Do SSDI survivor benefits for my daughter count as her income on FAFSA?
My daughter (17) receives about $980 monthly in Social Security survivor benefits because of my disability. I'm on SSDI myself and get my own payment. I'm confused about how to report this on her FAFSA for next year. Does she need to list this as her income? Or is it considered my income since it's based on my disability? Or is it not counted at all? The FSA website is so confusing and I can't get through on the phone. Anyone dealt with Social Security benefits and FAFSA recently?
16 comments
Join the conversation
Isabella Oliveira
Yes, this gets reported but NOT as her income. Social Security benefits (including survivor benefits) received by a dependent student need to be reported as part of the PARENT'S untaxed income on the FAFSA, not as student income. The exact question is in the parent section under "untaxed income." Don't double-report it on your daughter's section or you'll mess up her SAI calculation.
0 coins
Malik Thomas
•Really? That seems backwards since she's the one receiving it. Do you know where exactly on the form I report it? I'm worried about messing this up.
0 coins
Ravi Kapoor
I went through this exact scenario with my son last year. The previous commenter is WRONG. The Social Security benefits your daughter receives because of your disability ARE reported as the STUDENT'S untaxed income, not the parent's. This is specifically addressed in the FAFSA instructions - untaxed Social Security is reported by the person who receives the payment, regardless of why they're receiving it.
0 coins
Malik Thomas
•Now I'm really confused. Two completely different answers! Anyone else know for sure?
0 coins
Freya Larsen
both of them r wrong lol. my sister gets SS benefits and we just did her fafsa. you don't report social security benefits AT ALL on the new fafsa!!! it's not considered income anymore with the new FAFSA simplification. double check but i'm 99% sure
0 coins
Malik Thomas
•Is this a new rule? This is her first time applying so I have no past experience to go by.
0 coins
GalacticGladiator
Financial aid advisor here. Let me clear this up: Social Security benefits (including those received by dependents) ARE reported on the FAFSA, but their treatment changed with the 2024-2025 FAFSA simplification. They are now reported in the "Untaxed Income" section of whoever RECEIVES the benefit. Since your daughter receives the payment directly, you report it as HER untaxed income, not yours. This is clearly stated in the new FAFSA instructions under Question 39f for dependent students.
0 coins
Malik Thomas
•Thank you! That's really helpful. So it DOES count against her for aid purposes? Does this mean she's likely to get less financial aid because of these benefits?
0 coins
GalacticGladiator
•Yes, it will impact her Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation. When a dependent student has income (including untaxed income like these benefits), a portion is protected by the Student Income Protection Allowance, but anything above that allowance is assessed at 50% for aid purposes. This means her survivor benefits could potentially reduce need-based aid eligibility. However, this won't affect her eligibility for merit scholarships that aren't need-based.
0 coins
Omar Zaki
My daughter is on SSDI too and the whole process was a nightmare!!! couldnt get anyone on the phone for WEEKS and the website kept crashing when I tried to fill out that section. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual human at FSA. Their video showed exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ and I got through in about 20 mins instead of waiting forever. The agent confirmed exactly what @financialaidadvisor said - my daughter's benefits go under HER untaxed income section.
0 coins
Chloe Taylor
•did they ask for any documentation when you reported it? like SS award letters or anything?
0 coins
Omar Zaki
•No documentation needed when filling out the FAFSA, but keep your SSA benefit statements handy in case you get selected for verification later. About 30% of FAFSA filers get picked for verification, and then you'll need to provide proof.
0 coins
Ravi Kapoor
@financialaidadvisor Thanks for the correction - you're right and I was mistaken. I was thinking of the old FAFSA rules. The 2024-2025 FAFSA does indeed have the student report their own Social Security benefits as their untaxed income. The whole system is so confusing with all these changes!
0 coins
Diego Flores
•its rly not that hard lol just read the instructions?? this is why ppl who cant use google shouldnt be giving advice on here smh
0 coins
Malik Thomas
Thank you all for the help! I'm going to report it as my daughter's untaxed income as advised. @CollegeMom2023 - I might try that Claimyr service if I run into more questions, thanks for the tip. So frustrating that something this important is so difficult to get right.
0 coins
GalacticGladiator
•One more tip - make sure you're answering based on the 2023 tax year for the 2025-2026 FAFSA. And remember that the benefits may impact her aid, but many colleges have appeal processes if you feel your special circumstances aren't adequately reflected in the FAFSA calculation.
0 coins