Dependent VS. Independent Status | 05.18.07
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 will be at least 24 years old by December 31 of this year
- 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.
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Under these circumstances, can I file independency on my FAFSA?
I’m 21 years old who immigrated to the U.S. a few years back. My father is 61 years old, and my mother is 60 years old. My parents are struggling in generating income because both of my parents are working for a minimum wage job. They do not qualify for better paying jobs because neither of them speak fluent English. My father is an assembler, and my mother is a caregiver. Being a caregiver is an unstable because once her clients pass away, then she is jobless for the week. Both of them are struggling to pay for the apartment rent, so they’re moving to a senior home where it’s more affordable. My school counselor advised me to get a full time job so that I can support myself in terms of paying for my own rent and food since my parents do not support me in any way in terms of paying for my college tuition, textbooks, or food. When I asked my mother to pay and support me for college, she asked, “Am I getting the education, or are you? Why should I spend thousands of dollars for you when the degree is under your name?” Yes, I know. She’s different than most parents. It’s because my grandparents never provided anything for her, so she’s doing the same thing to me. As you can tell, I am the first college generation of my family and I would definitely like to finish college and earn a degree, but it’s very hard to focus on school if I have to work full time, and go to school full time. It would be a great help if I can claim independent on my FAFSA status so that money can help me pay my rent. With the circumstances of my parents not making enough money in the first place, refusing to help me out with college costs, and abandoning me to live at a senior home, am I able to get an override and claim myself independent?
Probably not -the fact that your parents refuse to provide financial support will not be sufficient reason for an override, however, you should still check with your school’s financial aid office.
I am 20 years old i filed my taxes as a independent i work and pay bills on my own i live paycheck to paycheck and really on the risk of being homeless with my landlord now she is upping the rent.My fasfa says contact my finacial aid office and provide documentation what type of documentation will i have to provide.