Dependency on the FAFSA?

Fafsa dependency status, appeal?

• I am 23 and havent lived at home since 18, dont talk to my parents, cant find them and they didnt file taxes. i applied to my school University of Phoenix for a depedency status ...show more

• Answer:

  Are you 23 now? Well, for the next aid year, you'll be considered an independent just based on your age. If your 24 years or older, or will be 24 years or older for 2009-2010, then your automatically listed as an independent. However, if you need help now for 2008-2009, then you need to do a professional judgement with your school to deem you an independent. Some students suffer extreme or unusual circumstances that doesn't allow them to fill out the fasfa. One of them, is where student has ABSOLUTELY no contact with the parents and can not get any tax information. If that is the case for you, you will need to prove to your school by submiting professional judgement, you'll need notarized statements from no more than one family stating your situation. The other must be from counselor, church, court, clergy etc. However, how do you know they didn't file taxes? That makes it seem like you do have contact if you know that information. And know, you can't make assumptions. If you do, your school my assume you can get that information. Anyway, unversity of phoenix? I wouldn't pay out of pocket for that school or even take out loans.