Is child support paid by (NOT received by) a non-custodial parent counted as income for federal financial aid?

Question

I pay over $6000 in child support each year. I got my FAFSA Student Aid Report and it looks like the child support I paid in 2007 is counted as income. (I think its worksheet C).

Answer 1

Child support you paid to someone else does go on worksheet C.  

However, all the dollar amounts listed on Worksheet C are subtracted from your income when the Dept of Ed calculates your EFC.  (These are done automatically, you do not do it yourself.)

So if you also had income from a Works Study program (also a question listed on Worksheet C), this income would still be listed in your AGI and on your tax forms, but then the work study portion of your income would also be deduced in your EFC calculations.  The same as child support you paid to someone else. (These are done automatically, you do not do it yourself.)

PS: Be sure you list how much child support you actually pay for that particular year, not how much you are suppose to pay.  Sometimes there is a difference and it will be checked for accuracy.