I am writing to determine if I would be considered to be an independent student or not. I was looking at the Federal Student Aid website and it states that unaccompanied homeless youth are considered independent.
From April 2016 to August 2016 I was homeless and living in a shelter, but I don’t think I would be considered to be unaccompanied because it was a women’s and children shelter and I was there with my mother. We left in the beginning of August. For the rest of the month I stayed with different friends up until move in day on campus.
Even though I was with my mother, would I still be considered an unaccompanied homeless youth? And if so, would me being considered independent result in me getting more aid?
**Also to note I am a second year student. I already applied for 17-18 school year aid back in January.
If your mom was/is in your life, you’re not an unaccompanied homeless youth.
From the sounds of it, you are low income and should have a low EFC. If it’s already zero, it can’t go any lower.
If you are not receiving aid sufficient to attend school, it may be because your school does not meet full need.
Talk to your financial aid office to see if there are any additional options for you.
In this context, “unaccompanied” means that “you are not living in the physical custody of your parent or guardian.” If you were living with your mother, regardless of the housing circumstances, I have to believe that you were not unaccompanied.
Okay thanks for the responses! I was wondering because I’m trying to get more aid for the upcoming year. My mom hasn’t been able to keep a job for more than 3 months at a time for the past 4 years, so we are a very low income family, but in 2015 she was awarded a large sum of money (around 30,000) and FAFSA sees that money as her income for the year. Since I’m her only dependent, to financial aid $30,000+ more than enough to live off and help contribute to my schooling. But in reality, that money was pretty much gone as soon as we got it because we were homeless and had a lot of debt. All the money went to us getting back on our feet. Since FAFSA is still using 2015 tax info and I’m getting less scholarships for 17-18 school year, I’m concerned about how I’ll pay for everything.
Go and talk to your financial aid office. If your mom’s 2015 award was a disability payout, insurance or some kind of one time settlement, the financial aid office MIGHT remove the one time amount.
But take documentation with you…or ask how to do a special circumstances consideration at your school.
What was the total income? A $30,000 income would still net a FAFSA EFC very close to $0.
Part of your challenge may be if you attend a school that does not meet 100% demonstrated need, none of it will matter because they may not have the extra money to give.
2017-2018 is using prior, prior income from 2015.
When you started college last year 2016-2017, you used 2015 income. unless you had a lot of assets on the day you filed the FAFSA, your financial aid package is going to be pretty consistent…
If you are attending Rutgers, unless you are in the honors program or have some merit scholarships that carry year over year, you will probably get the same Federal (Pell) and state aid that you got last year.
Last year you were able to borrow $5500. This year you will be able to borrow $6500
Do you anticipate there being a major shortfall in what you need to attend school?
How did you handle the financial aspect of attending school last year?
Are you working? Do you have a summer job lined up (you may need 2 summer jobs).
@sybbie719 makes a good point. This is your second year. Presumably that means that your 2016-2017 fafsa was filed for the current school year. It also used 2015 tax return income info.
So basically I was awarded $23,687 from financial aid. I was originally awarded much more than that but for some reason my Pell Grant kept getting cut and no one was able to explain why. On top of that I was awarded a 2 one time scholarships totalling $7,500. Even with financial aid and my scholarships, I had to go to the office to make an appeal for an additional $6,000 dollars ($2000 to pay off spring semester bill and a $4000 loan to pay for summer classes). The office was very nice and willing to give me additional aid, but I’m worried I’ll have to beg for an appeal every single year which is why I want to know if my situation will allow me to be entitled to more aid. I need enough for tution and dorm next year (I live only 15 minutes away from campus but I absolutely CAN NOT live with my parents. They sre very toxic people and there’s no room for me in their tiny apartment. I am barely surviving living with them now and I’ve only been on summer break for 2 days so far.). I am trying my hardest to find a job but I’m not hearing back from any places, but to be honest my summer classes are my top priority right now. I got myself into a lot of academic trouble this year and I need to achieve a 4.0 this summer to get myself out of it.
Many colleges do NOT give need based financial aid for,the summer term…OR the money used for summer term reduces what is left for the academic year.
For example…if the summer term is part of the 2017-2018 year for financial,aid purposes…any Direct Loan money would,be deducted from the $7500 that you would have received for,the academic year.
Why do you need to go to summer school? Most students who have significant financial issues WORK diringnthe summer to earn money to help pay for college.
Also, there is no guarantee your college is going to give you enough money to cover your full cost to attend. This school does not guarantee to meet full need for all students…so the likelihood of getting basically a free ride…is low.
Being homeless would likely not make a difference in the amount of aid awarded to you. It sounds like your EFC was already very low.
At my school summer aid is simply aid that wasn’t used during the school year. Also my school awards any student who was denied for a parent plus loan a $4000 federal loan (not sure if it’s sub or unsub). I didn’t use the loan during the 16-17 school year so they allowed me to use it for the summer session. And long story short, I failed 4 classes my 1st semester and 1 my second so I’m on academic probabtion, my gpa is extremely low, and I’m a whole semester behind on classes. I need to get caught up on my credits and get off of probation this summer so by fall I can start taking 18 credits a semester to put me back on track to graduate in 4 years.
Unfortunately it looks like this school may be unaffordable. It does not look like you looked at the cost of funding this school over the course of 4 years.
you had 2- one time scholarships equally $7500. What was you plan for making up this money?
I agree wit Thumper if your $4000 summer school loan is part of your 2017-2018 aid package, you will not have enough money for the term (placing you even deeper in the hole).
Your priority need to be how to pay for the tuition during the school year.
It may not be a financially feasible option for you to attend summer school. You need to work, and get in all of the hours that you can. Minimally you are going to need $3750 this august to make up for the scholarship that you have lost.
I am sorry that there is so much tension in your home. Unfortunately, you cannot afford to stay in the dorm. if you can at least find a roommate (or roommates) and move off-campus to reduce some of your housing cost.
You failed FIVE classes in your last two semesters? Have you met satisfactory academic progress…(SAP)…because if you don’t do THAT you will be ineligible to receive ANY aid.
Anyone whose parent is declined for a Parent Plus Loan is entitled to $4000 more in Direct Loan money.
I go to a public state university. If this school is too expensive then I guess I just can’t afford to go to any college. If i do get the same amount of aid as last year, then I shouldn’t be too short of aid. I will be living in a cheaper dorm and I will not have a meal plan. This will in total save me about $2500. Since sophomores will get to take out an additional amout of federal loans, I believe that will also help. I’ll still be short but I’m sure there’s a way to make it up…
Yes I failed 5 classes and I already talked to my academic advisor multiple times and I have been reassured that I should not worry too much about losing my aid. I passed all classes except 1 this semester which helped my GPA and as long as I get a 4.0 during the summer then I will be off probabtion.
In your first post, you said you were a second year student. Are you finishing your second year NOW? Or will you be starting your second year 2017-2018?
Second year students get $6500 in Direct Loan money.
Third year students get $7500.
If your parent gets denied the Plus…you would get that extra Direct Loan money again for next year…and hopefully NOT need it for summer.
I finished my first year. I will be a second year student starting this upcoming fall. Depending on how my aid looks for the upcoming year, I will either use the additional loan during the academic year. Or I’ll use it during the winter or summer just so I can catch up on classes or get some gen eds out the way since I’m so behind.
Honestly, slow down. Do NOT take 18 credits. That is too many. Work with your counselor to select classes where you can be successful (get at least a B) during the next year so that you can bring your GPA up. You don’t HAVE to graduate in 4 years, or you can take a summer school class next year.
It is better to pass 15 hours than to fail taking 18.