I’ll be apply to college this fall and also be turning 18 in September. I was going to move out of my parents’ house back in February, but things fell through. I’m still planning on moving out when I turn 18 and I was wondering if anyone knew what that meant for me in terms of financial aid. Otherwise, I live with my mom, my moms boyfriend, their daughter (my half sister, age 5), and my moms boyfriends son (age 27). My mom makes less than $30,000 a year and I was hoping that this could help me, but throwing moving out into the mix, I’m just not sure what this means for me. I found no options to declare myself as an independent in my research unless I go through emancipation, which is not possible considering the timeframe I have to work with. Hope someone is able to help make my options more clear!! thanks! (:
You can move out, but you will not be independent for financial aid purposes until you are 24, earn an undergrad degree, of somehow trigger independence by one of a few life events (married, have a child you support, military).
Anyway, it may not matter. If your mother is low income, and she fills out your FAFSA, you might still qualify for financial aid.
Moving out will not do anything in terms of financial aid. You will use your mother’s information only on the FAFSA because you reside with her, and she is not married.
If her income is really $30,000 a year, your FAFSA calculated family contribution isn’t going to be huge. BUT that doesn’t mean you will get huge financial aid either.
You are likely going to get a good chunk of the Pell Grant, and a $5500 student loan. Does your state offer any aid to lower income students (NY, CA do…and so do some others).
In terms of emancipation…consider that as a sailed ship. The emancipation process needs to be complete before age 18, and it’s a legal process…and you need a reason for this. Some states don’t even have provisions for emancipation. Frankly, doing this for financial aid purposes is not a good idea. You would need to sever ties with your family. Is that really something they and you want to have happen?
Thank you guys for the responses! I’m not moving out for financial reasons, but thank you for your concerns. I was looking into emancipation awhile ago, it just wasn’t a reasonable option since how rarely it gets accepted. In regards to giving my moms information on FASFA would that still apply even if I do move out since I wouldn’t be relying on her financially?
It doesn’t matter where you reside. It doesn’t matter who declares you on their taxes…or not.
The financial information from your custodial parent will be REQUIRED when you file the FAFSA form…unless you meet one of the criteria fo independent status…and you don’t. You would need to be an orphan, a veteran of the armed forces, married, parent of a minor child who you support, a ward of the state, or in legal guardianship with someone other than your parents, or over age 24. None of these apply to you…right?
So…yes…your mom’s info will be required.