Can student loans be used to pay for elder care?
hello
i have been a family care-giver for my 86 yr old mom for 4 1/2 years. we get along well. i have spent all my saved money as of last month. i am now broke. my mom gets $2900 in a pension and SS. that is what we will now have to live on. i am thinking of going back to school online to become a teacher. the program requires 130 hours of observation and student teaching. i am applying for a stafford student loan. i have read that student loans can be used for CHILD care, but what about ELDER care? we can't afford private elder care in the home on our own and we're going to be living tight on HER income. does any-one think a federal student loan for graduate school will include ELDER care while i am out of the house?
Expert Answer
A federal student loan can be used to pay for dependent care while you are attending classes. A dependent can be a child or elder. In your case, your mother is not your dependent; you are her dependent. So you cannot get a loan and use it to pay for your mother's care. In order for your mother to be your dependent, you must be providing at least 50% of her living and care costs.