<p>In the section where it asks how many household members, can I put my mentally disabled brother as a dependent? As you may recall, we do live together and I do take care of him. There is nothing in formal writing, but I am the adult in this world who takes care of him. Our parents are deceased. Thanks.</p>
<p>I would certainly think that you could if you provide financial support. How is he treated on your income tax returns?</p>
<p>Does your brother receive some kind of disability or social security checks? Does he have any kind of inheritance from parents? If so, it will be hard for you to demonstrate that you pay for over 50% of his expenses. </p>
<p>In the case of grandparents living with the family, it’s the same way. If the grandparent receives SS or a retirement, then the family can’t claim them. Families can’t claim grandparents, but not include the grandparent’s assets/income. So, they aren’t counted.</p>
<p>What is your bro’s situation?</p>
<p>My brother does work in a position for mentally disabled people. He does have an income. He does not receive disability. There was no inheritance. He is not included on my 1040. There is no way he could have stayed in the home without help from me. The property taxes in Montgomery County, MD are astronomical. I do help him but maybe not enough to include him on the profile. Thanks.</p>
<p>I think you should consult a tax professional. I think you might legally be able to claim him on you tax return as a dependent (think about the value of rent, as well as the imputed cost of living in a supervised environment.) If it is legal to claim him as a dependent re taxes, then I think the case for including him in the PROFILE dependents is greatly strengthened.</p>
<p>A tax professional isn’t the one who decides whether you can claim him on CSS Profile or FAFSA.</p>
<p>I believe the criteria is that you have to demonstrate that you are paying for more than 50% of his expenses. Since he has a job, that would be hard. If he makes - say $10k per year - then the OP would have to show that she pays $10k+$1 on him each year. That is usually a hard thing to do.</p>
<p>it sounds like you provide a place for him to live because housing is expensive. But, that’s not the criteria. Many families do that for grandparents on social security, but they can’t claim them either.</p>
<p>Since the OP would not be adding his income on her FA paperwork, she can’t count him as in her household.</p>