Financial Aid question for kids of divorced parents?

Question

OK, my stepson lives with us. His mother contributes nothing financially for him. He's a sophomore in high school. If we were to let his mom claim him for the next few years, would they go by her financial information when applying for grants?

Answer 1

The parent that is the important one is the one he has lived with the most often during the previous 12 months.

Answer 2

sounds like you are trying to have her information submitted for financial aid purposes.  I am assuming that she makes less money than your family.  

No, you would not be able to do that unless he actually lives with her, which he does not.  It will be his fathers (and your income if you are marred to him) that are used to determine his eligibility for financial aid for college

Answer 3

How could you let her claim him if he doesn't live with her. The IRS will catch up with you sooner or later. They always do.

Answer 4

Here's a little known secret. FAFSA and the school only know what you tell them.  If your step-son files the FAFSA using his mother as the parent of record, no one will know that this is not the truth unless he meets with a financial aid counselor and tells them that.

If the school asks to verify information by asking for income tax returns, they're just looking at the income, not if he's being claimed or not.  

If the school wants to verify household size, they'll send the student a form letter asking who can be included in his "parent's" household.  He gives the form to his mom, she lists herself (and spouse if applicable), him and any other eligible children (definition will be on form), signs it and turns it in.  

There is no way for a financial aid person to know which parent should be the "parent of record" unless you make a deal about it.

From a school's web site:

Note: Defining your parent of record.: If your parents are divorced or separated, your “parent of record” (the parent whose information you must provide) for financial aid purposes is the parent with whom you lived the most in the 12 months prior to completing your FAFSA.

If you did not live with one parent more than the other, your “parent of record” is the parent who provided the most support to you in the last calendar year you received support from either parent. If that parent is married, you must also report stepparent information.

Answer 5

It doesn't matter who claims him.  What matters is where he lives.  If he lives with you and his father, then the Dept of Education would need your (step mom) and his fathers income information.  This book gives you the EXACT details.  This is if he were to start college next year.