<p>I'm an only child of a single-parent household and I wasn't sure on exactly how they would calculate my financial aid depending on this situation. I worked part time and earn about $9200 whereas my mum earned about $9800. Apparently, I'm told that usually, she gets a return of $2,000 (filed as dependent), which as of now, she won't be able to get anymore and I was wondering whether I'd be able to be eligible for any grants at all. Does FAFSA look at the total amount of what we earned together or do they differentiate it based on how much we earn? I'm kind of confused about this. One of my friends actually earned a little less than a third of one of his mum earned which was about $30k and he has to pay about $1,200 per semester for tuition, which costs about $7,000 per year. Would I be unable to receive aid because I earned more than half of what she earned? Someone told me that it's best to earn half of your parent's income if you want to try and receive as much financial aid. I also got a scholarship for $1,000 but I'm not too sure on how that would affect my financial aid. Any ideas?</p>
<p>Regardless of whether your mom can claim you on taxes, you are still a dependent student for financial aid. From the numbers given you should qualify for the automatic 0 EFC. If so you should get a full Pell grant of around $5600. File the fafsa now and find out. The $1000 scholarship won’t affect the Pell grant.</p>
<p>As for your mom still claiming you as a dependent for taxes:</p>
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<p>Page 20, IRS Pub 501:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf”>http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf</a></p>
<p>Did you actually pay more than 1/2 your support? That’s what matters, not what your incomes were. Did your mom have any funds other than her earnings that she used to provide more than 1/2 your support?</p>
<p>Check if you qualify for an automatic zero EFC. IF that is the case, make sure your earnings keep you below that threshhold as it could make a difference in your aid.</p>
<p>What you get in financial aid depends heavily on the school. If you get an auto zero EFC, you will get full Pell ($5600) and be allowed to borrow $5500 freshman year with $3500 of it subsidized if the cost of attendance at your school is enough to support those number. How much the school will give you out of pocket is up to that school. Most schools do not meet full need. You need will be whatever the Cost of Attendance is at the school minus the $1000, and that need will likely first be met with PELL and possibly the direct loan unless this is a no loan school. No telling how the rest will be met, or met at all.</p>
<p>For a dependent student, qualifying for the auto 0 rests entirely on the parent(s) income.</p>
<p>Sounds like your mom’s income is so low, that she qualifies for Auto 0…if so, the student’s income won’t count.</p>