Federal · Title 20 — Education

20 U.S.C. § 1087oo: Student aid index for dependent students

Read the full statutory text
the assessment of the parents’ adjusted available income (determined in accordance with subsection (b)); the assessment of the student’s available income (determined in accordance with subsection (g)); and the student’s available assets (determined in accordance with subsection (h)). If the sum determined under paragraph (1) with respect to a dependent student is less than − $1,500, the student aid index for the dependent student shall be − $1,500. the parents’ available income (determined in accordance with subsection (c)); and the parents’ available assets (determined in accordance with subsection (d)); assessing such adjusted available income in accordance with the assessment schedule set forth in subsection (e); and considering such assessment resulting under paragraph (2) as the amount determined under this subsection. Federal income taxes; an allowance for payroll taxes, determined in accordance with paragraph (2); an income protection allowance, determined in accordance with paragraph (3); and an employment expense allowance, determined in accordance with paragraph (4). the total amount earned by the parents, multiplied by the rate of tax under section 3101(b) of title 26 ; and the amount earned by the parents that does not exceed such contribution and benefit base (twice such contribution and benefit base, in the case of a joint return) for the year of the earnings, multiplied by the rate of tax applicable to such earnings under section 3101(a) of title 26 . The income protection allowance shall equal the amount determined in the following table, as adjusted by the Secretary pursuant to section 1087rr(b) of this title : Income Protection Allowance (to be adjusted for 2023–2024 and succeeding years) Family Size (including student) Amount 2 $23,330 3 $29,040 4 $35,870 5 $42,320 6 $49,500 For each additional add $5,590. The employment expense allowance is equal to the lesser of $4,000 or 35 percent of the single parent’s earned income or married parents’ combined earned income (as adjusted by the Secretary pursuant to section 1087rr(g) of this title ). the difference between the parents’ assets and the asset protection allowance (determined in accordance with paragraph (2)); multiplied by 12 percent. The parents’ available assets under this subsection shall not be less than zero. The asset protection allowance is calculated based on the following table (as revised by the Secretary pursuant to section 10877rr(d) of this title ): Asset Protection Allowances for Parents of Dependent Students If the age of the oldest parent is— And there are two parents one parent then the allowance is— 25 or less $ 0 $0 26 $400 $100 27 $700 $300 28 $1,100 $400 29 $1,500 $600 30 $1,800 $700 31 $2,200 $800 32 $2,600 $1,000 33 $2,900 $1,100 34 $3,300 $1,300 35 $3,700 $1,400 36 $4,000 $1,500 37 $4,400 $1,700 38 $4,800 $1,800 39 $5,100 $2,000 40 $5,500 $2,100 41 $5,600 $2,200 42 $5,700 $2,200 43 $5,900 $2,300 44 $6,000 $2,300 45 $6,200 $2,400 46 $6,300 $2,400 47 $6,500 $2,500 48 $6,600 $2,500 49 $6,800 $2,600 50 $7,000 $2,700 51 $7,100 $2,700 52 $7,300 $2,800 53 $7,500 $2,900 54 $7,700 $2,900 55 $7,900 $3,000 56 $8,100 $3,100 57 $8,400 $3,100 58 $8,600 $3,200 59 $8,800 $3,300 60 $9,100 $3,400 61 $9,300 $3,500 62 $9,600 $3,600 63 $9,900 $3,700 64 $10,200 $3,800 65 or more $10,500 $3,900. The assessment of the parents’ adjusted available income (as determined under subsection (b)(1) and hereafter in this subsection referred to as “AAI”) is calculated based on the following table (as revised by the Secretary pursuant to section 1087rr(e) of this title ): Parents’ Contribution From AAI If the parents’ AAI is— Then the parents’ contribution from AAI is— Less than − $6,820 − $1,500 − $6,820 to $17,400 22% of AAI $17,401 to $21,800 $3,828 + 25% of AAI over $17,400 $21,801 to $26,200 $4,928 + 29% of AAI over $21,800 $26,201 to $30,700 $6,204 + 34% of AAI over $26,200 $30,701 to $35,100 $7,734 + 40% of AAI over $30,700 $35,101 or more $9,494 + 47% of AAI over $35,100. Parental income and assets in the case of student whose parents are married and not separated, or who are unmarried but live together, shall include the income and assets of both parents. Parental income and assets for a student whose parents are divorced or separated, but not remarried, is determined by including only the income and assets of the parent who provides the greater portion of the student’s financial support. If either of the parents has died, the surviving parent shall be considered a single parent, until that parent has remarried. If both parents have died, the student shall not report any parental income or assets. If a parent whose income and assets are taken into account under paragraph (2), or if a parent who is a widow or widower and whose income is taken into account under paragraph (3), has remarried, the income of that parent’s spouse shall be included in determining the parent’s assessment of adjusted available income if the student’s parent and the stepparent are married as of the date of application for the award year concerned. Parental income and assets in the case of a student whose parent is not described in paragraph (1) and is a single parent who is not divorced, separated, or remarried, shall include the income and assets of such single parent. the difference between the student’s total income (determined in accordance with section 480) and the adjustment to student income (determined in accordance with paragraph (2)); multiplied by 50 percent, Federal income taxes; an allowance for payroll taxes determined in accordance with paragraph (3); an income protection allowance that is equal to $9,410, as adjusted pursuant to section 1087rr(b) of this title ; and an allowance for parents’ negative available income, determined in accordance with paragraph (4). the total amount earned by the student, multiplied by the rate of tax under section 3101(b) of title 26 ; and the amount earned by the student that does not exceed such contribution and benefit base for the year of the earnings, multiplied by the rate of tax applicable to such earnings under section 3101(a) of title 26 . The allowance for parents’ negative available income is the amount, if any, by which the sum of the amounts deducted under subsection (c)(1) exceeds the sum of the parents’ total income (as defined in section 1087vv of this title ) and the parents’ available assets (as determined in accordance with subsection (d)). The student’s assets are determined by calculating the assets of the student and multiplying such amount by 20 percent, except that the result shall not be less than zero.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.