Definition of Veteran for Independent FAFSA status

[swimcatsmom]

<p>What exactly qualifies as a 'veteran' for the independent status on FAFSA? A girl I know of was more or less forced to join the army by her father (a whole messy very abusive family situation that I won't go into). She did not make it through the physical part of basic training so was discharged and is now living with grandparents but does not know what to do next. No parent support (she is terrified of the father). I was trying to figure out if she would qualify as a veteran for the dependency part of the FAFSA questions. I know she does not qualify as a veteran for veteran education benefits or other veteran benefits but can't figure out if she does for the independent status. I keep reading conflicting things - they all agree that the definition for higher education purposes is different than for veteran affairs and that just one day will count. But one source will say that training would count, then another will say training does not count. So I am mighty confused and hoping someone knows for sure (Kelsmom, Nikkil - help?).</p>

<p>If she did qualify as independent it might make it possible for her to go to a CC. I don't want to raise any false hopes so am trying to find out definitively what the case is. I would so love to pass some good news on through the friend that knows the family well. This girl and her grandparents could do with some good news - they have been through several years of hell. (she lived with grandparents for years till the father got remarried and took the kids away and would not allow any contact - just a really sad and painful situation).</p>

[swimcatsmom]

<p>So I found this on IFAP</p>

<p>

Member or veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces (54 and 55).
The HERA expanded the defnition of independent students to
include persons on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (the
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard) for other than
training purposes.</p>

<p>Veterans are those who were in active service <a href=“which%20includes%20basic%20training”>U</a> and were released under a condition other than
“dishonorable.” This includes those who fraudulently entered
the service as long as their entire period of service was not
voided. There is no minimum amount of time the student has to have served to be a veteran, but it does have to be active service.<br>
This is less stringent than the VA’s defnition of veteran for
receiving certain VA benefits.

</p>

<p>

Not a veteran (match flag 2)
A student will receive this flag if the VA database indicates he is not a veteran. If the student answered “Yes” to one of the other
dependency questions, he is independent based on that question and can receive student aid without resolving his veteran status.
If the student answered “No” to all the other dependency questions and he believes he is a qualifying veteran, he should provide
the financial aid office at his school a copy of his DD214 (the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, with “Character
of Service” as anything but “dishonorable”). If it shows that he is a veteran, he can receive aid as an independent student. A de-
pendency override is not necessary because the CPS accepts his “Yes” answer to the veteran question. If a national guardsman or a
reservist who served on active duty (for other than training) did not receive a DD 214 but can obtain a letter from a superior ofcer
that documents the call-up to active duty and that classifies the character of service as anything but “dishonorable,” the student
will be considered a veteran for FSA purposes.

</p>

<p>Which sounds like it means she is a veteran for independent financial aid purposes?</p>

[NikkiiL]

<p>Sorry I cannot be of any help, swim…I should know since I have a huge portion of military students, but I have rarely ever had to verify their military veteran status as 99% of my military students are still active duty.</p>

[kelsmom]

<p>This is not something I have experience with. However, my advice would be to say she should answer yes. It looks to me like she fits the criteria. If she gets a no-match flag, she can submit her paperwork to the school and go from there.</p>

[swimcatsmom]

<p>Thanks everyone. I will pass the information on to them. It would be nice to see this kid get a break after the last few years.</p>

[kelsmom]

<p>I hope it works out for her. If not, though, you may want to encourage her to request a dependency override. It sounds like she may have the kind of situation that might warrant professional judgment for independent status.</p>