmed exactly how to report my complicated household. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ - totally worth it for peace of mind on something this important.

One more important thing: when you check those boxes for SNAP and Social Security, be prepared that you might get selected for verification. This isn't bad - it just means you'll need to provide documentation proving those benefits. If that happens, just submit what they ask for promptly and it shouldn't delay your daughter's aid package.

so glad i found this thread im in almost identical situation except its my aunt who lives with us & gets disability. i checked the benefits boxes and my SAI was way lower than i expected which is great? but now im paranoid i did something wrong because the aid amount seems so high!