If a Student Is In Legal Guardianship Or Foster Care, Should We Add an Amount For In-Kind Support Or Cash Support?

No. Starting with the 2024-25 award year under the FAFSA Simplification Act, in-kind support and cash support are not reported on the FAFSA, are not included in need analysis, and are not other financial assistance (OFA) when packaging the student with Title IV aid.

While not typical in these circumstances, the financial aid administrator (FAA) could choose to use professional judgment (PJ) if they feel there are special circumstances that need to be addressed (e.g., by reducing the cost of attendance or increasing income) beyond simply receiving in-kind support or cash support. Any PJ decision must be exercised on a case-by-case basis and thoroughly documented in the student’s file.

Remember that schools may not request additional information or require additional forms beyond the FAFSA unless the student is selected for verification, has requested a PJ adjustment related to their dependency status or special circumstances, or has conflicting information. See AskRegs Knowledgebase Q&A, Can a School Require an Institutional Application Or Form To Award Title IV Funds? 

P&P Builder: NASFAA’s Policies & Procedures (P&P) Builder guides you step-by-step through the creation of a centralized, accessible policies and procedures manual. This is included in the cost of NASFAA Value Plus membership. There is an additional cost for other membership levels.