Lowering EFC

[BelknapPoint]

Is the bank account where you have your 9K a true independent bank account or some form of a dependent account that is subordinate to your parent’s bank account (like HS Checking or College Checking offered by some banks)? If it is the latter then the money still technically belong to your parent.

It doesn’t matter where the money is; the SS benefit is paid to the child and must be used for the benefit of the child.