<p>Here’s another twist on the grandparent question. I ask it in an open forum because I bet I’m not the only person in this situation.
My child and I will be filling out FAFSA and probably PROFILE in the next couple of years. I’m a single mom, divorced for more than five years, with no child support. My mother is retired and lives in our household.
My understanding is my mother’s (small) social security income will not be counted as family income on the FAFSA. Does it have any impact on PROFILE?
And since an elderly person is part of my household, will that positively affect my “asset protection allowance?” on the FAFSA calculation? Is there any way to indicate that I have financial responsibilities for an aging parent?
Is it worth going down the emotional road of trying to convince a rather independent elder to become my “dependent” for taxes and/or financial aid forms in the next few years?</p>