<p>I have a part-time job, only 16 years old, want to be independant and apply my financial aids on my own, not claiming tax dedution from my parents. Is that way I can get more grants? My parents' income over $200,000 per year. Please give me some suggestion on this plan? Thanks</p>
<p>You cannot claim to be independent just because your parents do not feel like paying for college. </p>
<p>There are six, and ONLY six, ways that you can be independent on the FAFSA and that is as listed:</p>
<p>1) Be 24 years old when applying
2) Be an orphan (both parents deceased)
3) Be a veteran
4) Be a graduate or professional student
5) Be a married student
6) Have legal dependents (ie, kids)</p>
<p>If none of the above apply, you must put your parent’s information on the FAFSA.</p>
<p>You can’t do it at all. Claiming independence is very difficult; there is no chance you will be able to do it just to get more award money. Even if you’re actually supporting yourself completely on your own, that does not necessarily mean you can claim independence for financial aid.</p>
<p>You’re not going to get independent status just by supporting yourself. </p>
<p>If students could get FA by doing what you’re asking, then everyone with high income parents would do so to get aid. </p>
<p>What is your situation? Are your parents saying that they won’t pay for college? If so, then you’d be better off putting your efforts towards getting the best test scores and GPA so that you can get huge merit scholarships from the colleges that give them.</p>
<p>own, not claiming tax dedution from my parents.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter if you can talk your parents into not taking a tax deduction for you. Even if they don’t claim you on their taxes, you still don’t get independent status.</p>
<p>The above posters are all correct. It makes no difference whatsoever whether your parents claim you on their taxes or not or even if you are self supporting. Dependency for taxes and dependency for FA are 2 completely separate issues. You are your parents’ dependent for FA purposes until you turn 24 or can answer yes to one of the other dependency questions listed by wmurphy.</p>
<p>Even in the extremely Rare off chance that you should become independent for federal aid, it covers very little money. For schools that grant institutional aid, you would still need your partners income and assets. </p>
<p>Make sure that tour list include some financial safeties along with schools where you stand a good chance of getting merit aid.</p>
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<p>Actually, there are a few more:</p>
<p>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, 2013?</p>
<p>At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?</p>
<p>As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you an emancipated minor?</p>
<p>As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you in legal guardianship?</p>
<p>At any time on or after July 1, 2011, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?</p>
<p>At any time on or after July 1, 2011, did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?</p>
<p>At any time on or after July 1, 2011, 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?</p>
<p>[Will</a> I need my parents’ information?](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/help/fftoc02k.htm]Will”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/help/fftoc02k.htm)</p>
<p>Though there are situations where you could be declared independent, unless you fall into those categories, it isn’t going to be a go. Basically, it takes a court order unless you fall into the top 6 automatic independent categories, or unless you were in some pretty serious situations as Annasdad describes. THat your parents won’t pay or you don’t want them to pay is not considered good enough reasons.</p>
<p>If your parents will not pay for college, and you cannot, looking for a job and getting oneself independent may be the best way to go. It will take you about 6 years to do so, and you will be 24 by then. At my high school reunion, there were quite a few of my former classmates who did not go directly to college from high school and a number who did go directly to college, but dropped out and did not go back until they were much older, and were successful in getting their education later.</p>