Fafsa Dependent question

Paying for College
1

<p>We claim our son (born in 1985) as a dependent. When we filled out the parents portion of the FAFSA we claimed him as one of our family members attending college for next year. </p>

<p>While filling out his portion of the FAFSA, because of his age, it made him an independent student. In Step 5 it asked for the Students number of Family members and how many were in college. Should we have put 0 for both of those questions? If I remember right, it automatically put the number 1 in for us. </p>

<p>It shows that our EFC is going to be substantially lower for him this year and we are concerned we may have done something wrong when we filled out the form.</p>

2

<p>I believe the parents portion of the fafsa is a moot point for an independent student.</p>

3

<p>If he was born in 1985 then he is independent for FAFSA this year (even if you claim him on taxes). For the student number in family and number in college it would be 1 for both.</p>

4

<p>Can we still claim him as one of our family members attending college on the parents part of FAFSA form? Thank you for your help!</p>

5

<p>Do you mean for another student?</p>

6

<p>No, the same son. On the parents part it asked for how many from the family were attending college. We put him down as attending college. </p>

<p>On the students part we also put him as attending college. We are worried that FAFSA might be thinking there is more than one student.</p>

7

<p>The parent part is irrelevant once FAFSA designates that a student is independent for financial aid purposes. It will be disregarded. I am surprised you even had to answer the parent information.</p>

8

<p>Please also remember that if he was born in 1985 and he will make more than the personal exemption amount in 2009 that you will not be able to claim him for that year, even if he's a full time student. For 2008, he must have been a full time student for you to claim him.</p>

9

<p>Thank you. He was a full time student in 2008, only worked for a couple months. We paid the majority of his bills.</p>

10

<p>Are you filling out a paper FAFSA? I thought the online version would skip the parent info if the student is automatically independent. Your info is totally irrelevant. Even if it lets you put it on the FAFSA, it will be completely ignored.</p>

11

<p>The online version gives independent students an option of completing the parental portion but the EFC calculation doesn't consider the parental information if it is included.</p>

12

<p>Thanks everyone. This site is great. I really appreciate the help and advice.</p>