Should I report child support as $0 on FAFSA when husband pays more than I receive?

I understand your frustration, but I wouldn't recommend reporting $0 if you actually receive child support. False reporting on the FAFSA can lead to verification issues and potentially worse consequences. Instead, look into the "Special Circumstances" appeal process. After you submit your FAFSA, you can contact your student's financial aid office and explain your situation. Many schools have processes to adjust your SAI when there are significant expenses like child support payments that aren't captured in the standard formula. Bring documentation of both the child support you receive AND what your husband pays out. The same goes for the college tuition contributions. While these aren't automatic adjustments in the FAFSA itself, financial aid officers have discretion to make professional judgment adjustments for these exact situations.

my cousins husband had this EXACT problem!! he was paying WAY more in support than she got for her kid. they just decided to put $0 on the fafsa and nobody ever questioned it lol. i mean who's really checking that stuff anyway??? the whole system is a scam

The system is definitely unbalanced. Your feeling is valid - it's incredibly frustrating that outgoing child support isn't automatically factored into the FAFSA calculation. I faced something similar and found that making an appointment with the financial aid office AFTER submitting the FAFSA (with the correct information) was the best approach. Also, if your husband is paying that college tuition directly to the school rather than to his ex, make sure you note that on the FAFSA in the section about additional family members in college. That can sometimes help with the calculation.

Just wanted to add that you should definitely report the actual child support you receive on the FAFSA, but then immediately appeal through your school's financial aid office. Every school has a different name for this process - some call it Professional Judgment, others Special Circumstances or Financial Aid Appeal. The key is documenting everything thoroughly. Gather: 1. Court documents showing child support your husband pays 2. Bank statements or receipts showing actual payments 3. Documentation of college tuition payments (canceled checks, payment receipts from the college) 4. A clear written explanation of how these expenses affect your household finances I've seen many appeals like this succeed, especially when the documentation is thorough. The appeal won't change your SAI on the actual FAFSA, but it can adjust how the school views your financial situation when they determine your final aid package.

I've been trying to call Federal Student Aid for THREE DAYS to ask about this exact situation (my new husband pays support too). Every time I call I get stuck on hold forever and eventually get disconnected. So frustrating!

FAFSA is completely BROKEN for blended families! My husband pays over $12,000 a year in child support and another $14,000 for college expenses for kids who have never even lived with us, yet they count every penny I get for my youngest! Meanwhile my ex-husband's new family gets to pretend they have no income for his kids with me. The whole system punishes responsible parents who actually PAY their obligations! I talked to three different financial aid offices and got three completely different answers about how to handle this. One told me to just report it normally and they'd adjust, another told me to file an appeal, and the third basically said "tough luck." The system is DESIGNED to screw over families like ours.

Update: I called our son's top-choice school this morning and spoke with their financial aid office. They were actually really understanding! They said this is a common issue they see with blended families and recommended I submit the FAFSA with the correct information (yes, reporting the child support I receive), but then immediately submit a Special Circumstances form through their office. They have a specific section on their form for "unusual expenses" where we can document the child support payments going out and the college tuition assistance. The advisor said they regularly make adjustments for these situations since the FAFSA doesn't capture the full financial picture. Such a relief to hear!

wait does anyone know if child support counts as income for taxes too?? i didnt include that on my taxes last year...

As someone who's navigated this exact situation, I completely understand your frustration! The FAFSA system really doesn't capture the full financial picture for blended families. I'm so glad to see from your update that the school's financial aid office was helpful - that's exactly the right approach. For anyone else reading this thread, I want to emphasize that the Special Circumstances/Professional Judgment process is really your best friend in these situations. A few additional tips from my experience: - When documenting the child support your husband pays, include both the court order AND proof of actual payments (bank statements, etc.) since sometimes what's ordered vs. what's paid can differ - If possible, get a letter from your husband's ex confirming the amounts and that payments are current - this can help speed up the review process - Keep a detailed spreadsheet showing the net effect on your household budget (support received minus support paid out) Don't give up if the first school you contact isn't as helpful as others. Each financial aid office has different policies and some are more experienced with these complex family situations. The appeal process exists for exactly these circumstances!