Are you "Dependent" for the FAFSA?
Meaning, Will you be required to provide parental information on the FAFSA?
To determine the answer, ask yourself the following questions:
- Were you born before January 1, 1990?
- At the beginning of the school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program?
- As of today, are you married?
- Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
- Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2014?
- When you were age 13 or older, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court? (“Ward of the Court” means you were removed from your parent’s custody for your protection by the court).
- Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
- Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training?
- Are you an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state?
- Are you in a legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state?
- Did your high school or a homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
- Did a director of an emergency shelter program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
- Did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?
If you answered “Yes” to any of the questions, then you are considered Independent and will not be required to submit parent information.
There is one other condition in which you may be considered Independent. The Financial Aid Office can use Professional Judgment to review cases of students with special circumstances.
In extreme rare cases, the Financial Aid Office may be able to assist a student who is technically dependent, but who has unique and extenuating circumstances that prevent contact with his/her parents. This may include abandonment and situations where the student’s physical or emotional welfare is jeopardized. In such cases, the student must complete and provide written documentation and third party verification. See your financial aid counselor for more information and documentation requirements.
Remember! When you complete the FAFSA, if you are a dependent, a parent cannot be counted in the number of household members in college, unless done under Special Circumstances.