Appendix 2 | StudentAid BC

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.

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 AUDIT AND VERIFICATION

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

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

Q19. In the four months BEFORE the applicant starts classes, were you or do you expect to be enrolled in full-time study for at least two months (including high school).

For at least two of the four months before the applicant's classes start, were you attending school full-time? Full-time is defined as at least 60 per cent of a full course load (40 per cent for students with permanent disabilities). This could be either high school, adult basic education, college prep, summer school, post-secondary or a training program.

Q20. In the four months BEFORE the applicant starts classes, were you or do you expect to be at home caring for eligible dependent child(ren) on a full-time basis for at least 2 months?

For 2016/2017 applications.

(Only one parent may claim to be the full-time caregiver).
For at least two of the four months before the applicant's classes start, did your or will your responsibilities to care for your (or your spouse's) dependant child(ren) full-time prevent you from being employed outside of the family home? Only one parent may claim being the full-time caregiver.

Eligible dependants
For StudentAid BC purposes, eligible dependants are any dependants for whom you receive the Canada Child Tax Benefit or for whom you claim a benefit on your 2015 Income Tax Return. To be eligible, a dependant must meet one or more of the following criteria:

your children (and/or your spouse's children) under 19 years of age as of the start of your classes, of whom you have custody or provide care (they live with you) at least two days per week; or
your children (and/or your spouse's children) age 19 or over who are full-time dependent (Group A) students or
your permanently disabled children (and/or your spouse's permanently disabled children) 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 this application; or
your elderly relatives (and/or your spouse's elderly relatives) who you fully support and declare on your income tax return.

Q20. In the four months BEFORE the applicant starts classes, were you or do you expect to be at home caring for eligible dependent child(ren) on a full-time basis for at least 2 months?

For 2015/2016 applications.

Eligible dependants
For StudentAid BC purposes, eligible dependants are any dependants for whom you receive the Canada Child Tax Benefit or for whom you claim a benefit on your 2014 Income Tax Return. To be eligible, a dependant must meet one or more of the following criteria:

your children (and/or your spouse's children) under 19 years of age as of the start of your classes, of whom you have custody or provide care (they live with you) at least two days per week; or
your children (and/or your spouse's children) age 19 or over who are full-time dependent (Group A) students or
your permanently disabled children (and/or your spouse's permanently disabled children) 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 this application; or
your elderly relatives (and/or your spouse's elderly relatives) who you fully support and declare on your income tax return.

Q21. Income received in the four months BEFORE classes start, what is the total amount of income assistance (welfare) and/or B.C. income assistance for persons with disabilities you receive? Enter ‘0’ if none.

Enter the amount of Income Assistance (welfare) you will receive during the four months before the applicant's classes start.

Note: If you are married or common-law, you must either split the amount of Income Assistance (welfare) received between this question and the application that your spouse/common-law partner will complete or only one of you may claim the full amount; otherwise, you will be assessed twice for the amount of Income Assistance that you actually receive.

Q22. Income received in the four months BEFORE classes start, what is the total amount of employment insurance benefits (EI) you will receive? Enter ‘0’ if none.

Enter your total Employment Insurance benefits (EI) for the four months before the applicant's classes start.

Q23. Income received in the four months BEFORE classes start, what is the total amount of gross earnings you will receive from employment and net self-employment? Enter ‘0’ if none.

Enter your total gross earnings for the four months before the applicant's classes start. Do not include student loans/grants, tax rebates, child tax benefits, tax refunds, or the B.C. Family Bonus.

Q24. Income received in the four months BEFORE classes start, what is the total amount of child care subsidy you will receive? Enter ‘0’ if none.

(Only one parent may claim the child care subsidy).
Enter your total child care subsidy for the four months before the applicant's classes start.

Q25. Income received in the four months BEFORE classes start, what is the total amount of other sources of income you receive? (E.g. First Nation band funding, child support, pension, spousal support, insurance settlements, etc.). Enter ‘0’ if none.

Enter the amount you will receive from all other sources for the four months before the applicant's classes start. Do not include student loans/grants, child tax benefits, tax refunds, tax rebates or B.C. family bonus.

Q26. Expenses paid in the four months BEFORE classes start. What is the total amount of Canada student loan and/or provincial student loan regular schedule payments made? Enter ‘0’ if none.

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.

Q27. Expenses paid in the four months BEFORE classes start. What is the total amount of total day-care costs for your child(ren) age 11 years or under? Include child care subsidy amount from Question 24.

(Only one parent may claim day-care costs).
Enter total day care costs for your child(ren) age 11 or under for the four months BEFORE classes start.

Q28. Expenses paid in the four months BEFORE classes start. What is the total amount of child support and/or spousal support that you pay?

Enter any child support and/or spousal support payments you will or did pay for the four months BEFORE classes start.

Q29. What is the total balance in all of your bank accounts (chequing and savings) both inside and outside of Canada, at the start of classes? Do not include RRSPs, RESPs, RDSPs, term deposits, GICs, mutual funds, stocks or bonds. Enter ‘0’ if none, or if a negative amount.

Enter your savings, which include cash on hand or money in your savings/chequing accounts from both inside and outside of Canada, at the start of classes. Do not include your spouse/common-law partner's savings here.

Do not include RRSPs, mutual funds, term deposits, stocks or bonds here, as these assets must be claimed in the assets section; otherwise, you will be assessed twice for these assets.

Q32. 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.

Q33. During the applicant’s study period, will you be a full-time post-secondary student for at least three months of the applicant’s study period?

During the applicant’s study period, will you be attending school full-time? Full-time is defined as at least 60 per cent of a full course load (40 per cent for students with permanent disabilities). This could be either high school, adult basic education, college prep, summer school, post-secondary or a training program.

Q34. During the applicant’s study period, what will be the total amount of income assistance (welfare) and/or B.C. income assistance for persons with disabilities you will receive? Enter ‘0’ if none.

Normally, students are not eligible to receive Income Assistance (welfare) while attending post-secondary studies, with the exception of students with permanent 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 Social Innovation criteria, or whether your Income Assistance will stop while your spouse/common-law partner is in full-time studies.

If you have a permanent disability and are receiving B.C. income assistance for persons with disabilities now from the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation, 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.

Those students who continue to receive B.C. income assistance for persons with disabilities or Income Assistance while in full-time studies are subject to an agreement between our Ministries. Under the agreement, the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation 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 dependant 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.

Q35. During the applicant’s study period, what will be the total amount of employment insurance benefits (EI) you will receive? Enter ‘0’ if none.

Enter the amount of EI you will receive during your spouse/common-law partner's study period.

Q36. During the applicant’s study period, what will be the total amount of gross earnings you will receive from employment and net self-employment income? Enter ‘0’ if none.

Enter study period income from wages before the deduction of income tax, employment insurance and pension contributions. Do not include student loans/grants, child tax benefits, tax refunds, tax rebates or B.C. Family Bonus.

Q37. During the applicant’s study period, what will be the total amount of child care subsidy you will receive? Enter ‘0’ if none.

(Only one parent may claim child care subsidy).
Enter your total child care subsidy you will receive during the applicant's study period.

Q38. During the applicant’s study period, what will be the total amount of scholarships or merit-based awards, including Passport to Education, Provincial Government Scholarship, etc. you will receive? Enter ‘0’ if none.

A scholarship is an award given to a student who has demonstrated high academic standing. If you know you are receiving a scholarship or other merit-based award, enter the amount. If you have received a Passport to Education, Provincial Scholarship, include these as well.

Q39. During the applicant’s study period, what will be the total amount of other sources of income you receive? (E.g. First Nation band funding, child support, pension, spousal support payments, insurance settlements, etc.). Enter ‘0’ if none.

Include financial gifts, income from assets, cashed assets (Canada Savings Bonds, RRSPs, mutual funds, etc.), Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs), net rental income from rental property you own, insurance settlements, inheritance, educational trust/savings plans or any other income not listed on the previous study period income questions (questions 34 - 38) that you will receive during the applicant's study period. If you have received sponsored funding from any other agency not listed above, include amount here. Do not include student loans/grants, child tax benefits, tax refunds, tax rebates or the B.C. Family Bonus.

Q40. During the applicant’s study period, how much will you pay for Canada student loan and/or provincial student loan regular scheduled payments made? Enter ‘0’ if none.

Q41. During the applicant’s study period, how much will you pay for total day-care costs for your child(ren) age 11 years or under? Include child-care subsidy amount from Question 24.

(Only one parent may claim day-care costs).
Enter study period day-care costs for your child(ren) aged 11 or under. Include the amount of child care subsidy. Do not include costs declared by the applicant on the application.

Child Care Subsidy + Amount you pay = Total day care costs

Day care costs are costs paid to a caregiver to care for your child(ren) 11 years or under, in order for the student, spouse or common-law partner to attend classes or work.

The Child Care Subsidy is the amount of money given to you by the Ministry of Children and Family Development to help you pay for day care. Enter study period day care costs for your child(ren) aged 11 or under during the applicant's study period. Include the amount of Child Care Subsidy. Do not include costs declared by your spouse on the application. Do not include food, shelter or clothing costs. These are covered under a moderate standard of living calculation used in the assessment process.

Q42. During the applicant’s study period, how much will you pay for child support and/or spousal support payments that you pay?

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

Q43. What is the net worth of your RRSPs?

This is how you calculate the net worth of RRSPs:

Amount of RRSP
– Amount owing on the RRSP loan (if any)
– Amount withheld by bank for tax purposes and/or penalties (if cashed)
= Net worth of RRSP

Do not include RRSPs declared by the applicant on his or her application. Contact your bank, credit union or trust company to accurately determine the net worth of your RRSPs.

Q44. What is the net worth of all your term deposits, GICs, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, etc.? Do not include RRSPs.

This is how you calculate the net worth of other investments:

Amount of other investments
– Amount owing on investment
– Any fees that may be charged for withdrawing the investment
= Net worth of investments

If investments are jointly owned, enter the net worth of the portion you own. Contact your bank, credit union or trust company to accurately determine the net worth of your other investments.

Q45.What is the net worth (your share) of any other assets, such as revenue/holding/recreational properties, boat, RV, etc.? Do not include principal residence. Enter '0' if none.

Declare the net worth of all other assets you own except for your principal residence, which is defined as the home you own and live in most of the time. All other real estate must be included as an asset.

Do not include items such as: bicycles, computer or camera equipment, musical instruments, or furniture.

This is how you calculate the net worth of other assets:

Market value of assets
– Amount owing on assets (if any)
= Net worth of other assets

If assets are jointly owned, use the net worth of your portion.

Example: If you and your spouse or common-law partner own a summer cottage 50-50, use half of the net value in this calculation. Your spouse or common-law partner will declare the other half on the application.

Q46. What is the net worth (your share) of a business?

This is how you calculate the net worth of your business:

Total business assets (lands, buildings, accounts receivable, etc.)
– Total liabilities (accounts payable, notes payable, mortgages, etc.)
= Net worth of business

If the business is jointly owned, use the net worth of the portion you own.

Q47. Total income from 2015 Income Tax Return

For 2016/2017 applications.

Enter the amount from line 150 of your 2015 income tax return. The line 150 income you report will be checked against Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) records. If the amount you indicate is different from their records, CRA data will be used in the applicant’s needs assessment calculation. If CRA records are incorrect, you must submit an Appendix 7 – Request for Reassessment with documentation showing the correct income. If you did not file a Canadian Income Tax Return, enter your total 2015 income from all sources both inside and outside Canada, which includes employment, pension investment income, rental, RRSP, foster parent, net professional/self-employment income, workers’ compensation, employment insurance and disability assistance, etc. Convert foreign currency into Canadian dollars.

Q47. Total income from 2014 Income Tax Return

For 2015/2016 applications.

Enter the amount from line 150 of your 2014 income tax return. The line 150 income you report will be checked against Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) records. If the amount you indicate is different from their records, CRA data will be used in the applicant’s needs assessment calculation. If CRA records are incorrect, you must submit an Appendix 7 – Request for Reassessment with documentation showing the correct income. If you did not file a Canadian Income Tax Return, enter your total 2014 income from all sources both inside and outside Canada, which includes employment, pension investment income, rental, RRSP, foster parent, net professional/self-employment income, workers’ compensation, employment insurance and disability assistance, etc. Convert foreign currency into Canadian dollars.

Q48. Motor vehicles owned

Include the current resale value of all cars/trucks/motorcycles whether in running order or not, insured or not, fully paid for or not, for which you are the registered owner. If you share registered ownership of the motor vehicle with your spouse/common-law partner, the motor vehicle value may be divided in half. Your spouse/common-law partner may declare half the value on the application. You may be asked to submit your owner’s certificate of insurance and vehicle licence documentation.

Q49. Motor vehicles leased

If you are currently leasing a motor vehicle, enter the information on this question, including your monthly lease payments. If you share a lease of the motor vehicle with your spouse/common-law partner, the motor vehicle lease payments may be divided in half. Your spouse/common-law partner may declare half the lease payments on the application. You may be asked to submit your lease certificate of insurance and vehicle licence documentation.