FAFSA dependent status confusion - sister claims sibling on taxes but mom has custody?

This is a common situation, but people get confused about it. For FAFSA purposes, who claims the student on taxes does NOT determine who completes the FAFSA. What matters is who the student LIVES WITH. Since he lives with mom, she's the parent for FAFSA purposes, regardless of who claimed him on taxes. The sister claiming him isn't relevant for FAFSA completion, though it might trigger verification later. Just have mom complete the FAFSA with her SSI information and indicate she's a non-tax-filer. There's a specific question that asks if the parent(s) filed taxes - answer no and proceed from there.

This exact situation happened with my younger brother last year!!! So frustrating! FSA flagged his application for verification and we had to submit extra documentation explaining why our older sister claimed him even though he lived with mom. It took FOREVER to get resolved. Make sure your student keeps all documentation showing his actual living situation with mom - like school records with mom's address, any medical records showing mom as guardian, etc. You might need it!

Let me clarify something important: For FAFSA purposes, the student will report the parent(s) with whom they lived for the majority of the 12 months preceding the date the FAFSA is submitted. The IRS dependency status is completely separate from FAFSA dependency determination. In this case: 1. Mom = FAFSA parent (because student lives with her) 2. Sister = NOT a FAFSA parent (despite tax claim) 3. Mom should indicate she's a non-tax-filer 4. If selected for verification, the student will need to: - Get a Verification of Non-filing Letter from the IRS for mom - Provide documentation of mom's SSI benefits - Possibly provide proof of residency with mom The sister's tax return claiming the student isn't directly relevant to FAFSA completion, though it might trigger verification.

wait so if someone else claims u on taxes that doesnt mean they fill out ur fafsa??? im confused bc my aunt claimed me but i live w my grandma and financial aid office made my aunt do my fafsa last yr

Just want to mention that when I was dealing with this exact FAFSA nightmare last year with my stepdaughter, we spent HOURS on hold trying to talk to someone at Federal Student Aid to explain our situation. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual person at FSA who could help. They have a great video demo of how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. Saved us so much time and frustration when we needed to explain why tax info and living situation didn't match up.

This WHOLE SYSTEM is designed to FAIL students in non-traditional family situations!!! i had a student last year whose uncle claimed them for taxes but they lived with grandparents and it was a NIGHTMARE getting it sorted. took SIX MONTHS and the student almost lost their aid package. the fact that FAFSA doesn't have clear guidance for these situations is CRIMINAL!!!! they expect everyone to be in perfect nuclear families with perfect tax situations and its RIDICULOUS!!!!!

just wondering - does the student have any contact with their biological dad? that could complicate things further if he's supposed to be providing info too

@profile4 I feel your frustration! When we submitted all our documentation explaining why our tax situation didn't match the living situation, the financial aid office just kept asking for MORE documents. Finally had to use Claimyr to get through to FSA directly and get it sorted. @profile8 they connected us to an actual FSA agent who could note our file and tell us exactly what documentation would resolve the verification. Worth every penny versus waiting on hold for hours.

To summarize for the original poster: 1. Use the mother's information on the FAFSA (SSI info and non-filing status) 2. Be prepared for verification by gathering: - Proof student lives with mom (school records, medical records) - Documentation of mom's SSI benefits - Verification of Non-filing Letter for mom from IRS 3. Use the Special Circumstances section to briefly explain why sister claimed student on taxes but isn't providing FAFSA info 4. If verification becomes complicated, consider reaching out directly to Federal Student Aid for assistance This is a common situation with established procedures for resolution.

As someone new to this community, I wanted to thank everyone for this incredibly detailed discussion! I'm actually facing a similar situation with my nephew - his older brother claimed him on taxes but he lives with our grandmother. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful in understanding that living situation trumps tax filing status for FAFSA purposes. The step-by-step breakdown from @Malik Thompson is especially valuable. I'm bookmarking this thread for reference when we fill out his FAFSA next year. It's reassuring to know this is a common issue with established solutions, even if the verification process can be lengthy.

As someone who just joined this community, I'm amazed by how thorough and helpful everyone has been with this complex situation! I'm currently helping my cousin navigate a very similar issue - she lives with her grandmother who doesn't file taxes, but her aunt claimed her as a dependent. Reading through all these responses has clarified so much confusion I had about FAFSA dependency rules versus tax dependency. The distinction between who you LIVE with versus who CLAIMS you for taxes is something I wish was explained more clearly in official FAFSA materials. Thank you especially to those who shared the specific documentation needed for verification - that proactive approach seems crucial for avoiding delays. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these tricky family situations that don't fit the standard mold!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to say how invaluable this discussion has been! I'm actually dealing with a nearly identical situation with my younger sister - she's 18, lives with our mom who receives disability benefits and doesn't file taxes, but our older brother claimed her as a dependent last year for tax purposes. I was so confused about whether we needed our brother involved in the FAFSA process, but this thread has made it crystal clear that mom is the one who needs to provide information since that's where my sister actually lives. The step-by-step verification preparation advice is gold - I'm already starting to gather school records and benefit documentation so we're ready if they flag the application. It's frustrating that these complex family situations are so common but the official guidance doesn't address them clearly. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and expertise!

As a new member here, I'm so grateful for this incredibly detailed discussion! I'm currently helping a student whose situation is almost identical - she lives with her disabled mom who receives SSI, but her adult sibling claimed her on taxes. Reading through everyone's responses has completely clarified the confusion I had about FAFSA dependency versus tax dependency. The key insight that living situation trumps tax claiming status is something I wish was emphasized more in official materials. I'm particularly appreciative of the proactive verification documentation list - gathering school records, benefit statements, and being prepared for a non-filing verification letter seems crucial. It's eye-opening to see how common these non-traditional family situations are, yet how poorly the standard guidance addresses them. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences and practical solutions - this community is an amazing resource for navigating these complex scenarios!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to express how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently working with a family facing this exact scenario - a 17-year-old student living with his grandmother who receives Social Security benefits and doesn't file taxes, but his adult sister claimed him as a dependent. I was completely confused about how to handle this until reading all your responses. The clarity that FAFSA dependency is based on where the student LIVES rather than who claims them for taxes is such a crucial distinction that really should be highlighted more prominently in official materials. I'm especially grateful for the detailed verification preparation checklist and the emphasis on gathering documentation proactively. It's both concerning and reassuring to see how common these complex family situations are - concerning that so many families face these challenges, but reassuring that there are established processes to resolve them. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and knowledgeable community where real-world experience guides families through these confusing processes!

As someone new to this community, I'm blown away by how comprehensive and supportive this discussion has been! I'm currently helping my niece who's facing almost the same situation - she lives with her mom who receives disability benefits, but her older brother claimed her on his taxes. Before reading this thread, I was completely lost about whether we needed the brother's financial information for FAFSA. The clear explanation that physical living situation determines FAFSA parentage (not tax dependency status) has been a game-changer for our understanding. I'm especially grateful for all the practical advice about preparing for verification - starting to collect school enrollment records showing mom's address, benefit documentation, and being ready for the non-filing verification process. It's both frustrating and comforting to see how widespread these complex family situations are. Frustrating that the official FAFSA guidance doesn't address them clearly, but comforting to know there are established solutions and such a knowledgeable community to help navigate them. Thank you everyone for sharing your real experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical wisdom that makes all the difference!

As a newcomer to this community, I have to say this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm currently dealing with a very similar situation with my stepson - he's been living with us for the past two years, but his biological father claimed him on taxes last year even though he hasn't been involved in day-to-day care. I was so confused about whether we needed his bio dad's information for the FAFSA or if we could use ours since we're the ones actually supporting him. Reading through all these responses has made it crystal clear that it's about where the student actually LIVES and receives support, not who gets the tax benefit. The detailed breakdown of required documentation for verification is incredibly helpful - I'm already starting to gather school records, medical records, and other proof that he's been residing with us. It's amazing how common these blended family situations are, yet the official FAFSA materials really don't address them clearly enough. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and expertise - this community is such a lifeline for navigating these complex family dynamics that don't fit the traditional mold!