It is the kid’s FAFSA because unlike other government entitlement programs, two siblings may not be eligible for the same amount of aid. Sibling A has a 350K savings account funded by a dead grandma. Sibling B has no college account. Do you want everyone in this family eligible for YOUR tax dollars just to make the nomenclature more family friendly?
Similarly, in the case of blended families- Mom and Dad may be the head of household, but depending on the status of the bio-parents, non-custodial parents and their spouses, different kids in the family unit are eligible for differing amounts of aid.
I for one am in favor of this approach. This is a federal entitlement program, and we all have a vested interest in making sure that EACH KID gets the funds to which he or she qualifies for. Not that an entire family fills out a FAFSA based on parental assets, and then funnels the dough to whichever kid is next in line.
Fill out the form however you wish. But to migrate this from a program to aid specific kids in specific circumstances to a family free-for-all is asking for massive fraud.