I am starting grad school in August and will be a full time student for five months. I am a stay at home mom, so until then I will not have any earned income. I am married, we file jointly, and my husband has earned income. I have started working with my chair professor to collect data through focus groups since I was accepted and will continue to do so throughout the summer. When I start the program, this type of research will be paid as a research assistant. As I am not a student yet, this time is considered voluntary and does not have earned income. However, it is directly related to the work I will be doing as a research assistant and as a full time grad student. I have been paying for child care during these times. I am wondering if I will be able to apply these child care costs I am accruing before starting grad school.
