Independent FAFSA

Paying for College
1

<p>I still live with my parent, but FAFSA determined that I am independent. Does this mean I will get less, more, or the same amount of money in my financial aid?</p>

2

<p>If you are truly independent, then your parent’s income and assets would not be considered in determining your eligibility for aid. Only your own would be considered.</p>

<p>Do you know why you were determined to be independent? How old are you?</p>

3

<p>I am 21, and I am currently unemployed. I got laid off 4 months ago, so how will they determine my eligibility?</p>

4

<p>FAFSA has a series of eligibility questions you must be able to answer to receive independent status:</p>

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<p><a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/help/fftoc02k.htm[/url]”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/help/fftoc02k.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>For some reason, FAFSA determine that I am independent, but I still live with my parents and now it is saying I have an error on my application, it states: “You said that the student is not married, and the student does not have children or legal dependents, but you reported that the student’s number of family members is greater than one. Change one of the following answers.” I am not married, and I don’t have any dependents. What gives?</p>

6

<p>I am thinking you answered one of the above questions wrong - so it put you as independent. You need to go back and check your answers. I can’t imagine how you could be independent if you are 21 and living with your parents - unless you are married and/or have a child.</p>

7

<p>For a dependent student, in the fafsa student section, family size should be 0. The family size should be answered in the parent section. Make sure you are reading all the help info on the right of the screen for all questions.</p>

<p>You may have answered incorrectly that makes fafsa think you are independent.</p>

8

<p>Did you mark “yes” for being in guardianship? Or did you say that you would be working on a graduate degree? Neither would be correct, I am guessing. Look at your FAFSA & see what you marked “yes” on the dependency questions, then let us know.</p>