<p>We completed my daughters FAFSA some months ago and it was determined that she had to apply as an Independent student vs. Dependent due to the age cutoff date. So, my financial information was not needed. She only worked a very brief period of time in 2008 and I have been supporting her completely. On my 2008 income tax return, I claimed her as a dependent. Now I understand that if she did NOT claim herself on her tax return, then she will not be eligible for as much financial assistance. I was told that her FAFSA status and her tax return had nothing to do with each other. I'm very confused. Can anyone help? Trying to find an answer to any questions that I have had has been a feat in itself. Also, I have been a displaced worker since January of this year.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I believe this is true. The independent status on the FAFSA is not at all related to the independent status on the tax return.</p>
<p>You might want to post your question on the Financial aid/Scholarship section of this forum where there are a few financial aid officers who post regularly.</p>
<p>But just as a note…DS (a grad student and therefore independent for FAFSA and financial aid purposes) was a dependent on our taxes. We were paying more than 1/2 of his expenses.</p>
<p>
Why do you think this? I have never heard this (not for FAFSA schools). As far as I know it should not make any difference. Financial aid eligibility is based on the EFC - not on whether the student does or does not claim herself on the tax return. The only thing I can think of off hand is that if you are saying you provided more than half her support she might have to show financial support from you as income on FAFSA. That would of course increase her EFC. As thumper suggested - put this post in the financial aid forum. There are a couple of financial aid officers who frequent that forum and they may be able to answer your question more definitively. </p>
<p>As you are saying she is independent based on age that means she is 24 or older? Is she doing undergrad or grad school? If she is a grad student she will not be eligible for federal grant aid whatever her tax return says as grant aid such as the Pell are only for undergrads.</p>
<p>I don’t understand why it would make any difference in aid. It does not affect any federal aid … that is a fact. If the school has some policy about that for internal grants, that is another story. I assume that would be found in their financial aid policies. They can do whatever they want with their own money, but I don’t really understand why a school would look at who claimed the student on taxes. By federal regulations, if she meets the independent-by-virtue-of-age criteria, she MUST be considered independent for FAFSA purposes. This can actually be detrimental when the parent is low income (since the student may have to report support received & end up with a higher EFC than she would get as a dependent student) … but it is the way it has to be … no wiggle room on FAFSA with regard to age.</p>