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Dependency on the FAFSA?

FAFSA Dependency Status Financial Aid?

  • I am 22 years old, moved out of my parents house, and I don't receive a single red cent from them. My dad is unfortunately, a well-to-do lawyer, and that apparently will suck when it comes to getting financial aid. I moved out because I'm gay, and wanted to live with my boyfriend rather than my fundamentalist Christian parents who would rather I die than them being stuck with a gay son. They were also somewhat abusive in the past as well, even before they knew I was gay. Is there any way to make my dependency status independent, short of waiting two more years till I'm 24, knocking up some woman and having to pay child support, or getting married (kind of impossible for me and my bf at the moment).

  • Answer:

    Actually, you're probably totally stuck. The FAFSA is very strict on who is considered an independent student, and it sounds like you don't meet any of those criteria. Dependency Overrides are almost unheard of now, except in cases of abuse - where the court has actually come in and removed you from the home. If there's no court papers, there's no chance. Moving out on your own is a family choice, as is the choice of your parents to help you or not. The choices your family makes doesn't affect your eligibility for financial aid at all. So unfortunately, you will still need to include your parents' income. You could file a FAFSA without your parents' information, but at most you will be eligible for $5500 in Unsubsidized Stafford Loan for the academic year.

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Other answers

Your school's financial aid has either an Independent Verification Form or a Change of Dependency Form. Once you fill it out, they will change you from dependent to independent if you can show that you have been supporting yourself and file your own taxes. If your parents have you on their taxes, your appeal will be denied.

"Is there any way to make my dependency status independent, short of waiting two more years till I'm 24, knocking up some woman and having to pay child support, or getting married (kind of impossible for me and my bf at the moment)." Nope, until you can answer YES to one of the 13 dependency status questions, you will have to report your parents income.... and simply paying child support doesn't make you independent either. lol sorry. http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/help/fftoc02k.htm Anyone can get fin aid in the form of low interest federal student loans (called Stafford loans) regardless of your fathers income.

Anonymous

You can try to do a dependency override. However, way to many people are in this situation so requests like this very rarely get approved. Normally to get approved for an override you have to have solid proof on why you want absolutely no contact with your parents and it normally has to be a horrible situation not just cause they make to much, don't support you, etc....

mommyoftwo53

There is an appeal that you can file. You'll need proof that you are self-suffecient, like a job and paying all of your own bills.

RockstarChick

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