<p>Okay. I know the standard FAFSA policy about what determines an applicant as a dependent or independent, but I have a unique situation that is not explained. So, I am currently a dependent of my grandparents who are my legal guardians, but their guardianship expires once I turn 18 in April; therefore, my dependency would go back to my birth parents. Because of this, according to policy, I would use my birth parents' financial information on my FAFSA application. Well, my problem is that I do not know who my father is, and my mother is in a rehabilitation program and is currently a dependent of my aunt. </p>
<p>To summarize this, I am, according to FAFSA, a dependent of someone who can not have a dependent, and I was never a ward/dependent of the court.</p>
<p>To cut to the chase, would that make me "independent"?</p>
<p>PS: my grandparents will technically be helping me financially, but FAFSA does not consider them "parents" because they did not adopt me.</p>