Subscribe in a reader05.18.07 | Dependent VS. Independent Status
Ok, let’s go over a common scenario…
You’re 21 years old, have been living on your own for a couple of years, are legal drinking age and yet you still need your parents information when filling out the FAFSA. It seems unbelievable, but it is true. The US Department of Education considers a student a dependent up until the age of 24 except in certain circumstances. Below I have broken down the difference between an Independent VS. Dependent student.
Independent Status
- You are at least 24 years old on the day you file your FAFSA
- You are or will be enrolled in a masters or Doctoral degree program at the beginning of the school year
- You are married on the day you file your FAFSA
- You are a parent
- You have dependents other than your spouse who live with you and who receive more than half their support from you at the time you apply
- Both your parents are deceased (or were until age 18) a ward of dependent of the court
- You are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training
- You’re a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
- You were a foster child after the age of 13.
- You are an emancipated child as determined by a court judge.
- You are homeless or at risk of homelessness as determined by the director of a HUD approved homeless shelter, transitional program, or high school liaison.
If none of the above criteria apply to you, you’re a dependent student - even if your IRS tax status is different, even if you have no idea where your parents are.
That said, in rare cases, your school’s financial aid officer can override the FAFSA results to help you get more aid if you can demonstrate a compelling case that your parents and family provide absolutely no support, and therefore you’re not really a dependent. This is called a professional judgement override and while they are granted extremely rarely, they do exist. If you need a professional judgement override for dependency status, gather up as much documentation as you can, from rent bills to utility bills to the legal judgement from a court emancipating you from your parents and bring it to your financial aid advisor. While you’re not guaranteed anything, it’s at least worth a try.
Here’s what a financial aid administrator had to say on the topic of professional judgement override:
For Dependency Overrides the Federal guidelines are extremely clear. Being self-supporting is NOT grounds for an override.
Instead you must prove INVOLUNTARY DISSOLUTION OF THE FAMILY. This means you were forced to leave your parents’ home and have no contact with them. You must explain,in detail, why you cannot live with your parents. Then you must have official third party letters, on letterhead, that back up your story.
Just because you feel mature enough or responsible enough to be on your own does not erase your PARENTS’ OBLIGATION to assist you with your education.
We accept letters on letterhead from H.S. Guidance counselors and teachers, lawyers, personal counseling centers, social services, clergy, etc. We also will accept police reports documenting abuse. Absent that, we require two letters from people personally knowledgeable to the relationship with the parent like a Grandparent, Aunt or Uncle. The letters must be very detailed about the situation and their relationship to the student.
Most students make the mistake of having a roommate or employer write a letter that the student is self sufficient and pleading for us to just cut them some slack. They don’t realize that Fin Aid reps are personally liable for willfully violating Federal Law. I’ve been in Financial Aid for 12 years and I haven’t met a student yet that is worth going to jail for.
If you are still unsure of your status please feel free to contact the Student Loan Network.
The FAFSA blog is sponsored in part by:
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Hi, I am 19 years old, but want to become independent, how can I accomplish this?
December 18th, 2007 | #
Hi, I am having the same problem as Alejandro. I really need the fafsa for college but i am not able to use my parents w2 forms. is there a way without being married or having a child that i can do this?
March 23rd, 2008 | #
What you need to do is get the financial aid officer at the school you want to go to to evaluate your special circumstances and declare you as independent. From what I understand, the only way is if you don’t have ANY contact with your parents at all. You must also get three different people (not family or friends) to write letters stating that you have no contact with your parents.
June 7th, 2008 | #
I am 21 years and live alone, work full time, pay my own rent, pay my own bills, bought my own car, and do my own taxes. So pretty much independent. My parents do not live in the US and do not have SSNs either. One of the financial advisors said that i will need to put my parents info in the FAFSA, but i was hoping there would be a way around this cuz like i said, I pretty much am an independent individual. Plz let me know if there’s another option. Thank you.
June 7th, 2008 | #
I just updated this post to answer your questions. Enjoy!
June 13th, 2008 | #
[...] one of the following requirements to be considered independent from your parents: Here is a link link to FAFSA on line "The US Department of Education considers a student a dependent up until the age of 24 [...]
June 28th, 2008 | #
I’m David, greencard holder, 22, both of my parents passed away years ago, living alone with a partner and a child that’s hers. I filled out my fafsa already as independent, claiming my partner as a dependent, receiving more than half of her support from me. In my taxes I had no dependents since she has no SS#. I’m getting more money for school by claiming myself as independent?
July 1st, 2008 | #
David - if the child in the house is deriving its support from you, and you claimed the child as a dependent on your taxes, then you would be an independent. Your partner would need to be your spouse to make the claim for her.
July 1st, 2008 | #
[...] be an independent. Your partner would need to be your spouse to make the claim for her. + See this blog post on who is a dependent vs. independent student + M Reyes writes in: I’m confused as of what to borrow : parent plus loan or Alternate [...]
July 1st, 2008 | #
this dosent make any sense why am i still a dependent if im going to have no support of my parents.(moving out). is there another way?
August 2nd, 2008 | #
Hi I`m 18 years old and having the same problem I have’nt been living with my mother for over 2 years and dont have any contact with my father I started to fill out my fasfa and was ask to pervide my parent information. What can I do to become independent.
August 8th, 2008 | #
Hi im am 22 yrs old and I am currently married. I will be getting divorced soon and want to know if this will revert my status to dependent because i am not yet 24.
August 25th, 2008 | #
i am 21, my parent has cut all ties and communication with me. she will not provide her tax information for the next year. what can i do to become independent?
September 23rd, 2008 | #
Can a student over 24 change his Fafsa status form dependent to independent for the current year?
September 30th, 2008 | #
if i get married a couple months after i filed my fafsa for 08 09 school year, can i re-file as an independent if I am starting school spring quarter 09?
October 8th, 2008 | #
@Manuel: dependency is judged based on the status listed. If you have no support of your parents and are fully self supporting, you can ask your financial aid officer for a professional judgement override of dependency status. Be prepared to provide a ton of documentation like rent and utility bill copies, etc.
November 12th, 2008 | #
@Jean: sorry to hear that. Your status would indeed revert to dependent student.
November 12th, 2008 | #
@Bob: yes. The student can file a FAFSA correction online to change their age and thus their dependency status.
November 12th, 2008 | #
@Holly: yes, same as Bob - you can refile with a correction.
November 12th, 2008 | #
What paper work is required to show to prove that I am supporting myself?
November 23rd, 2008 | #
I am a 22 year old student. I have been living on my own for 3 years and yes I have had the FAFSA problem. I say if I am old enough to gamble money in Vegas, I should be old enough to be considered an Independent person. Who made this law? Why 24? My parents don’t pay anything for me nor do they have the money to pay for school. I tried the override thing but schools are tougher than ever and I didn’t get any help. I have a friend who had parents pass away and I am helping her. She lives with me and I am supporting more than 50%. Will this be considered in my FAFSA? Have any advice?
November 24th, 2008 | #
[...] Mel writes in: I am a 22 year old student. I have been living on my own for 3 years and yes I have had the FAFSA problem. I say if I am old enough to gamble money in Vegas, I should be old enough to be considered an Independent person. Who made this law? Why 24? My parents don’t pay anything for me nor do they have the money to pay for school. I tried the override thing but schools are tougher than ever and I didn’t get any help. I have a friend who had parents pass away and I am helping her. She lives with me and I am supporting more than 50%. Will this be considered in my FAFSA? Have any advice? [...]
November 25th, 2008 | #
@Adri: Typically, for a professional judgement override, a financial aid administrator will ask to see rent, utilities bills, and other forms of identification which establish you living on your own at a separate place from your parents.
@Mel: The law was made by Congress in the Higher Education Act and regulatory interpretation set up by the US Department of Education. If your financial aid advisor was unable to help, you may want to approach your school’s director of financial aid with the appropriate documentation and make your case there. Be prepared with tons of paperwork!
November 25th, 2008 | #
I am moving out from my parents after christmas. Not really and family problems just want to do my own thing with my brother. We are going to live together and split rent, ect. Will i be able to get this independent status through a professional judgement override?
December 4th, 2008 | #
@frank: Unlikely unless you can document that you’re self supporting and that your parents refuse to assist you.
December 10th, 2008 | #
My dad is not a united states citizen, and I don’t want to get him in trouble. After 7 months of begging my dad finally filled out the fafsa, but we were asked to verify with tax information. He has not done his taxes in 3 years and owes his accountant a lot of money. So there is no way to verify my fafsa information. My dad is about to file for bankruptcy. Is there anyway to get help from the government with out fafsa verification?
December 21st, 2008 | #
I am 22 years old, will be turning 23 in July. I currently have financial aid. My single mother wishes to get married, and her fiancee makes decent money, but not enough to support my college tuition. Will her marriage affect my financial aid? Can she get married after my 23rd birthday (July) and it not affect me?
December 27th, 2008 | #
I am 24 years old. I will get married before filing the 2009-2010 FAFSA. If I lived at my parent’s house the whole 2998 year, can I still claim taxes as independent. Can they file me as dependent or they need to exclude me? Also, if they do exclude me, do their sporadic “money help” for my college mean that I was dependent? I would greatly appreciate your help! Thanks!
January 2nd, 2009 | #
Our 22-year-old daughter will be completing her bachelors degree in May and starting into a post-graduate program afterward. I realize the FAFSA will consider her independent, and that is fine. However, we could claim her as a dependent or not claim her (very borderline)on our tax return. Would one choice work better for her?
January 3rd, 2009 | #
Hi, I am 22 years old and have received my B.S. from a 4-year university. When I file my FAFSA for the 2009-2010 school year, I will be in a teachers’ credentialing program as a post-graduate. Does this make me eligible for independent status?
January 4th, 2009 | #
@Brooke: Not really, no. Any kind of federal aid requires that you file the FAFSA. For the upcoming school year, a financial aid officer can execute professional judgement in a limited override to get you a small amount of Stafford loan aid, but everything else requires the FAFSA without exception.
@Megan: Once you turn 23, you do indeed become an independent student and then parental finances don’t apply at all. That said, any grant or scholarship money will probably be gone by then. Your best bet is to file now for the 2009-2010 school year before your mother gets married.
@Joan:If you are 24 years old, you are already an independent student.
@Laurie: That’s a question for you and your accountant; how you file dependency with the IRS is different than how you file the FAFSA and the two agencies (ED and IRS) use very different definitions. Your best bet for tax stuff is to consult a qualified tax professional.
@Nozomi: Yes, you are an independent automatically due to the nature of your graduate study program.
January 5th, 2009 | #
if i have a baby a couple of weeks after i file my fafsa of the school year 08-09,can i re-file as a independent if i’m starting college spring of 09.
January 6th, 2009 | #
@Brandi: You can use FAFSA Corrections on the Web to correct any item except your Social Security Number (SSN). If your SSN is wrong, you must file a new FAFSA under the correct SSN. So yes, you can refile as an independent, though honestly, you may as well file that way now if it’s just a couple of weeks away.
January 7th, 2009 | #
Oh, and Brandi, congratulations and best wishes for a healthy mother and child.
January 7th, 2009 | #
m 18 permanet resdient since september 2008 i found a lot problem to fill my fasfa. i moved first with my mum who s resident to but she came back to morocco where she has her job. she didnt find a job in the us . In our country it s different we dont have taxe return when u get paid u have the net amount directly . Well , my parent wont support me at all , i have 2 part time job and i live with a relative who will support me with my tuition . is it enough to ask for awitshin to independant ? if my relative write a letter that he will support me and not my parent can i switch to independant ? otherwise what can i do in the parent information , shall i just convert my mum s income 2008 in my country to dollars currency ? or shall i put 0 cause she has social security card but didnt work in the us ?
January 12t
January 12th, 2009 | #
i have a child and am living with my boyfriend…he has supported both of us this past year while i went to school, i barely worked. is there any way i can still have independent status if my boyfriend claims our child? or is there a way he can claim me and i can use his tax information for the fafsa because i am only 19? also we are completly on our own living in our own home.
January 16th, 2009 | #
@Samantha: if you have a child, you’re automatically an independent student.
January 16th, 2009 | #
well i know that but as far as tax purposes, with me not working much this past year i have no really provided much for my daughter so my boyfriend should technically claim her on taxes, but if he claims her then i would not have independent status….because on the fafsa it says you are independent if you have a child who recieves more than half of their support from you…my boyfriend supports both of us so do you know if there is a way that he can claim both me and my daughter on his taxes? i hope that makes more sense…
January 16th, 2009 | #
@Samantha - taxes and the FAFSA treat dependents differently. Who claims the child on their taxes doesn’t necessarily provide 51% of support - the general benchmark is whether or not the child lives with one parent or another for 51% of the year. If you and your boyfriend are living together and your daughter will be living with you for 51% of the year or more, then you would qualify for independent student status, at least from my reading. This is specifically referring to question 53 on the 2009-2010 FAFSA.
January 17th, 2009 | #
i’m gonna be 24 soon however i want to be a dependent so i can apply for some loans. on the tax forms a dependent is someone who doesn’t make more than $3500 a year. will fafsa make me an independent when i’m 24 even though on the tax forms my parents claim me as a dependent?
January 17th, 2009 | #
@Mike: You don’t have to be a dependent to apply for loans. In fact, you’ll likely be eligible for more aid as an independent student.
Dependency for the FAFSA and for taxes are two completely different things.
January 21st, 2009 | #
I was a foster kid to the age of 15 and as of the new law i should be able to claim independent on fafsa. My parents are claiming me a dependent on their taxes though even though I live in the dorms. Does that make me a dependent or an independent? I’m going for a scholarship that is depending on this.
January 26th, 2009 | #
I need to know my son has joined national guard and i usually claim him but this year was thinking about not claiming him. would he still need my info on his Fafsa since he is in national guard.
January 27th, 2009 | #
Can i claim independent if i join national guard and my parents did not claim me this year.
January 27th, 2009 | #
The deadline to submit the FAFSA is March 1st, but on March 6 I will be 24. Does this mean that I will be considered a dependent even though by the time they look over my application I will be 24? Should I file my taxes as an independent anyway? And why would I have to file a correction of my age on the application after I submit it, won’t they already have my birth information?
January 28th, 2009 | #
I am tehnically a dependent, but due to a chain of events, my mother (single parent) has been struggling even to keep the electricity turned on lately. I have been paying my way through school and everything for the last year, and things dont look like theyre getting better. I, personally, dont even have the money to pay for school…my boyfriend has been paying my way…
She doesnt have any money to give me, so I dont understand why they would expect her to contribute.
Do you think that my financial aid office will accept this situation as enough to do the override?
January 28th, 2009 | #
Am 20 years old and for almost 3 years now I have not been living with my mom and up until a little after last year I’ve been living with my sister and her family. For the last 7 months or so I’ve been living in FL on internship, supporting myself in everyway. My mom wasn’t able to send me money when I needed it and my sister never provided anything either. I know that when I was living with them (sister), they were claiming me as a dependent. I’m back in my hometowm and now living in the dorms, still supporting myself from the money I made on internship. Am I able to claim myself as an independent?
January 28th, 2009 | #
I am having a problem jst like all the others. I am 19 years old and need to file for my FASFA again this year. I claimed my parents income last year but am having a problem doing so this year. My step-father kicked me out of the house at 17 and it di not get reported. I moved in with my fiance and have been living with him for exactly 2 years. I do not work but he does and we have our own place my name is on the lease and everything and he claims me on his taxes as a dependent. I do not speak to my parents any more. I am no welcome in thier home, my mom has not offered to help me at all in two years. I do not know what to do. Pls help!
January 29th, 2009 | #
I’m getting married roughly 3-4 months after filing the FAFSA. Does that mean I have to file as a dependent for now and after getting married, I would have to file with a correction? After filing with a correction, would that affect the amount that I would be eligible for? Normally most individuals would encourage filing the FAFSA early to be eligible first for grants, etc. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you.
February 2nd, 2009 | #
@goldka: Good questions. Congratulations, by the way, on your upcoming marriage. You’re indeed a dependent now and an independent later, but you’re right to say that filing now is more important. File it early, get the results back, and then file a correction later after you have the marriage certificate.
Alternately, if you’re okay with doing so, consider getting married on paper now - i.e. doing the paperwork, getting the actual license from a justice of the peace, and becoming legally married now, then have the celebration and fanfare later. That would let you qualify for independent status sooner, but still let you have a wonderful day of celebration later.
Filing as an independent student should in most cases qualify you for the same or more financial aid than as a dependent student.
February 2nd, 2009 | #
@Amy: You are, by the definition set down in the new FAFSA, an independent student as long as you can document the foster child aspect. The tax law definition of dependent or independent is different and separate from the FAFSA definition.
February 2nd, 2009 | #
@katina: If he is serving on active duty, he is an independent student, but like the comment with Amy, the tax law definition of dependent or independent is different and separate from the FAFSA definition. If he’s on active duty, he no longer needs your information and you are still free to claim him on your taxes.
February 2nd, 2009 | #
@Sarah: Tax dependency and FAFSA dependency are two separate things. You should file as a dependent as soon as possible today, then file a correction and update later. Get your FAFSA done now for maximum possible opportunity, and also to beat the March 1 priority deadline for many states.
As for the system automatically updating - no, the system is pretty archaic.
February 2nd, 2009 | #
@Julia: That all depends on how dire the situation is, how carefully you can document your family’s finances, and how much of a difference the dependency status will make. I would encourage you to gather up all your finance paperwork and absolutely make an appeal with your financial aid office - they may also be able to spot other opportunities for you to save money.
February 2nd, 2009 | #
@Jasmine: You don’t meet the technical criteria of an independent student from an age perspective. That said, if your living circumstances are that unstable, you MIGHT be able to meet the technical definition of homeless or at risk of homelessness student - bring your circumstances and documentation to your school’s financial aid office and see if they believe you should file the FAFSA as a student at risk of homelessness. If the school financial aid office isn’t familiar with these new clauses, find someone on campus with experience in dealing with the McKinney/Vento Homeless Assistance Act to see if their expertise can shed light on your situation.
February 2nd, 2009 | #
@Amanda: As with Jasmine above, investigate the options of filing as someone living in transitional housing, or alternately consider getting married to your fiance sooner rather than later, at least on paper. Most justices of the peace will marry someone and do the requisite paperwork for a nominal fee, usually under $50. Since you’re planning to get married anyway (congratulations) this step could help you out.
February 2nd, 2009 | #
this is a little off topic, but i’ve been looking for answers and can’t find them. i was hoping maybe you could help. i’m a dependent, as i’m only 20 now, but my boyfriend and i are planning on marrying sometime this year, and he’s already independent because he’s 28. i know a marraige before filling out fafsa would help my financial situation tremendously, but do you know if it would help, hinder or be the same for his? thanks a ton!
February 3rd, 2009 | #
@Montana: It won’t make a significant difference for his FAFSA for dependency, but it may change his taxes, which would flow through to the FAFSA.
February 3rd, 2009 | #
good to know. thanks again!
February 3rd, 2009 | #
So do I have to meet ALL of those requirements to be an Independant, or only ONE of them?
February 7th, 2009 | #
My parents have surrendered their SSN’s and do no file income taxes. They are willing to provide income information, but my Fin Aid Advisor says that they HAVE to have a SSN. Is this correct? Any suggestions?
February 9th, 2009 | #
I am 22 will be 23 on march 14th. I live with my boyfriend who pays the bills. I work but only part time right now. My parents don’t pay for anything. I don’t have anything in my name and don’t really have any papers to show I am independent and I cannot pay for college what can I do? Please help I’m desperate.
February 9th, 2009 | #
@Ian: You need to meet only one.
February 10th, 2009 | #
@Julia: I’ve never heard of someone surrendering an SSN. Tax information is required; your parents can file for a federal tax ID in lieu of a Social Security Number, but if you meet the conditions of a dependent student, your parents are required to provide their information.
February 10th, 2009 | #
@sarah: If you don’t have any ability to demonstrate or document what is effectively independent status, then you need to file your FAFSA as a dependent and ask your school’s financial aid office for a professional judgement override on dependency status. You need to find some way to effectively document that you’re on your own, whether it’s through pay stubs, utility bills, etc. in order to even stand a chance of being granted an override.
February 10th, 2009 | #
[...] You only need to meet one of the conditions of an independent student. [...]
February 10th, 2009 | #
I am 23 years old and a dual citizen of US and Israel I have served in the IDF for the past 2 years and have not been listed as a dependent on my parents taxes since I turned 18. SInce 18 I have not been financially supported by my parents. Will my situation be overrided to independent?
February 10th, 2009 | #
I’m a senior in high school, and, because I have done so well in my academic achievements, I know I am or will be accepted to large and reputable (and therefore expensive)schools. Also, because I haven’t lived in one state for all of the last year, I may be required to pay out-of-state tuition. Scholarships may be able to help me to an extent, but I believe government financial aid will be highly beneficial also.
I believe I mostly am in need of answers to my dependency status on the FAFSA. I will therefore provide some personal information in hopes that I may receive help with those urgent questions.
My mother died of breast cancer when I was four, and after that I lived nearly homeless (though there actually was a six month period where my siblings and I had literally been homeless) with my father and stepmother for a few years. Eventually, my extended family discovered negative information on our living conditions and forced our father to give us up to them or else face horrible legal consequences. I began to live with an aunt and an uncle for a few years after that, and then moved to Utah where I lived with another aunt for yet a few more years. This past June (8 months ago), I moved to North Carolina to live with my eldest brother.
I suppose that my father still has legal custody of me (that is, if he’s still even alive - he was terribly sick the last time anyone in my family had seen him - and I don’t know where he is and I haven’t spoken with him since I left him when I was about 9 years old).
Living with my oldest brother now, I am faced with several more responsibilities than an average student my age (and several more freedoms that I have been very mature with). Although I don’t pay rent, I do pay for my exact portion of the groceries and I help out with the water bill. I also used to pay for my own health insurance, but have now chosen to no longer pay for coverage due to its expense. I also have just purchased my first car, a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee, from my brother, and have finally finished making payments.
In addition, my school guidance counselor chose to let me have free lunches, and I also have been able to apply to colleges and take the ACT and SAT for free.
I have, however, been directly receiving my own social security disability benefits (child survivor benefits from my mother’s death) since I moved in with my brother in NC (about 8 months ago), which is now almost $300 a month. I worked part-time (about 15 hours per week) for a year in Utah, and for two months so far I’ve worked part-time (about 25-30 hrs a week) here in NC. I don’t know if that will affect my dependency status at all either, but perhaps it has some significance that you can shed light upon.
Sorry that I provided so much information, but I didn’t know what was needed to figure out my dependency status. Also, seeing as how I basically have to figure out and do all of this college preparation and financial aid myself, I know I’ll need all the help I can get. Please offer at least some of that vast knowledge you seem to have for this topic as advice so as to help me understand more, and thus, be able to figure out how my wallet can afford to go to a school that my intellect is already prepared for.
Thank you so much for your time.
February 11th, 2009 | #
I also turn 18 in exactly one week if that makes any difference… Can I get emancipated or something without trying to find my father and get him to sign something?
February 11th, 2009 | #
Or perhaps it would be better for me to say that I am indeed a dependent of my father - he is homeless after all. That fact may allow me to obtain more benefits than even being a poor independent… though, of course, his financial status would be hard to prove because I don’t know how to contact him and I doubt he even really has many financial records…
Again, sorry for my rambling. I’ll try to await your response with more patience now. :)
February 11th, 2009 | #
I’m 23 years old and want to use the stafford loan to go to beauty school. My parents are refusing to provide their information in fear that they will be on the loan with me. Is this true? Is the loan in my name or by providing their information they are co-signing for me? If i default on the loan will it affect my parent’s credit?
February 13th, 2009 | #
I just turned 24 on Jan 20. The priority deadline is Feb 15! Should I fill ‘yes’ for question 48 (Were you born before January 1, 1986)? Would that cause delay? Or should I fill ‘no’ and then change to independent status later? Is it possible for me to change to independent? I’m scared need to know because I already owe so much in loans!
February 13th, 2009 | #
I’m in an integrated Masters in Professional Accounting program, and I will be working on both undergraduate and graduate classes in 2009-2010 school year.
Can I file as an independent on the FAFSA since I am in a masters program?
February 14th, 2009 | #
@Jessica: That depends on how your school treats the program - ask your financial aid counselor whether it’s treated as such. An independent student won’t need financial info from parents but will also not qualify for things like the Pell Grant.
February 16th, 2009 | #
@April: You cannot change status in mid-application. For this year, if your birthday is January 20, you are still a dependent until next year’s FAFSA.
February 16th, 2009 | #
@Adrienne: The FAFSA is not a loan; you need to file a loan application separately. Only after your FAFSA results come back do you then file for a separate loan, and your parents are not on the Stafford loan at all. They would be on the PLUS loan and co-signers of any private, non-government student loans.
February 16th, 2009 | #
@Aaron: Unlikely, unless you meet the definitions listed for independent student status.
February 16th, 2009 | #
@Heather - this is a case where the definition of involuntary dissolution of the family fits your situation. File your FAFSA as you can and ask your financial aid officer for a professional judgement override of dependency; you’ll need to document everything you’ve described here, but this is clearly a case where the family has been dissolved.
February 16th, 2009 | #
My son is 20 yo. He lives with his mother 12 months out of the year in Ohio. I reside in Indiana. He is currently attending college but needs addt’l financial aide. I know he is a dependent but which parent needs to provide financials in order for hom to get aide. Does it have to be his mother since he lives with her or am I able to as well?
February 25th, 2009 | #
@Richard: It must be the mother, as that’s where he receives most of his support.
February 26th, 2009 | #
By age, I was a dependent when I originally filed the application for FAFSA, but before the second semester of the school year I married. I have corrected the FAFSA with my married status, the school refuses to acknowledge that I am married and is basing my federal aid off of my parents income. Is this wrong?
February 28th, 2009 | #
How do I get the school to acknowledge my independent status for 2008-2009?
February 28th, 2009 | #
I’m 19 and I need to be an independent. My mom has moved but she doesn’t pay for any of my college education. I get my money from grants and scholarships, but I could lose my in-state status since she moved. Is it possible to switch my dependent status to another party and let them claim me so I can stay in school instead of claiming independent?
March 4th, 2009 | #
I’m 28 so I’m considered independent and I’m not married so it’s just my income that FAFSA is based on. Next year, my income will be significantly lower (due to being in school full time) and I’ll hopefully qualify for more money. But if I get married next year, my spouses income (full time job) will come into play, right? What if I file FAFSA and then get married a few months later? Am I required to file a correction and divulge the additional income?
March 6th, 2009 | #
Hi. I am 21 years old and I want to file for independent status. My father has been unemployed for a year because of the NOAA Fishery Commerce amendment and he refuses to help me with my schooling. I moved out and live elsewhere. My mother cannot help me because she has medical bills to pay for because she has cancer. What can I do? I filed my fafsa as being unable to provide parent information.
March 12th, 2009 | #
@Nancy…you can’t technically file for independent status…you need to speak with someone at the financial aid office at your school. Tell them your situation, and they should be able to arrange it so you qualify for independent student loan amounts. I wouldn’t call though, I would go in to speak with someone. Good luck
March 12th, 2009 | #
I am filing a dependency appeal with my college fin aid office. They have responded to me requesting more information, including details from a social worker who was involved in my family situation about 3 years ago (when I moved out-I am now 18-I have lived with a friend’s family for 3 years with no support from my parents). The social worker (supv) said that they cannot ask for that information, because it’s personal and will not be given out. She had never heard of that kind of request before. I sent letters from a teacher, a family member (prof), the woman who has taken care of me since I left home, and myself. I will submit the final letter they sent after the case was closed, but it does not contain the details they are looking for. The social worker also said that if you have lived on your own for 1 year after turning 18, you can get independent status…I can’t find any information about this…can you help? Thank you!
March 14th, 2009 | #
HI, thanks for such a good comment section. Here’s a question I bet you haven’t been asked before … The student is 20 and is the sole caretaker and financial provider for her disabled sibling who is 23. He lives with her in a campus apartment (kind of like a married student situation or a student-with-small-child situation) 100% of the time. That seems to quality for obtaining a professional judgment override from the financial aid office, for sure. But is it more advantageous to be able to file the FAFSA as independent in light of the bullets above that say you can file that way “if you are a parent” or “if you have a dependent other than your spouse who lives with you and who receives more than half his/her support from you at the time you apply.” Which route would be best? Would a letter from a social services agency that serves the disabled person verifying the claim be sufficient proof? Thanks so much.
March 17th, 2009 | #
@sharon…I think in that situation she would be considered as having a dependent which would make her an “independent” as far the school is concerned. Either way though, she will qualify for the same amount of aid. She should definitely take this up with the financial aid office and I am sure they can make sure she gets more aid than what she is getting.
March 17th, 2009 | #
@Victoria Lee, I am not sure about your social worker and the information they have about obtaining an Independent status. As far as I know, there is no clear cut rule about it….from what you have written it does sound like the school should deem you as independent, and they probably will, but I have never heard of a specific rule about living alone for 1 year etc. Schools now have the authority to do that, so you shouldn’t have a problem once they have the proper documentation…Good luck and I hope it all works out.
March 17th, 2009 | #
I’m 18 and cover all of my own expenses like heath care, cost of school, the car title and payments, and I own a small apartment. I work at least 30 hours a week and I’m earning 19 credits a semester at community college. My parents make to much money for me to qualify for financial aid and government loans. I want to earn a bachelors degree and transfer schools, but my family can’t afford it. Is their a way that I can prove that I’m an independent. I have very good grades, but I’ve had my merit based scholarships taken away because my school says I’m not in need. I don’t think at this rate I’ll be able to complete my degree because of the cost. What do I do?
March 26th, 2009 | #
@ Danny, Regardless of your living situation…the government still sees you as a dependent on your parents. Your situation is similar to many other students who are self-sufficient. However, when you say you are not eligible for student loan…are you sure about this? Because almost everyone is eligible to receive the Unsubsidized Stafford loan (because it is not based on need)…you should check with your school because chances are you can borrow this loan for help with tuition. If your school tells you you are not eligible for any federal loans then you need to speak with a supervisor and tell them that you realize you are not able to borrow the subsidized loan because your parents make too much, but you need to borrow the unsub loan which is not based on financial need. Let me know how it goes. Also, we have a 10k scholarship drawing coming up soon…it takes about 20 seconds to enter the drawing…at http://www.studentloannetwork.com/10k. Drawing is March 31st.
March 26th, 2009 | #
I’m a 20 year old student completely on my own at college. My father is completely disabled and my mother was laid off and unemployeed for 6 months after she filed for bankruptcy in 2008. She then received an inheritance after my grandfather had died. Shortly after, my disabled brother of 19 had twins. Even though my mother is now employeed she can’t help me through college AND provide care for her youngest son, the mother of his children and the twins. In addition, she getting married in a year, which will further damage the amount of aid from the government. I’m afraid I may not be able to afford tuiton on my own next year because the government will include my mother’s tax information, even though I recieve absolutely nothing from her. Because of my family’s unique situation I was wondering if I had any shot at making a case for a independent status.
April 10th, 2009 | #
I am a 21 year old student pursuing a PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) degree. It is a 6 year program that does not award a bachelors. Am I technically an independent after completing year 4? My parents WANT to claim me as a dependent (they would then have 2 children in college), but I feel as though it may be more financially sensible to claim myself as independent. I’m talking about the impact on MY money situation, not the overall with my parent’s and sister.
April 24th, 2009 | #
Im 22 and graduating with a bachelors degree in a couple days. I am going to be attending a technical college so I can get some pre-req courses for a masters program. Can I be considered independent, even though the pre-req courses (I will be in class full time) are not graduate level?
April 29th, 2009 | #
I have two children and I stay at home with them. One of the children is my boyfriends and I. He claimed the kids and I on his tax return as dependants since we live with him and he takes care of all the finacial stuff. Can I still file for finacial aid? How would I go about filing out the tax portion since I didn’t work last year and didn’t file taxes?
May 6th, 2009 | #
Hello,
I am 19 years old and a US Citizen. Both of my parents arent US citizens and live in Brazil. I have been living on my own for about 3 years here in the US and I always get stuck with how i should proceed with applying for FAFSA. I would like to know what steps to take towards successfully applying for financial aid because working as much as i do leaves me little time for school and therefore my grades suffer.
Thank You
May 8th, 2009 | #
My boyfriend’s 18 yr old son John lives with us. He was in the primary custody of his mother, but she and the step-father kicked him out a few weeks shy of his 18th birthday. He has been living with us, but his father was injured on the job and living on worker’s compensation. (I am the main breadwinner in the household). Would this qualify John as an Independent? Or would the school expect his injured father’s workers comp to be covering the college tuition?
May 10th, 2009 | #
This year FAFSA determined that my parents should contribute 30% of their yearly income to my college. My father has been laid-off for two months and he supplies 66% of my families income. If my parents contribute that 30% it leaves them with only 4% to live off of. How is this right?
May 15th, 2009 | #
Hello- I’m 24 years old and currently a college student. Because I’m 24 I am considered “independent” but I do not qualify for grants because I already have a BA and I am now working towards a BS. My boyfriend, who I live with, supports me 85% or more financially. He pays for the rent, my car insurance, my cell phone, all my clothes, groceries, and all I can afford to pay for is gas for my car because I only work 3 hours a week. He now wants to attend college for the first time but he is still 23 so technically “dependent.” Since he supports me can he file as “independent” on his FAFSA? Thank you for your help!
May 27th, 2009 | #