<p>A friend filled out the FAFSA with her daughter who is a HS senior right now (single parent, one D, no child support.) She also has a 23 y.o. S who is out on his own and goes to CC. The CC fin aid office told him that the cannot get fin aid until he is 24. Friend is confused - why wouldn't S be eligible for FA? And if he is not eligible, can she claim him as a second child attending college on D's FAFSA and reduce each child's EFC?</p>
<p>If the 23 year old is not turning 24 until 2010 (and does not meet any of the other criteria to be considered independent) then he is a dependent for FAFSA. In that case he is included as both a member of the family (on the younger childs and she on his) and as a member of the family attending college (so you would show 2 in college on both FAFSAs). He does not have to be living in the household to be considered a household member for FAFSA as long as he meets the criteria to be considered a dependent.</p>
<p>My son turns 23 this year and he is included as a member of the household on my daughters FAFSA and also as one in college. He had not lived at home for 3 years when he returned to college but is still a dependent for FAFSA. Next FAFSA he will be in the year he turns 24 so he will be independent (but hopefully will be through).</p>
<p>I don’t understand why the FA person would tell him he cannot get aid. He cannot apply as an independent if he does not meet the criteria, but he can apply for aid as a dependent. What he will qualify depends of course on the EFC. But at the very least he will qualify for federal loans (assuming he has not maxed out on loans or is otherwise ineligible for some other reason such as previous bad records in college).</p>