Why am I being asked to complete Appendix 2: Spouse/Common-Law Partner Information?

A student you know has applied for student financial assistance and must have their spouse/common-law partner complete Appendix 2. Appendix 2 asks for personal and financial information. This information is used to determine how much you may be required to contribute towards the student’s education and how much they may be eligible to receive in federal and provincial grants.

Are you common-law?
You and your partner are considered to be common-law if you meet both of the following:

• you are currently living together in a marriage-like relationship; and
• you will have been living together for at least 12 consecutive months as of the student’s first day of classes.

The applicant will have access to information provided on your Appendix 2.

ALL INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION

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Q18. Date of marriage or the date you began living together in a marriage-like relationship (yyyy-mm)

This is the date you were married or, if common-law, the date you began living together in a marriage like relationship.

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Q21. During the applicant's study period, will you be: Living with the applicant during the study period?

If you must live separately from the applicant during the study period, separate living allowances will be assessed.

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Q22. Will you be a full-time post-secondary student for some or all of the applicant’s study period?

During the applicant’s study period, will you also be attending school full-time for some portion of that period? If so, answer YES. If your study period does not overlap with the applicant’s, answer no to this question. If it partially or completely overlaps, answer yes. Full-time is defined as at least 60 per cent of a full course load (40 per cent for students with a permanent disability, or a persistent or prolonged disability). This could be either high school, adult basic education, college prep, summer school, post-secondary or a training program.

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Q23. If you will you be a full-time post-secondary student during the applicant’s study period, how many weeks of the applicant's study period will you also be in studies?

Enter the number of weeks you will be a full-time student during the applicant's study period. If you will be a full-time student for only part of the applicant’s study period, your expected spousal contribution will be pro-rated based on the number of weeks during the applicant’s study period in which the spouse or common-law partner is not in full-time studies.
To report the number of weeks of the applicant’s study period that you will also be in study, include all weeks where you will be in study for more than half the week (i.e., four days or more in that week). Use whole numbers only (no half weeks)."

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Q24. During the applicant's study period, provide total income assistance/social assistance (welfare) and/or B.C. income assistance for persons with disabilities that you will be receiving:

Normally, students are not eligible to receive Income Assistance (welfare) while attending post-secondary studies, with the exception of students with disabilities in receipt of benefits under the Disability Benefits Program Act. If you are currently in receipt of Income Assistance, you must contact your Employment Assistance Worker or Social Worker and advise him/her of your spouse/common-law partner's intention to take full-time post-secondary studies. Your worker will determine whether you can continue to receive Income Assistance during your study period based on the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction or whether your Income Assistance will stop while your spouse/common-law partner is in full-time studies. If you have a disability and are receiving B.C. income assistance for persons with disabilities now from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, contact your local office to find out if you will be eligible to continue to receive B.C. income assistance for persons with disabilities during your spouse/common-law partner's study period. If you will be receiving income assistance or B.C. Income Assistance for Persons with Disabilities equal to or exceeding $1,500 over the course of your study period, your spouse/common law partner will be subject to an agreement between our ministries. Under the agreement, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction continues to provide maintenance (shelter, food, etc.) while StudentAid BC considers the cost of the program. These costs are limited to:

• tuition
• books/supplies
• disability allowance
• transportation costs, and,
• unsubsidized day-care/baby-sitting costs, if you have dependent children.

Do not include on this line the Income Assistance/B.C. income assistance for persons with disabilities amount claimed by your spouse/common-law partner on the application or you will be assessed twice for these funds.

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Q25. During the applicant's study period, will you be in receipt of employment insurance benefits (EI)?

Will you be in receipt of employment insurance benefits (EI) at the time the applicant submits their application? If so, answer YES. If you begin to receive employment insurance benefits (EI) after the student's application has been received, the student will need to submit an Appendix 7, Request for Reassessment, with documentation providing evidence of your receipt of these benefits.

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Q26. During the applicant's study period, will you be in receipt of federal or provincial disability benefits?

Will you be in receipt of disability benefits from either the federal or provincial governments at the time the applicant submits their application? If so, answer YES. If you begin to receive federal or provincial disability benefits after the student's application has been received, the student will need to submit an Appendix 7, Request for Reassessment, with documentation providing evidence of your receipt of these benefits.

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Q27. During the applicant's study period, how much will you pay for: Your Canada student loan and/or provincial student loan regular scheduled payments made?

Payments are defined as those which have been set under a formal monthly repayment schedule with your service provider and/or bank. Do not include payments or interest penalties on defaulted loans, loan overaward payments, or voluntary payments in excess of the expected monthly payment.

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Q28. During the applicant’s study period, how much will you pay for total day-care costs? (Only one parent may claim day-care costs.)

Day-care costs are costs paid to a caregiver to care for your child(ren) aged 11 years or under, to enable the student and/or spouse or common-law partner to attend classes or to work during the study period. If a spouse or common-law partner is at home caring the student's dependent child(ren) during the study period, you cannot claim day-care costs. Enter study period day-care costs you will incur (be responsible for) for your child(ren) aged 11 or under. Do not include the amount of any Child Care Subsidy you may receive, only the amount you pay. Do not include costs declared by the applicant on the application, as only one parent can claim these costs. Do not include food, shelter or clothing costs. These are covered under a moderate standard of living calculation used in the assessment process.

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Q29. During the applicant's study period, how much will you pay for: Child support and/or spousal support that you pay?

Enter any child support and/or spousal support payments you pay during the applicant's study period.

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Q30. Enter your reported total income from line 15000 of your 2023 income tax return. If you did not file a 2023 income tax return, enter your total income from all sources both inside AND outside of Canada.

Enter the amount from line 15000 of your 2023 income tax return. The amount you report will be checked against Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) records. If the amount you report is different from CRA records, CRA data will be used to determine the applicant’s need assessment calculation and/or grant eligibility. If your previous year total income (as reported on Line 15000 of your 2023 tax return) changes, a reassessment of the applicant’s financial assistance application will be required. If you did not file a Canadian Income Tax Return for 2023, enter your total 2023 income from all sources both inside and outside Canada, which includes employment, pension investment, rental, RRSP, foster parent, net professional income, workers’ compensation, employment insurance and disability assistance. Convert foreign currency into Canadian dollars. StudentAid BC receives regularly updated information from CRA and may, after the point of initial StudentAid BC application assessment, compare income amount(s) declared on the application against CRA records, to ensure that the applicant’s financial need and/or grant eligibility remains up-to-date and accurate.

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Why am I being asked to complete Appendix 1: Parent(s)/Step-parent/Sponsor/Legal Guardian Information?

A student you know with Dependent status has applied for student financial assistance and must have their parent(s)/step-parent/sponsor/legal guardian complete Appendix 1. Appendix 1 asks for information about your personal finances. This information is used to determine how much you may be required to contribute towards the student’s education.

The applicant will have access to information provided on your Appendix 1.

If the student is a permanent resident under sponsorship, the sponsor must complete Appendix 1.

If the student’s parents are separated or divorced, or if the parent is single, Appendix 1 must be completed by the parent who is the student’s main financial supporter.

Federal Policy
A financial contribution (based on federal policy) may be expected from a parent(s)/ step-parent/sponsor/legal guardian, based on family size, income, assets and allowable income deductions. The contribution formula takes into account parent(s)/step-parent/sponsor/legal guardian’s total income as declared on line 15000 of their latest income tax return, less income taxes payable, Canada Pension Plan contributions, employment insurance contributions and a moderate standard of living. The income remaining following the deductions of these amounts is called “discretionary income.”

ALL INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION

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Q06. Marital status of parent(s)/step-parent/sponsor/legal guardian.

If you have remarried or are in a common-law relationship, your partner must provide his or her financial information. If you are separated, divorced or single, Appendix 1 must be completed by the parent who has legal responsibility for the applicant’s post-secondary education and/or is the main financial supporter.

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Q20. Is the address of Parent 2 the same as previously entered for Parent 1?

Select “YES” to copy Parent 1 address to Parent 2.

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Q34. How much will you and your spouse/common-law partner be giving the student during this study period: Money, total cashed Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) and scholarship trust funds

A parent or guardian may wish to contribute funds toward the applicant's educational costs over and above amount they are assessed to contribute as part of a student's resource assessment. Enter total money given to the student for this study period, including the total amount of cashed Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) and scholarship trust funds.

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Q35. Enter your reported total income from line 15000 of your 2023 income tax return. If you did not file a 2023 income tax return, enter your total income from all sources both inside AND outside of Canada.

Enter the amount from line 15000 of your 2023 income tax return. The amount you report will be checked against Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) records. If the amount you report is different from CRA records, CRA data will be used in the applicant’s need assessment calculation. If your previous year total income (as reported on Line 15000 of your 2023 tax return) changes, a reassessment of the applicant’s financial assistance application will be required. If you did not file a Canadian Income Tax Return for 2023, enter your total 2023 income from all sources both inside and outside Canada, which includes employment, pension investment, rental, RRSP, foster parent, net professional income, workers’ compensation, employment insurance and disability assistance. Convert foreign currency into Canadian dollars. StudentAid BC receives regularly updated information from CRA and may, after the point of initial StudentAid BC application assessment, compare income amount(s) declared on the application against CRA records, to ensure that the applicant’s financial need remains up-to-date and accurate.

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Q36. Enter the total net value of all Canadian and foreign assets (do not include RRSPs, principal residence or business).

Include the net value of all Canadian and foreign assets, including term deposits, stocks, bonds, GICs, bank accounts, rental properties, etc. Do not include RRSPs, principal residence, business assets, vehicles or household items.

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Q37. Total Income Tax from line 43500.

Refer to your 2023 income tax return to determine the amounts deducted for income taxes. If no deductions, you must enter ‘0’ on appropriate lines.

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Q38. Canada Pension Plan contributions (CPP) from line 30800 (contributions payable on self-employment and other earnings).

Refer to your 2023 income tax return to determine the amounts deducted for Canada Pension Plan contributions. If no deductions, you must enter ‘0’ on appropriate lines.

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Q39. Canada Pension Plan contributions (CPP) from line 31000 (contributions payable on self-employment and other earnings).

Refer to your 2023 income tax return to determine the amounts deducted for Canada Pension Plan contributions. If no deductions, you must enter ‘0’ on appropriate lines.

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Q40. Employment Insurance (EI) from line 31200.

Refer to your 2023 income tax return to determine the amounts deducted for employment insurance contributions. If no deductions, you must enter ‘0’ on appropriate lines.

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Q41. Do you have any eligible dependants as defined within the help?

For StudentAid BC purposes, eligible dependants are any dependants for whom you receive the Canada Child Benefit or for whom you claim a benefit on your 2023 income tax return. Eligible dependants include:

• your child(ren) under 19 years of age as of the start of the applicant's classes, for whom you have custody or provide care (they live with you) at least two days per week during the applicant's entire study period; or
• your child(ren) age 19 or over who are dependent full-time students; or
• your permanently disabled child(ren) age 19 or over, who you fully support and declare on your income tax return; or
• your foster children, if foster parent income is claimed on Appendix 1 on line 35; or
• your elderly relatives who you fully support and declare on your income tax return.

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