<p>I am about to submit my FAFSA as soon as I get my tax forms back in order but I would like some clarifications:</p>
<p>For the past few years since I started college, I have been a dependent of my mom and she files for Single and only me as her child. I have received 0 EFC last year for the university I attend (University of Illinois at Chicago for reference). However, what's different this year is that I make several thousand dollars more than my mom so I am at about 12k. She makes just about under 10k and has absolutely no assets at all so I am sure that her AGI is well below 10k.</p>
<p>Since I am a dependent, will only my mom's income be accounted for? Are we still most likely safe for 0 EFC?</p>
<p>Google EFC Formula 2014 and print out the PDF. You will be able to work through it on paper and find out whether or not you still have a 0 EFC</p>
<p>FYI, you might want to mention to your mom that she should file as Head of Household if she is single and has a dependant child.</p>
<p>If your mom files (or could file) a 1040A or 1040EZ, or if she receives federal SNAP benefits (food stamps), or if you received free/reduced lunch within the past 24 months, she is eligible for Auto 0 EFC at her AGI level. Your income and assets are irrelevant when your parent qualifies for Auto 0.</p>
<p>She can only file as head of household if she provides over half of the household support for a dependent child. If the OP is the only child, that would not be the case, since the student provides more of her own support than the mother. She can only claim the student as a dependent if the student provided less than half of her own support. Loans taken out by the student count toward the student’s share of support, and scholarships or tuition reductions don’t count at all.</p>
<p>The test for dependency is easier to meet than the test for HOH filing status.</p>