<p>So I've recently had the rug pulled from under me and will be temporarily housing with friends or relatives for an indefinite time. They all live in a different state and I'm thinking of switching my state ID over, especially since the college resides in that state. With my ID switched over, I believe I would be eligible to a more reduced tuition too. I'm not sure if I would be classified as an independent student seeing as I won't be living with legal guardians.</p>
<p>I'll have to appeal financial aid but they're asking for supporting docs without specifying what kind. Has anyone gone through something similar or know how the process goes?</p>
<p>You will have to give a substantial reason for the school to consider a dependency override for you especially when it involves an instate tuition consideration. You can’t just “switch”…you have to have good reason to be doing so (protective services involvement, police report, abuse/neglect that is documented, etc). If your parents have just decided not to support you any longer, that would not likely qualify you for a dependency override. You would need this because in most cases…undergrad students ARE considered residents of the state in which their PARENTS reside AND their financial aid applications MUST include the parent info.</p>
<p>Well my mother doesn’t work. We’ve been relying on my brother and he’s moving out(on short notice). My mother takes care of my great grandfather(100yr) that has recently been diagnosed as terminally ill. She’ll be homeless with the move as well and we won’t be residing in the same place but in the same state. I support myself essentially considering food and lesser bills but rent would be way out of my league at the moment. I would be switching my ID because after temporarily living with someone, I’ll hopefully attend college, then find roommates for nearby apartments. If I end up not being able to attend the college, I would still be residing in that state and finding a place to live around there. I’ve banked in that state for many years now and I live near the border of it at the moment.</p>
<p>I find it really odd how 24 is the independent student age. Anyhow, I’ll be 23 this year if that makes any difference.</p>
<p>I don’t know if you’ll be able to work things out exactly how you want them in the immediate future, but for the long term, once you move to your new address, get your driver’s license (or state ID) at that address, register to vote, find a job that’s in the state. Next year you’ll file your state taxes in that state. If there’s nothing to be done for the near-term problem, at least for the long term you will have taken the right steps to establish residency in the new steps.</p>
<p>If you cannot get a dependency override for FAFSA purposes, at least when you’re 24 you’ll be considered independent and you also will have had over one year as an established resident of your new state.</p>