Do I Put Down Estimated 2016 Income for 12 Months or Just 6 Months that I Have a Contract?

[OldGeorge1950]

I'm asking this question for my 28-year-old nephew who works in Ohio.
He finished graduate school a couple of years ago. His first job paid
very little... something like $16500/year, but that allowed him to purchase
health insurance with a pretty decent subsidy.

6 months ago, the same job had a salary increase to $30,000.(more hours)
The contract started in September 2015 and ends in August 2016.

Unfortunately, when I helped him renew coverage for 2016, there was $0
subsidy after inputting $30,000 as his expected income.

However, I was just thinking.... can he only put down the expected income
up to August 2016? Although they will most likely give him another 1-year
contract after the September 2016, it is not 100% guaranteed. In addition,
he has plans to go back to graduate school in September to get his PhD.
If that happens, he will probably move to a different state and just have
a part time job and whatever stipend they give to PhD students.

So..... can he lower his expected 2016 income and get more subsidy?
If at tax time in 2017 he still ends up with $30,000 income to report,
I assume all he's responsible is the difference in premium tax credit,
right? (either have to repay or have it deducted from refunds)

Sorry... but I'm really confused. I promised to help him do this because
he is currently out of the country for a research.

As long as I'm asking... how can someone making $30000 receive $0
subsidy?

Thanks!

 

[TN_agent]

It is possible the second-lowest cost silver plan for hiscounty and age is considered affordable at full price.

 

[OldGeorge1950]

It is possible the second-lowest cost silver plan for hiscounty and age is considered affordable at full price.

I'm now totally lost.

The $30,000 income was reduced to $20,000 because of other deductions. However, it was still showing $0 subsidy.

 

[TN_agent]

what is his zip code?

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ok, just because this is a dead time of year for me, I put in a 28 year old at 30,000 in Dayton OH. HC.gov says not subsidy eligible. Because the SLPSP is $219 a month and is already considered affordable (219 is less than 9.6% of his gross income)

If you reduce it to 20,000 in the application, he will be subsidy eligible. So, something is not right if you are putting 20,000.