Comments on: FAFSA Tip: Eligibility for Independent Student Status http://blog.studentloannetwork.com/fafsa/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/ Student Loan Blog: News, Updates and Advice Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:09:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Evan Jacobs http://blog.studentloannetwork.com/fafsa/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/comment-page-5/#comment-14547 Evan Jacobs Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:01:08 +0000 http://www.fafsaonline.com/fafsa-blog/2007/02/05/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/#comment-14547 @ G - Yes, you would both file separate FAFSAs. Hers would have dependant status, and yours would list her as a dependant. @ G – Yes, you would both file separate FAFSAs. Hers would have dependant status, and yours would list her as a dependant.

]]> By: G http://blog.studentloannetwork.com/fafsa/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/comment-page-5/#comment-14434 G Sat, 13 Feb 2010 22:34:34 +0000 http://www.fafsaonline.com/fafsa-blog/2007/02/05/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/#comment-14434 My daughter is 22 and attending law school. I applied to graduate school myself and would like to know if we fill out the same fasfa. She is claiming independent status on the fasfa but is my dependent. My daughter is 22 and attending law school. I applied to graduate school myself and would like to know if we fill out the same fasfa. She is claiming independent status on the fasfa but is my dependent.

]]> By: Evan Jacobs http://blog.studentloannetwork.com/fafsa/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/comment-page-5/#comment-14027 Evan Jacobs Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:35:54 +0000 http://www.fafsaonline.com/fafsa-blog/2007/02/05/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/#comment-14027 Joelle, unfortunately until you turn 24, you are considered a dependent under your parents (so long as they are alive) in the eyes of the Federal Government. This means that you still need your parents' information and such when you are filling out the FAFSA. Due to the fact that your grandparents are blood relatives, they would not be considered foster parents. As Kristin said in the article, you will need to go into your school's financial aid office with proof that you are paying for these things and not receiving support from your parents to get an internal override and be eligible for the appropriate amount of financial aid. Joelle, unfortunately until you turn 24, you are considered a dependent under your parents (so long as they are alive) in the eyes of the Federal Government. This means that you still need your parents’ information and such when you are filling out the FAFSA. Due to the fact that your grandparents are blood relatives, they would not be considered foster parents. As Kristin said in the article, you will need to go into your school’s financial aid office with proof that you are paying for these things and not receiving support from your parents to get an internal override and be eligible for the appropriate amount of financial aid.

]]> By: Joelle http://blog.studentloannetwork.com/fafsa/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/comment-page-5/#comment-14024 Joelle Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:44:12 +0000 http://www.fafsaonline.com/fafsa-blog/2007/02/05/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/#comment-14024 I am 20 years old and have lived with my grandparents since I was 10. They never had "legal" custody of me but I did received medicaid until I turned 19. I don't know if I fall under the ward of the court since it was never an official thing or if I am considered a foster child even though nothing was perused legally. I have a note from my real mother that states i am in the custody of my grandmother for school purposes and stuff. What do I do? Also I made enough money this year to be qualified as an independent student, however on the fasfa form it doesn't have anywhere to put anything like that. please help... I am 20 years old and have lived with my grandparents since I was 10. They never had “legal” custody of me but I did received medicaid until I turned 19. I don’t know if I fall under the ward of the court since it was never an official thing or if I am considered a foster child even though nothing was perused legally. I have a note from my real mother that states i am in the custody of my grandmother for school purposes and stuff. What do I do? Also I made enough money this year to be qualified as an independent student, however on the fasfa form it doesn’t have anywhere to put anything like that. please help…

]]> By: Linda Gifford http://blog.studentloannetwork.com/fafsa/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/comment-page-5/#comment-13361 Linda Gifford Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:13:25 +0000 http://www.fafsaonline.com/fafsa-blog/2007/02/05/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/#comment-13361 My nephew has the same situation and question Julia had #5: Julia says Ok. I have a question I have a mom and she is a home maker, my step father on the other hand makes a lot of money, but does not help with school at all. My sister and I still live with him, but we do not make enough money to pay for state school or a U.C. what do we have to do in order to qualify for fafsa? Is there anyway we could qualify for fafsa? My nephew has the same situation and question Julia had #5: Julia says

Ok. I have a question I have a mom and she is a home maker, my step father on the other hand makes a lot of money, but does not help with school at all. My sister and I still live with him, but we do not make enough money to pay for state school or a U.C. what do we have to do in order to qualify for fafsa? Is there anyway we could qualify for fafsa?

]]> By: Michael http://blog.studentloannetwork.com/fafsa/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/comment-page-5/#comment-13350 Michael Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:07:24 +0000 http://www.fafsaonline.com/fafsa-blog/2007/02/05/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/#comment-13350 April this year my son will be born. For 2007 tax return my mother claimed me as dependent. Fiancial aid estimated around $5000 in annual aid. My mother is debating on whether she will claim me dependent or not in her 2008 and on tax returns. I no longer live with her or recieve any assistance from her. I was wondering if filing my 2008 tax return as independent (because I will have a dependent before the deadline) would be the smarter choice. Will I recieve the same, more or less financial aid? April this year my son will be born. For 2007 tax return my mother claimed me as dependent. Fiancial aid estimated around $5000 in annual aid. My mother is debating on whether she will claim me dependent or not in her 2008 and on tax returns. I no longer live with her or recieve any assistance from her. I was wondering if filing my 2008 tax return as independent (because I will have a dependent before the deadline) would be the smarter choice. Will I recieve the same, more or less financial aid?

]]> By: Marie http://blog.studentloannetwork.com/fafsa/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/comment-page-5/#comment-13213 Marie Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:58:06 +0000 http://www.fafsaonline.com/fafsa-blog/2007/02/05/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/#comment-13213 My niece is no longer living with her mother, she is staying with my family and has a part-time job (less than 20 hrs/wk) at min. wage. Her mother does not financially support her and her father separated from her mother a few years ago and does not provide financial support to her either. She does not fall under 1 - 10 to be eligible for independent status. What does she need to do. She needs help paying for school. My niece is no longer living with her mother, she is staying with my family and has a part-time job (less than 20 hrs/wk) at min. wage. Her mother does not financially support her and her father separated from her mother a few years ago and does not provide financial support to her either. She does not fall under 1 – 10 to be eligible for independent status. What does she need to do. She needs help paying for school.

]]> By: Chris http://blog.studentloannetwork.com/fafsa/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/comment-page-5/#comment-12098 Chris Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:44:00 +0000 http://www.fafsaonline.com/fafsa-blog/2007/02/05/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/#comment-12098 My nephew was a ward of the state until froom 16-18. Lived independently and at times was homeless. Now at 21 he has turned his life around and would like to go to college. His mother is considering allowing himto move home with her. Will he still be eligible as an independant as he will be working and will pay her some rent as part of their agreement that he can return home? He has been independent for 5 years. My nephew was a ward of the state until froom 16-18. Lived independently and at times was homeless. Now at 21 he has turned his life around and would like to go to college. His mother is considering allowing himto move home with her. Will he still be eligible as an independant as he will be working and will pay her some rent as part of their agreement that he can return home? He has been independent for 5 years.

]]> By: Janice Daniels http://blog.studentloannetwork.com/fafsa/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/comment-page-5/#comment-9077 Janice Daniels Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:59:07 +0000 http://www.fafsaonline.com/fafsa-blog/2007/02/05/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/#comment-9077 My mom gets welfare money for my brothers and I, and she used to get cash aid for me but they cut me off once I turned 18. Now my mom only gets the food money for me. My parents also both get SSI money for being disabled, and that is their main source of income, they do not work. From what I understand about SSI, that money is supposed to be spent on the needs of the person receiving it. I am considered a dependent and get money from cal grant and pell grant for going to school, but I still help my parents pay bills, and I give my brothers money for things they need. If I was somehow cut off my mom's welfare, (she only receives $100 in food money a month for me) could I be considered independent? My mom gets welfare money for my brothers and I, and she used to get cash aid for me but they cut me off once I turned 18. Now my mom only gets the food money for me. My parents also both get SSI money for being disabled, and that is their main source of income, they do not work. From what I understand about SSI, that money is supposed to be spent on the needs of the person receiving it. I am considered a dependent and get money from cal grant and pell grant for going to school, but I still help my parents pay bills, and I give my brothers money for things they need. If I was somehow cut off my mom’s welfare, (she only receives $100 in food money a month for me) could I be considered independent?

]]> By: Julia http://blog.studentloannetwork.com/fafsa/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/comment-page-5/#comment-9076 Julia Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:12:23 +0000 http://www.fafsaonline.com/fafsa-blog/2007/02/05/eligibility-for-independent-student-status/#comment-9076 Ok. I have a question I have a mom and she is a home maker, my step father on the other hand makes a lot of money, but does not help with school at all. My sister and I still live with him, but we do not make enough money to pay for state school or a U.C. what do we have to do in order to qualify for fafsa? Is there anyway we could qualify for fafsa? Ok. I have a question I have a mom and she is a home maker, my step father on the other hand makes a lot of money, but does not help with school at all. My sister and I still live with him, but we do not make enough money to pay for state school or a U.C. what do we have to do in order to qualify for fafsa? Is there anyway we could qualify for fafsa?

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