2017-18 FAFSA's prior-prior year change and permanent residence

[guidedbywire]

So, I know that for the next FAFSA (2017-18 school year, available starting in October of this year), the switch is being made to prior-prior year for financial information. Meaning 2015 income, tax, etc. information is used.

Will 2015 also serve as the year used for determining which residence is the student’s primary permanent residence, in the case of divorced parents? I assume yes, if only for the simple reason that the FAFSA will be able to be completed before the 2016 calendar year is even over.

[mommdc]

I am not sure but I thought it was which parent the student spent more nights with in the 365 days immediately preceding filing of FAFSA.

[mommdc]

If your parents are divorced or separated and don’t live together, answer the questions about the parent with whom you lived more during the past 12 months.

If you lived the same amount of time with each divorced or separated parent, give answers about the parent who provided more financial support during the past 12 months or during the most recent 12 months that you actually received support from a parent.

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/parent-info#who-is-parent

[guidedbywire]

Thanks. That’s helpful, and it seems clear that they want “preceding twelve months”.

(Although it’s a pain to now have to count “custody” days for Oct 1 2015-Sept 30, 2016.)

[BelknapPoint]

But that’s how “custody” days have always been counted - the 12 months immediately preceding the completion/filing of the form.

[guidedbywire]

Right, but since it was only available and usually filled out in early January, it lined up pretty closely with the calendar year.

[twoinanddone]

Residence of student for taxes and residence for FAFSA have never been tied. Parents often ‘trade’ the child deduction and a parent can claim the child even if that child has not spent one night with the claiming parent during the tax year. That has never been the case for fafsa.

My brother and his ex have twins, and each claims one. It makes them each a head of household, so both benefit. The boys are always together, so if they counted the nights one would get both and other other noyhing.

[guidedbywire]

Residence of student for taxes and residence for FAFSA have never been tied.

I know. I was asking about residence for FAFSA purposes. I originally thought it was for a calendar year, but now understand it to be for the 12 months prior.