student loan application and forster child

[michaelmars]

client asked me an interesting question and i hope someone here has run across it.

they are filing out financial aid package for their 16 year old and it asks about any social secuity payments received for family members.

the family is receiving benefits for a 10 y/o forster child. Should this be included in the family income amount? I don't know if forster child count as part of your family for this purpose.

[Medlin Software, Dennis]

Speaking in my case only...

A foster child is not a family member (not a dependent student).

The payment is not income to me, since I do not claim the child(ren) as dependents. (Hard to meet the means test since the county provides a stipend, and the biggie, medical coverage.)

I could see some instances where the payment could be considered income to the child, but even if it was, being an independent student, any stipend (if construed as income for the child) is not likely to "hurt" for financial aid.

[michaelmars]

in this case they did take the forster child as a dependent and they are in the process of adopting. The student loan application is for one of their natural children.