<p>Okay so I received an email informing me that I need to fill out this household verification form. I'm just wondering if it will negatively effect the amount of financial aid I'm eligible to receive.</p>
<p>The form is pretty straightforward, I'm independent but live with my parents so I'd just list myself correct? I tried looking at the FASFA application, but I didn't see any questions regarding household size - yet for some odd reason I recall being asked about household size before possible on my tax return. </p>
<p>Anyhow, my parents (mom doesn't work) don't make enough to cover my tuition and myself even though I work (16-20 hours a week) at just above minimum wage I make around $450 a month - enough to cover books and other expenses (car insurance, gas, food, summer/winter courses). When I attended community college I received a board of governors fee waiver, which covered essentially all tuition costs. I will be transferring this fall, and while I have a $1500 scholarship per semester I'm still counting on the pell grant funds to help cover tuition.</p>
<p>How old are you? Do you pay rent? Unless you are over 24 and pay rent, you are probably not “independent” for FAFSA purposes.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Nope. Follow the instructions on the form. “your parents you live with”.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Tuition can be $40,000 at some schools. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The form is for “verification” only. As long as what you reported on the FAFSA is the same as the Verification form, then the form should make no difference. Since you received a fee waiver, and assuming nothing has changed, it is likely you will qualify for FA at another school.</p>
<p>But …</p>
<p>What a school is willing to give to meet need is a totally different story. That has nothing to do with the verification form. If you get into Harvard, you are home free. If you get into an out of state school that only offers Federal Aid, you will be hurting.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>They don’t need to ask household size. They can count the number of names you put on the form.</p>
<p>Through verification, they want to see that you make enough money to support yourself independently. It doesn’t sound as if you are independent for the purposes of FAFSA. Who is paying for where you live? Unless you do, you are not independent.</p>
<p>I just re-checked and I didn’t include any parent(s) information on the FASFA application just listed myself as living “off campus”. Also a parents signature wasn’t required for me to complete the application. I don’t pay rent, will I need to prove that I’m not still at home to be considered independent?</p>
<p>My main concern was not receiving anything at all - according to the preliminary award offer I was sent I’m eligible for $3795 pell grant, $5472 state grants, and $7500 loans. Ideally I don’t want to take out any loans, so my main concern was that filling out the form may significantly reduce the grant offers. As things are right now If I received just the pell grant I can make ends meet without going into debt - if my car breaks down or I incur some other major cost (medical)… Then I’m somewhat screwed.</p>
If the student is able to answer yes to one of the FAFSA independence questions (24, a veteran etc), he is independent for FAFSA. Supporting yourself is not a criteria for independence on FAFSA.</p>
