<p>I am 22 years old and as of Nov. last year, I am divorced from a military personnel. I am a junior in college and upon filling out my fafsa this year I have been considered an dependent student (as far as those 6 dependency status questions go). My school has now requested my parents tax information. There are a few issues though. Because I am divorced my parents help me in NO WAY financially and barely even speak to me. But my school has told me without their tax information I can not qualify for ANYTHING because in no way will I be considered independent. SO after a few months of begging, my parents finally gave me their tax information to atleast help me get a loan. Now, because my parents income is so high, I do not even qualify for a stafford or any other loan. I have worked very hard for my grades and I do not know what to do! I am so close to finishing and now have run out of options. I left my marriage with debt and a car payment and it seems strange that fafsa assumes I should be receiving anything from my parents. I have contacted my schools financial aid and business office and they have told me that the loan options they offer through the school all require a cosigner. I have also went to a few banks, and they all require a cosigner for student loans, and because my parents do not help me finanically in anyway, they have refused to sign any loan.
This can not be the end of the road for me.
Do I have anymore options?</p>
<p>Now, because my parents income is so high, I do not even qualify for a stafford or any other loan.</p>
<p>THis is inaccurate.
You are eligible for an unsubsidized ( which means interest accrues while you are in school) Stafford loan, regardless of parents income.
Granted, it is not enough to pay tuition & rm/board. But you can still get it ( if your school participates- if they don’t participate , IMO that is a red flag.)</p>
<p>I am frankly surprised that a student who has been married but is now no longer is considered a dependent.
What school is this?</p>
<p>Its good to hear I am suppose to qualify for something… My parents income is around 200,000.00 a year (hate to write that on here, but I think it helps understand the situation.)Well its actually been every school I have applied for in Texas and a few out of state schools. When I filled out my fafsa it even said I needed my parents income because I do not fall under the “6 questions of dependency”. I even called the fafsa 1800 number and they said it is accurate. If you are under 24 and are divorced you are a dependent under your parents again.</p>
<p>Wow I had no idea. I googled and looked for info, but the info you seem to be getting is entirely right. I believe you should still be able to get an unsub loan though. It seems like that divorce (which you probably needed to do) really cost you on this.</p>
<p>I guess it is to discourage sham marriages followed by a rapid divorce. You are stuck until you get your degree if pull that sort of thing, but it really hurts someone in this situation.</p>
<p>Its kind of like how sometimes people do not have jobs to get benefits from the government. It makes me really sad. I hope there is a light at the end of the tunnel and by the time I am 24 my hours are still accepted.</p>