I left an abusive household (mother and step-father) about three weeks ago. I’ve been couch surfing ever since and spent one night in a park. My school district has just verified me as homeless and I put this information on my FAFSA. However, my FAFSA already has my parent’s income (very high, EFC of nearly 40,000) on it. Should I leave their tax information on the FAFSA or take it off entirely, since I’m now an unaccompanied youth. Basically, which option will lead to the most aid, or does it not matter?
I’m not sure you can correct it on your own since you are switching the status from dependent to independent. It sounds like you’ll be better of for FA purposes to have their information OFF the forms. You’ll get a Pell grant and subsidized loans.
However, that may not be enough to pay for the colleges you applied to when you thought your parents would be helping with the bills. You may need to add some community colleges or public schools where you can also get some state aid.
You are definitely going to get flagged and the college will ask for documentation from the McKinney-Vento Liaison at your school. Please remember that unaccompanied minor status is only used on the FAFSA for federal aid. The college can still ask for anything that they want when it comes to giving out their own institutional aid. IIRC, your status as an unaccompanied minor is only for the year and does not automatically carry from one school to another.
If/when you return home you will no longer have unaccompanied minor status.
My parents were never going to help pay, even when I was considered dependent of them. I have a large scholarship from ASU based off merit that I received before I needed to change my status. I still needed a few thousand dollars to make up the full cost of attendance, which I hope to get now that my status is changed.
If you will be attending ASU, I would strongly suggest you contact their financial aid office and tell them your situation. They will tell you what to do.
Good luck! I hope it all works out.