Becoming an economic independant?

Paying for College
1

<p>I don't really have much time to write a fully-fledged post here as I have to wake up extremely early for work tomorrow (I'm a valet and need to be at the hotel by 5), so I'll just kind of run through the basics and elaborate in future posts/replies.</p>

<p>I guess first off I ought to mention that I'm a student at Notre Dame, and as far as financial aid goes we're 100% need-based with no merit scholarships (as every student who gets in would just about qualify for one, among other reasons). Basically the way it works is that you pay what FAFSA/CSS Profile says you can pay, the university asks you take out around 4-5k in loans, and then they make up the rest. While this sounds great to most, and I do know a few who receive 30,000+, I'm sure most of y'all understand that what FAFSA says your family can afford is woefully different from reality. This really kinda screws the middle to upper middle class and saddles us with a lot of debt, but it is it what is. Besides, you can't put a price on the Notre Dame experience. :-D</p>

<p>Anywho, onto the meat of my post. There's a littany of problems going on with my family, but it's mostly the "normal" stuff so nothing out of the ordinary. This year has been what is most likely the worst in my family’s tenure. Due to a variety of different reasons I had to withdraw from school this spring, and have been working 6-7 days a week since. If everything works the way I'm hoping, I'm planning to be back in school by summer, and 100% sure in the fall. We have a huge, ongoing family fight that has estranged my oldest sister from my family, leaving me as the only intermediary between the two. This has been particularly hard on me, and with the following problems, led to some issues in the classroom. My mom has since been inaccurately diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and her ensuing depression, and now rightfully for Hepatitis C she acquired from a botched blood transfusion back in ’01. The treatment for this, God willing it works, costs 2,000~ a month and lasts for a min. 6 months if you're on the "fast track" and 12 if you aren't. The shots taken are similar to chemo in their effects, though definitely not as extreme. My sister and her fiancée have been temporarily homeless though they are looking for a house on a modest teacher's budget. And now just a few weeks ago my dad was laid off from HP. It appears that after company/nation-wide accolades, multiple nationwide awards, and 26 years worth of loyalty are easy to look by in the face of this economy.</p>

<p>As i stated earlier, I've been working 6-7 days a week since I've come back home and have written "rent" checks to my parents since July. These have just been to help pay for some of the bills, so I haven't really been able to save up much money for myself, and now with my dad unemployed and my mom unable to work I have quite literally become the current breadwinner for the family. Since I withdrew from the university, I'm not technically a member of it at the moment and won't be able to have a fin aid discussion/consultation until after I'm readmitted (which will be this summer). I'm looking for any possible advice regarding my situation, and what I have to do to become an "independent" on my FAFSA so i can get the best EFC I can.. hopefully 0. </p>

<p>In advance, thank you for taking the time to read this and may you all have a blessed and wonderful day.</p>

<p>Thank you sincerely,
Cory</p>

<p>(And I thought this would be a short post. lol. Thank you again for taking the time.)</p>

2

<p>You cannot 'become' independent for FAFSA unless you meet one of the criteria - you must be 24, be married, be a veteran, have a dependent of your own that you provide 50% support for etc. The fact that you have been working full time, self supporting, and paying rent does not make you independent for FAFSA. (My son was out of school for 2 years, worked full time and rented a house with his girlfriend - when he went back to school he was still was considered a dependent by FAFSA.)</p>

<p>If your father is out of work and your mother is unable to work you may be able to ask for a special circumstances adjustment to reflect the change in the family financial situation. The large medical bills (assuming they are out of pocket and not paid by insurance) are also something that may be considered a basis for a special circumstances adjustment. For this you have to file FAFSA using the actual 2008 income/asset information for your parents and yourself. Then you can ask the school for a special circumstances adjustment. You would be expected to provide thorough documentation to prove the income loss and the medical expenses. They will also take into account if your Dad received any sort of severance package. (This may make an income adjustment for loss of job less likely). It is completely at their discretion whether to award approve an adjustment.</p>

3

<p>For federal purposes, as swimcatsmom wrote, you're a dependent. But financial aid offices can make a different determination for their purposes in rare cases. Check with them about what's required.</p>

4

<p>To be honest, it sounds like your current economic situation is bad enough that being dependent won't be a problem. First, call ND and ask if their aid year is a summer header. If not (most are not), you will need to fill out a 2008-09 FAFSA to be eligible for summer financial aid. If ND is like many schools, though, they do not offer institutional aid in the summer. You need to ask about this. It might be best to wait until fall.</p>

<p>For fall, you will need to fill out a 2009-10 FAFSA. There is a place on the new FAFSA to check for a parent who has lost his job. This will be helpful for you for federal aid. You will need to document everything for ND for their institutional aid. I assume you need to fill out a Profile for them. Send documentation of your dad's layoff, your mom's medical bills, etc. They will review your info. Make sure you respond to all of their requests quickly and completely.</p>

<p>I am sorry that your family situation is so bad. You seem to be handling it very well, though. I am impressed. Instead of whining, you are dealing with it. Good for you. I am sure things will work out for you.</p>

5

<p>just an FYI -- if you are working full time, an EFC for you as an independent will probably be higher than the EFC for your family with their current financial situation. As an independent, you have no dependents and a much lower income/asset allowance.</p>

<p>Run the numbers -- but I wouldn't push for having yourself declared independent. I would try to get a special circumstance adjustment. </p>

<p>If your family has significant assets, that can raise your EFC -- so it might still be higher than you can handle</p>