SO, BM is on OSAP (which is a student financial aid program where I live). The amount of money she receives is based on various criteria - one of which, is that she is a sole support custodial parent.

I'm also in college, I take the classes online. I only have a few left to finish my degree. (Or diploma, rather, I guess) I decided to give it a shot... because why not... free money. (They give grants as well as financial aid, which you don't have to repay - just the loan portion.)

I make good money, so I always figured I wasn't eligible... but as it turns out, if you have dependent children you can be eligible for financial aid even if you make 100k... and I have 3, at 50%.

I called them with a bunch of questions after I'd gone through the application but before submitting it, because I didn't want to mess anything up... and came out of that call with a really weird feeling, like something's going to come back and bite me in the arse later on.

First thing that struck me, is that "dependent" children are children that live with you 50% or more of the time, whether they are yours or your spouse's. (yes, stepkids count.) I specifically told them that BM was on OSAP and currently receiving benefits as provider for SS. (even though ss is with us now, it's always for the previous year... ) and whether I was also allowed to claim as well... Yes.

For daycare - daycare costs are covered for BM as part of her financial aid, so we technically have no daycare costs... but we've been paying it since we've had ss. BUT, I'm also eligible to claim for childcare costs... and it would average out to 125$ a week for before/after school care and full time care in the summer for the period I'm applying for. I specifically asked... BM is already receiving the funds for that child's daycare... and you're telling me that I can ALSO receive the funds for that child's daycare... Yes.

So essentially... assuming I'm approved for OSAP... they'll have paid out both BM and I on the basis of being the provider for the same child. They explained that they also cross check the information with CRA (our IRS) and that the worst case scenario is that BM will have to repay 50% of the child tax benefit she's received in the last year (mother's allowance), which will then be paid out to DH.

WIN WIN for DH and I... lose for BM....which is too bad, she's been surprisingly good the last few months.

Oh well.