Need help filing Fafsa, just turned to "independent" status for 2011-2012

Paying for College
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<p>Hey guys, just got a couple questions and stumbled upon this forum when I tried googling them. So this upcoming school year I am turning 24 officially making me an "independent student". I have a few questions on how to go about filing my Fafsa. My meager income comes from reselling things on ebay and other odd jobs I just make enough for Gas and food supplemented by the leftover amount from my student loans. I never filed my taxes because I don't make enough to even bother. Now heres the tricky part, as I am filing my Fafsa, I have the option to just report my assets and income( I have always only qualified for loans since my parents make over the amount to get any aid when I was a dependent). Technically since I don't have W2, I cant really enter an amount on the will not file wages box. I read that if I put 0 down on everything ( wages, assets) I would need to fill out a verification form. My question are:
Would it raise flags if I put down 0 on everything?
Am I better off filing my taxes so I am guaranteed aid and not student loans?
I would think they would ask how am I independent if I have no paper trail of income?
Can I lose my Independent status because of this?</p>

<p>I just want to file my Fafsa as correctly as possible and maximizing my aid. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in Advance.</p>

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<p>If you earned more than $400 from selling things on EBay & odd jobs, you are required to file a tax return. If you earned less than $400, the amount goes in income from work … but you won’t have an AGI or taxes paid amount, since you are choosing “will not file.”</p>

<p>If you put 0 on your FAFSA, you may very well be selected for verification. If you did earn 0, though, you get to put 0. Whether or not you file a tax return is irrelevant. If you aren’t required to file, you don’t have to file. By the way, you can be selected for verification even if you don’t put all 0’s.</p>

<p>If you are selected for verification, you will probably have to fill out a non tax filer form (I am assuming you won’t file). You will have an opportunity to explain the sources of income on this form … often there is a place for financial aid refunds. You may have to fill out another form that explains how you were able to survive on no income. Our students often live with parents, and parents provide food. </p>

<p>Just be honest. You will stay independent no matter what.</p>