<p>I'm 22 and have been out of school for over a year. I only have 3 semesters left but my father and step-mother suddenly started making more money and FAFSA cut me off.
However, after years of abuse my father decided he didn't want to deal with me anymore and kicked me out of their home and life. I only put up with all of it because I had no where to go and depended on their info for my FAFSA.
Now Im living with a friend, on her couch but I'm 22, jobless, and can't get the parents info on the FAFSA section because of my being kicked out and not wanting to return to an abusive home.
Does this count as an unusual circumstance?
How can I prove this to the FAFSA so I can be marked as independent and only have to put my info in? (My father refuses to ever see me much less speak to me and my step-mom has always hated my guts).</p>
<p>First, where is your mother?</p>
<p>Did you call the police and file an abuse complaint? An abuse complaint would need to be documented…police report and perhaps a doctors note of treatment for abuse. </p>
<p>I’m not saying I don’t believe you, but colleges will want documentation to prove this. Otherwise it will appear that you are saying this just to gain independent status.</p>
<p>Another thing for you to realize…gaining independent status may not guarantee you enough funds to continue school.</p>
<p>No, it will not be grounds for giving you a dependency override as there is a big difference being in an abusive home as a child and living in an abusive situation as an adult (the adult is in a better position to change their situation). </p>
<p>Unfortunately you are 22 years old and there are no laws saying that your parents have to allow you to live in their home, give you information to apply for financial aid or pay for you to go to school. </p>
<p>At 22 years old, if you do not like the way you are being treated in your parents home you are more than free to leave. if you feel that some one is physically abusing you, you can call the police and have them charged with assault.</p>
<p>Your options are; </p>
<p>You can fill out the fafsa with your parents unwilling to provide the information and be eligible for an unsubsidized stafford loan. </p>
<p>You can take a leave of absence, work save some money and return to school when your financial situation is a little better, as I am sure that no one is going to let you crash on the couch forever.</p>
<p>I think it is time to get a job and a place to live on your own and start getting settled. If you do so in the area of the college, there will a lot of room to let possibilities and work option, at least for many schools. YOu might also want to apply for some jobs at the school itself, as that could give you free tuition, in many cases. But give school a break, and get yourself on your feet. Not everyone has a college degree, and there is no rush to get one.</p>