<p>i have a few questions regarding an idependent student and finances</p>
<p>i am a first year CCC student in orange county. last year as a senior, myself and my older brother who is at a UC applied for financial aid but received no awards in money because we did not qualify based on our parents salary. for my parents to put two kids in a 4 yr university at the same time would be way too rigorous financially. so, my parents and i have thought of the idea for me to move out next fall and when applying next year for colleges i could declare myself as independent and making far less than 70k a year which would help my chances for receiving aid. right? also i understand i would have to file my own taxes and my parents could no longer claim me on the tax returns either but has anyone ever done this or something similar? all feedback is greatly appreciated thanks :)</p>
<p>For this to work you need to prove you are financially independent which goes deeper than just filling taxes. You need to be able to support yourself 100% without any backing from your parents and be able to show this to the UC’s. I’m pretty sure you need to be in this state for 2/3 years, I’m not exactly how many. So that would also mean your parents couldnt have claimed you these years. The only other route would be to be declared a ward of the state or a homeless youth before 18.</p>
<p>thanks for responding
wait so i cant receive any money what so ever from my parents?? wat further steps would it take besides filing taxes? how many years do i have to live on my own to be considered ind? have you been in a similar situation?
thanks</p>
<p>It’s not as easy as moving out. The government takes your parents’ salary (as well as your dependent status) into consideration when deciding your EFC (expected family contribution) up until the age of 24 I believe, so long as your parents are still alive. Moving out might help it a bit since you won’t be a dependent, but they’ll still take your parents’ salary into consideration.</p>
<p>ohhh ok. that makes sense. but do i have to omit my parents salary since im “independent”? i guess thats why not many other people have done this before huh? this is really tricky!</p>
<p>When you report household income, you’ll only report your own if you’re living on your own, but it will also ask for your parents’ salary and you’ll be required to send in their tax forms when you choose to accept your financial aid after being accepted.</p>
<p>Doesn’t matter. You’re going to have to send in their income tax forms. There are a few exceptions, such as being an emancipated minor or whatever, but you don’t want to start forging that stuff. That’s a federal no-no </p>
<p>Trust me on this one, if you apply for FAFSA, you will need to tell them how much your parents make in order to know how much you’re going to receive, and then when you accept they’ll require you send in your parents’ income tax forms to verify. If those numbers don’t match, your award gets reduced to whatever it should be. </p>
<p>Yes, I’m a transfer student. Haven’t lived at home in 5 years and I still had to send my mom’s taxes in.</p>
<p>The only ways you can file as an independent is if you can say</p>
<p>Be at least 24 on or before December 31 of the award year;
Be an orphan (both parents deceased) or a ward of the court;
Be a veteran;
Be a graduate or professional student;
Be married;
Have legal dependents;
Receive a waiver from a financial aid administrator for unusual circumstances.</p>
<p>Believe me, so many people who dno’t talk to their parents live on their own and have proof dont get to file as independent. </p>
<p>alright thanks so much that helps. gosh i know. like what if the kid has no clue where their parents are? i guess that would file under special circumstances.</p>
<p>Yeah special circumstances are extremely hard to file for, too. It’s only for people who have been kicked out or who don’t talk to their parents or worse.</p>
<p>I think you’re mixing up the word “independent” with how we’re (or at least I’m) meaning it.</p>
<p>On your FAFSA, it’s going to ask if your parents claim you as a dependent on their taxes. If not, you’re “independent” in that sense, but their salaries are still going to factor into your EFC if you don’t meet the requirements that you posted above (24, married, etc.)</p>
<p>Do NOT file as a “dependent” of them (meaning they claim you on their taxes) if you’re moved out and not listed on their tax forms. Actually, you don’t even have to be moved out, although they’re probably going to claim you in that case since they’ll get a higher return.</p>
<p>ok but either way dependent or not they will still take my parents EFC into account unless they die, i turn 24(which im not), or special circumstance(there is none). </p>
<p>…so moving out would have no probable gain in hoping to receive some FA. right?</p>
<p>My parents kicked me out halfway through my senior year and I’ve been working 40 hours 100% financially supporting myself ever since, and I STILL don’t qualify for independent status. And I’m about to turn 22, been financially independent for 4 years.</p>
<p>The special circumstances have to be police reports/other proof that your parents abused you, or something along those lines.</p>
<p>Yes, regardless of whether or not you’ve moved out, you’re still going to be affected one way or another. However, you’re going to be affected more so if you’re claimed as a dependent on their taxes. However, moving out necessarily dictate that. You can live with them and still file taxes independently (although they’ll probably claim you to increase their return, thereby forcing you to file as a “dependent” on their taxes."</p>
<p>So in short, moving out doesn’t really change it.</p>
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