<p>Due to family problems that I would rather not get into detail about, my parents and I no longer have a relationship. They are not willing to fill out tax information for my FAFSA. I turn 23 in November of this year...so I have to wait until the 2013-2014 school year to finally be an independent student (as I will be 24 next year). </p>
<p>I want to fill out the 2012-2013 FAFSA asap...but I don't know how I can bypass the parental information section. I read a guide on this and it said that I can talk to the department and they might talk to my parents to convince them. I would never want them to call my parents. I still feel like a baby because the FAFSA needs parental information and my parents and I no longer have a decent relationship. </p>
<p>I talked to my school and they said that while I cannnn skip the parental information section and still fill out the FAFSA, I wouldn't be eligible for anything else but unsubsidized loans. </p>
<p>My parent's tax information, when they were still assisting me, is almost the same every year anyways, but the school said that they do not recommend filling out information that cannot be verified. I guess that means that they would need the actual copies of taxes if I am selected for verification- which I cannot obtain. </p>
<p>I need the grants and I no longer want to take out loans because I don't want to dig an even deeper hole for myself while I'm working hard to pay off my existing loans. Grants will help me a lot to pay for school. </p>
<p>What can I do at this point? Please don't tell me to talk to my parents, that is already not a possibility. </p>
<p>Unless you meet one of the criteria for a dependency override, which is difficult to obtain, you really don’t have many options. If you can’t/won’t talk to your parents then you may have to take a gap year until you can apply as an independent.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I never got close with any of my relatives due to my parent’s harsh feelings towards them…so nope. My parents both hated their siblings and disliked their parents as well. It sucks. My parents hated everyone and trusted no one, no joke. </p>
<p>What is a dependency override? Can you give me more detail about this? Thanks.</p>
<p>They have never used a lawyer unless they needed one for a traffic accident. And that was only twice in the past…which was a long, long time ago.</p>
<p>Are their any other grants besides the Pell Grant or SEOG Grant that I can apply for? Do they need a high GPA? I messed up some semesters due to depression (I really regret it) and don’t think I will be eligible for the high GPA ones.</p>
<p>You really have no hope except to wait until you turn 24. My parents would not file FAFSA with me and I was in a talking relationship with them. I would just stick it out, you only have one more year, work full time, save a ton for college then start out next year (Fall) with a clean slate. You aren’t too old anyways. Tons of people will have kids then go to school in their 30s. Good luck!</p>
<p>Agree, if you have no interest in healing the relationship then one year is a short amount of time. Work for a year and start in again when you are considered independent. You’ll still need plenty of money so the working year won’t be a “loss.” Plenty of kids have to go this route for one reason or another.</p>
<p>When you meet with the financial aid officer about this, find out what your aid could look like a year from now when you would be independent. That may make a difference in your overall plans.</p>