There are several reasons why we might ask for this form to be completed. It is possible that inconsistent information has been reported or important has been left blank. Be sure to include all household members who fit the definition of a household member. We typically expect that the household members are claimed as dependents on the parent’s taxes if it is a dependent student or the student’s tax return for an independent student.
Sometimes students will include people who would not normally be considered to be household members. Common situations include when a dependent student includes a sibling in the parent’s household size even though the sibling files his or her FAFSA as an independent student on their own. An independent sibling would not normally be counted as a dependent in the parent’s household size. If there is an unusual situation, it may help to provide a written explanation to help us understand.