what about the non-married ’step-parent’ in het relationships?

If they demand inclusion of the “step parent” in gay/lesbian households are they going to demand inclusion of the heterosexual household that also is living at the same level as the gay/lesbian one?

for crying outloud, this isn’t a gay/lesbian issue, it’s a financial issue. If they expect that the straight/hetero households give up the financial info for the non-married step parent as well, then kudos but this has not been reported as an issue for *ALL* sides, only against the gay/lesbian household that is not reporting.

Chelli Sage, at 1:00 pm EST on January 15, 2008

a trap indeed

Outrageous! Same-sex parents, for the most part, get none of the legal “perks” of marriage, such as shared insurance benefits. In addition, the leader of our federal government backs a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. And now they’re expected to “volunteer” for this additional penalty? No, no, no. The federal government cannot have it both ways. If it won’t recognize theirs as a “legal” union, then it is not illegal, or unethical, to claim single parent status for the purposes of federal aid.

RATMOUT, at 8:47 am EDT on July 6, 2005

It strikes me that you can’t have it both ways: If the federal government won’t recognize homosexual partnerships as a “family” they they are basically hoist on their own petard when children of these families recieve more financial aid than they would normally get.

On the other hand, I know from brutal experience that financial aid is basically a zero-sum game, and that those who need the help can often be turned away because the funding they need has run out. It seems wrong to me that needy students are the ones getting the shortest end of the stick here.

It seems to me that the simple solution would be for financial aid forms to recognize a ‘household’ as including partners who are married, have a civil union, or are registered domestic partners —some kind of recongnition is simply going to be neccessary, no matter what the anti-gay movement thinks about it because in that way financial aid offices can get on with their job of providing financial aid to needy students. No recognition = aid imbalances — simple as that. Unless, of course, they WANT to punish needy students.

Heather, at 10:06 am EDT on July 6, 2005

A resource is a resource is a resource

The traditional family (mom and dad + kid/s) has not been replaced; yet there exists so many alternative arrangements today, confusing the need analyst. This refers of course to the FASFAA Fed Methodology and those methods used by schools that actually attempt to determine an equitable family contribution or, in some cases, actual ability to pay. In this sense, the issue is broader, as Heather alludes to above, than a gay/lesbian union/household/marriage.

Making a final judgement about who should be included as a family member can be a daunting challenge to the aid administrator. Such ground has already been covered in earlier publications, including the work of the CSS Council’s Committee on Standards of Ability to Pay (CSAP).

On the subject of “Spousal Equivalents,” CSAP writes:

“Certain family relationships are more difficult to explain than others. If, for example, a dependent student’s parent has a live-in companion, the form provides no easy mechanism for describing this circumstance. Yet, the relationship may be long-standing and it may be appropriate to treat the individual as a step-parent. Where there is evidence of the presence of such an individual, the FAA will need more information to make a judgement about inclusion of the person as a member of the family and to be aware of resources this individual provides toward the support of the student or the family.” (1991)

It seems clear that Heather et al are “pushing the envelope” so such relationships surface as easily as we now recognize the “traditional family” (which currently borders minority representation).

I understand there has been some discussion on the finaid-l list, especially as this concerns federal aid. Beyond federal aid, however, it would be useful and certainly fair to attempt to reach a consensus on how we treat all family relationships equally.

Kurt, at 11:44 am EDT on July 6, 2005

Do unmarried heterosexual couples with children have to report both incomes for Financial Aid purposes? Not all states recognize common law marriage. My state is among them. My partner and I have one child who will be attending college in 2 years. The child is biologically my partner’s. However, I shoulder most of the financial responsibilty.When I do not have to pay for my child’s braces out-of-pocket, and when I can include her on my car insurance, and when she can get free tution at the college where I work, and when I can claim head of household on my taxes, then and only then will I volunteer my income for a financial aid application!

Ann, Associate Professor, at 3:03 pm EDT on July 6, 2005

definiton of parents or to WOMB does the child originate from?

I’ve been administering federal and state aid for 30 years now at a state college with little or no institutional aid and am appalled as a taxpayer at the obvious well utilized loophole whereby families conveniently become “Separated” just before college enrollment begins so as to negate the breadwinner’s or higher parent salary,etc. so the student will qualify for grant aid yet there is no legal statement nor any child support required,etc.They continue to file taxes as married, since they are not technically legally separated nor divorced. When I ask them to explain how they live off such a low income and meet monthly expenses,they become annoyed and state that friends and relatives assist them! They then accept the undeserved grant aid and miraculously pay the rest of the bill without any loan funds! The non-custodial parent with a PO Box number generally lives close by and sometimes even answers the phone when I call with a question..and of course they are just visiting or taking a nap there....right!Abuse of the system is rampant.Divorced parents shouldnt be allowed to shirk their “Parental Obligation” either. My solution for all circumstances is to require biological parents income and adoptive parents income to be reported plus any support from the significantor new others if it can be determined. This would greatly decrease the cheating and funding over-runs bankrupting the Pell grant program and robbing of our state tuition aid programs..Simply put"You make a child” you have an obligation to Pay for that child’s expenses! If you adopt a child the same rule applies! There! Also, this would rectify the requirment that Step-parents be illogically and unfairly assessed to pay for other people’s children when they have their own biological children to care for. DNA testing anyone? If a biological parent refuses to comply, then assess a garnishment of wages similar to child support rules and have the funds paid directly to the student. It’s also been estimated that as high as one-third of Pell recipients should NOT be eligible due to tax write-offs , depreciation, S-corps etc that shield real income and wealth. Let’s change the “need analysis” formula to dis-allow negative incomes, and bring back “home equity” for those with little or no wages paid and input an automatic minimum contribution above the Pell grant eligibility threshold. Pell savings could then go to increasing SEOG grant aid that aid administrators could then award to more truly needy students! DAN

Daniel Sistarenik, Director of Financial Aid at SUNY, at 6:49 pm EDT on July 7, 2005