FAFSA Medicaid question for adoptive parents - will my bio son qualify with 70K income?

prety sure medicaid only counts if the student gets it not siblings

That Medicaid question is important! It's asking about your *household* receiving benefits, not just the student. By marking "yes" you're indicating your family might qualify for the simplified needs test or auto-zero EFC, which can be advantageous. However, at $70K household income, you're likely above the income threshold for those special calculations (typically around $50K). Your income is the primary factor in determining your SAI (Student Aid Index), which replaced the old EFC. It was still correct to mark "yes" since members of your household do receive Medicaid. But your biological son's aid will primarily be determined by your income, assets, and household size.

I was in EXACT same situation last yr!!! My adopted daughter gets medicaid but my bio son was applying for fafsa. I marked YES for medicaid question and it was fine. We make like 65k and he still got some grants plus loans. They never questioned it during verification either.

they're going to flag you for verification trust me happened to everyone i know who checked yes on the medicaid box last year

To directly answer your question: Yes, you were correct to mark that members of your household receive Medicaid, even though it's your adopted children and not the student. Regarding eligibility with $70K income: It depends on several factors including your state, the cost of attendance at your son's chosen schools, and your total household size. With at least 4 family members (you, husband, biological son, and at least one adopted child), your son will likely qualify for: - Unsubsidized Direct Loans ($5,500 for first-year students) - Possibly some state grants depending on where you live - Potentially a partial Pell Grant, though $70K is near the upper limit Many families in the $70-80K range with multiple dependents do receive some need-based aid, especially if applying to higher-cost institutions. The adoption stipend generally isn't counted as student income, but as parent income, so it's already factored into your household total. I recommend using the Federal Student Aid Estimator tool to get a more precise estimate: https://studentaid.gov/aid-estimator/

I work in financial aid at a community college. The Medicaid question is part of determining if you qualify for an automatic zero SAI or simplified needs test. But with $70k income, you won't qualify for those regardless of the Medicaid status. For a family of 4+ with $70k income, your son should qualify for: - Subsidized and unsubsidized loans - Possibly partial Pell depending on assets and exact family size - State grants vary widely You answered correctly by indicating household members receive Medicaid. The adoption stipend is usually reported as untaxed income on the FAFSA.

Ok so when I filled out FAFSA for my daughter last year I got so confused about all the Medicaid stuff!! We were getting Medicaid for our younger kids but not for her and the form was super unclear. I checked yes but then she got picked for verification and it was a NIGHTMARE trying to get all the documents together and then waiting for them to process everything. She almost missed out on housing because the financial aid was delayed so long!!! If I could do it over again I would have started the FAFSA process WAY earlier and had all our tax stuff and proof of Medicaid ready to go from the beginning.

One important clarification - the 2024-2025 FAFSA has changed significantly from previous years. The question about Medicaid benefits is now part of determining eligibility for the "Student Aid Index (SAI) formula," which has replaced the old EFC calculation. While your income is likely above the automatic qualification threshold, correctly reporting Medicaid receipt might still positively affect how your family's financial situation is assessed. The new FAFSA is supposed to be more generous overall, especially for families with multiple children in college. Also, your biological son will qualify for the standard first-year loan amount ($5,500), but the breakdown between subsidized (interest-free while in school) and unsubsidized portions will depend on your need calculation. With $70K and multiple dependents, he might get a portion as subsidized.

doesnt matter what u put they give u nothing anyway lol college is a ripoff

As someone who just went through this process with my own kids, I wanted to share what worked for us. We have a similar situation - two adopted children who receive Medicaid and state benefits, plus our biological daughter who was applying for FAFSA. First, you absolutely did the right thing marking "yes" for the Medicaid question. That's asking about your household, not just the student. Don't second-guess yourself on that. With your $70K income and multiple dependents, your son should qualify for some aid. We have a slightly lower income (~$65K) and our daughter received about $4,200 in Pell Grant plus the full loan amount. The key is that having more dependents in your household actually helps your aid calculation. One thing I learned: keep very detailed records of everything. We got selected for verification (which seems common when you check yes on benefits), and having all our documents organized made the process much smoother. Get your tax transcripts early, keep copies of the adoption subsidy documentation, and proof of Medicaid for your adopted kids. Also, apply to multiple schools if possible. Aid packages can vary significantly between institutions, and some private schools with larger endowments might offer better aid than you'd expect, even with your income level. Don't let the process intimidate you - your son deserves every opportunity to pursue his education, and there is aid available for families in your situation.

I'm in a somewhat similar situation - we have one adopted child who gets Medicaid but my oldest (biological) is applying for FAFSA. From what I've learned researching this, you definitely answered correctly by marking "yes" for the Medicaid question since it asks about your household, not just the student. With $70K income and multiple dependents, your son should qualify for at least some aid. The exact amount will depend on your assets and total family size, but families in your income range typically get partial Pell grants plus loans. The adoption stipend might actually help show that some of your income is already designated for specific child-related expenses. One tip I got from our high school counselor: start gathering verification documents now (tax transcripts, W-2s, proof of benefits) even before you're asked, because families who report government benefits often get selected for verification. Having everything ready can speed up the process significantly. Your biological son is lucky to have parents who care so much about getting his financial aid right! The system is confusing but you're asking all the right questions.

I went through this exact situation two years ago! You absolutely did the right thing marking "yes" for Medicaid - that question is about household members, not just the applicant. With $70K income and multiple dependents, your son should qualify for some aid. We had similar income and our daughter got about $3,500 in Pell Grant plus subsidized loans. The key thing is that your household size (including adopted children) actually helps your aid calculation. A few things I learned the hard way: 1. Get your tax transcripts from the IRS early - don't wait for verification selection 2. Keep documentation of your adoption subsidies handy 3. Apply to a mix of schools - some private colleges were surprisingly generous Also, don't stress too much about the income threshold. The new SAI calculation is more forgiving than the old EFC system, especially for families with multiple dependents. Your son has a good chance at meaningful aid! The verification process isn't fun if you get selected, but it's manageable if you're prepared. Start gathering documents now and you'll be ahead of the game.

I'm new to this community but facing a similar situation with my stepson applying for FAFSA while we have other children receiving benefits. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add one thing I learned from our financial aid advisor - when you do get selected for verification (which seems likely with the Medicaid "yes"), make sure to submit documents to the college's financial aid office promptly. They often have their own deadlines separate from the federal ones, and missing those can delay your aid package even if you've satisfied the federal requirements. Also, @Naila Gordon, have you looked into your state's specific grant programs? Some states have additional aid for families with adopted children or those receiving certain benefits. It might be worth checking your state's higher education website or calling their student aid office directly. Good luck with everything! Your son is fortunate to have such thoughtful parents navigating this process for him.

I'm a newcomer here but this thread is so helpful for understanding complex family situations with FAFSA! I'm dealing with something similar - we have foster children who receive benefits, and I was completely confused about how to answer those household questions. Reading everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Answer honestly about household members receiving benefits, 2) Prepare for likely verification by gathering documents early, and 3) Don't assume you won't qualify for aid with that income level when you have multiple dependents. @Naila Gordon - it seems like you're on the right track and got great advice here. The fact that so many families with similar situations received meaningful aid (like the $3,500-4,200 Pell Grant amounts mentioned) is really encouraging. Your $70K with multiple dependents definitely puts you in a similar range to the success stories shared here. Has anyone found good resources for understanding how adoption subsidies specifically factor into the FAFSA calculations? That seems like one of the more complex aspects of these mixed family situations.

Welcome to the community! Your situation is actually more common than you might think, and you handled the FAFSA correctly by marking "yes" for household Medicaid recipients. I wanted to add a perspective from someone who works with families in transition - the fact that you're navigating both adoption subsidies and college planning shows incredible dedication to all your children. With $70K income and multiple dependents, your biological son should definitely qualify for aid. I've seen families in your exact income range receive $3,000-5,000 in Pell grants plus subsidized loans. A few practical tips that haven't been mentioned yet: - Contact the financial aid offices at prospective schools directly to discuss your unique family composition. Many are understanding about mixed family situations. - Consider applying for outside scholarships specifically for children of adoptive families - there are several organizations that offer these. - Keep records showing how adoption subsidies are used exclusively for your adopted children's needs, as this might help during verification or appeals processes. Your son is fortunate to have parents who are being so thorough about maximizing his educational opportunities. The system can feel overwhelming, but families like yours do receive meaningful aid that makes college accessible.