Who counts as a dependent?
A dependent is a qualifying child or relative who:
Is directly related to or adopted by the primary guardian
Lives with the primary guardian for more than half the year
Receives more than half of their financial support from the primary guardian
Will be no older than 18 at the end of the current tax year if not a student, or no older than 24 at the end of the current tax year if qualifying as a full-time student
Can be claimed on the taxes of the primary guardian
What do you mean by “Other dependents?”
This section is for anyone you claimed as a dependent on your tax return who isn’t already listed as a parent, guardian, or student applicant. Don’t list anyone twice.
If other people live with you but you don’t claim them as dependents, don’t list them here. Instead, use the Other Considerations section to explain who they are and whether they affect your household finances.
What if I have a child that lives with me full time but the other household claims them as a dependent?
Please leave them off as a dependent in section 1 but include their expenses and other finances in section 4 that you may incur. Use the "Other Considerations" section to explain the situation and provide additional context about your non-dependent household member.
Important: When completing the application, do not list the student applicant as a dependent. The applicant is the individual applying for aid or services and should not be included in the dependent section of the form. Incorrectly listing the student as their own dependent can lead to error messages that do not allow you to proceed to the remaining sections of the application. For additional scenarios, such as irregular household compositions or non-resident household members, remember to provide clarifications using the "Other Considerations" section. This ensures accurate evaluation of your financial circumstances.