I am currently 18 years old , will be 19 soon. Due to the mental abuse of my mother I have decided to leave the home. I now live with my boyfriend.
My father is an alcoholic and I will have no problem proving that he is an unfit parent, but my mom on the other hand will be difficult to prove. I’m just wondering what evidence I might need for a dependency over ride other than my own testimony. My sister has been to several counsellors in the past decade which proves her case but I have not. I have however done some awful things due to her mental abuse. I plan on going to a counselor to help out but I don’t know if this will be enough?
You are over 18. It will be very difficult to get a dependency override. Whether you live at home (permitted or not) has little to do with an override. Will your parents fill out the FAFSA for you and provide the required info?
Yes they will but my mother is so unpredictable that could change. Sometimes she’s willing to pay for my college and others she’s not. Sometimes she’s willing to fill out the FAFSA and I’m sure there will be a time when she’s not.
I know it doesn’t have to do with me living at home or not. I’m asking what proof I need of mental abuse to get the dependency over ride ?
You need documented proof of mental abuse. This could be from a psychologist or,others counselor you have seen. It could be from a report filed with child protective services.
I would suggest that you talk to the school social worker at your school, or your guidance counselor, and see where you can seek help for this issue.
The school isn’t going to grant you a dependency override based solely on what you say. They will expect documentation.
Are you an incoming freshman?
What is your school’s COA?
You state that you have had years of on-going mental abuse. You would then need to have years of statement for either treatment or statements from guidance counselors/teachers/social workers who can attest to your home life and for better or worse the affect that it has had on you in school (have you flourished in spite of all of this or should it be a factor to be taken into consideration). If it happened while you were attending high school, the school as mandated reporters would have on record calls to child protective services and documented visits from those child protective workers.
Even then, it will not automatically get you a dependency override. Are you saying that this has been going on for years and there have been no adult interventions?
Basically. I mean I’ve had coaches friends and family members know what was going on but no one really knew everything. I mean I’ve had so many crazy things happen because of my mother, even sexual harassment from one of her boyfriends but none of it is documented.
It’s time to start the documentation. Do you have a school picked out? If so, contact a FA officer and find out what you will need. Start collecting the letters from those teachers, coaches, friends.