FAFSA Form Guide: 2009-2010 FAFSA Application Step 3

Step #3 of the FAFSA Online Guide to the FAFA Form tutorial follows. If you have not read through steps 1 and 2, we suggest you start with step #1. If you are ready to file your FAFSA form or Renewal FAFSA form online, then please click here.

Step #3: Dependency Questions

This entire section deals with who is a dependent or independent student. Independent students receive consideration for more financial aid as it's assumed they have no parents or family to help support them. The Department of Education has its own criteria about who is or is not an independent student, and answering these questions helps determine your status.

Start Your FAFSA - Financial Aid Application Form

If you answer Yes to any question in Step 3, skip Step 4 and go right to Step 5.

• Tip: if you feel, after you get your FAFSA results, that you should be evaluated as an independent student, you can appeal to your college's financial aid office, but be prepared to extensively document your situation and case.
• Question 48: Were you born before January 1, 1986 is another way of asking, are you 24 or older? Students 24 and older are automatically independent students.
• Question 49: Are you married? Married students are automatically independent students.
• Question 50: Students pursuing an advanced degree are automatically independent students.
• Question 51-52: Active duty military and veteran students are automatically independent students. Reservists who have never served on active duty are not.
• Question 53: Students who are parents and whose children get half of their support or more from them are automatically independent students.
• Question 54: Students who have someone else living with them (elderly grandparent, for example) and receive more than half their support are automatically independent students.
• Question 55: If you were a foster child or ward of the court after the age of 13, you are automatically an independent student.
• Question 56: If you are a legally emancipated minor with documentation of the court judgement, you are automatically an independent student.
• Tip: Emancipated minor is a formal legal status that must be declared by a court of law. Simply moving out of your parents' household does not count. A judge must legally declare you emancipated. The court order must still be in effect at the time you file your FAFSA.
• Question 57: If you are in legal guardianship as determined by a court, you are automatically an independent student. Like legally emancipated, this is a formal legal judgement by a court of law.
• Questions 58-60 deal with homelessness, which is new to the FAFSA. Homeless students are automatically independent students. Because it's new, the Department of Education is still trying to figure out how to determine homelessness and the documentation process for homeless students.
• The determination of homelessness can be made by one of three legal entities:
  • A high school or school district liaison.
  • A director of an accredited HUD homeless shelter
  • A director of a runaway/transitional living program or homeless youth basic shelter.
• Tip: Homeless is strictly defined as lacking fixed, regular, adequate housing. This includes living in shelters, hotels, cars, or couchsurfing anywhere you can. Unaccompanied means that you're not in the physical custody or care of a parent or guardian. This status only applies to students under the age of 21. If you answer yes to any of questions 58-60, you will need to provide documentation from your high school or school district of your status.
• Question 60: This question adds an additional twist. A director of a runaway or homeless shelter can make the determination that you are self-supporting and at risk of being homeless, which means you're living on your own, paying your own way, and are at risk of homelessness.

Start Your FAFSA - Financial Aid Application Form

Move on to FAFSA Form Step #4 »