Who is counted as part of the “parents household” for the FAFSA?
The FAFSA wants to know about the number of people who live in the same household as the student and receive at least half of their support from the student’s parents. Support includes shelter, food, and payment of transportation, medical, insurance, or educational costs. The student is always counted, as well as the biological parent(s) or resident stepparent (in the case of a remarriage — see above). Dependent siblings/step-siblings are also counted, even if they live away at college during the academic year. An older sibling who is in graduate school can be counted on the dependent student’s FAFSA, as both a member of the family and an additional college student, as long as the parents still provide at least half of his support. The graduate student, however, is eligible to file his or her own FAFSA as an independent student. Other family members such as grandparents, nieces, or nephews may also be counted if they live in the household and receive at least half of their support from
