<p>Independent status for financial aid, and for taxes are two different things. Since you are going “back” to school, I’m going to assume you are over 18. If you are over 18, and not a full time student, your mother is not entitled to claim you on her taxes, unless she provides over half of your support. Even so, without your own child, you would still include her on your FAFSA, as you are a dependent for FAFSA purposes. Once the baby is born, you will be independent for FAFSA purposes.</p>
<p>The tax situation is a little tricky, based on what you’re saying. While you were at your previous university, she was entitled to still claim you if you did not provide more than half of your own support. If the majority of your support came from your own wages and loans taken out in your name, then she should not have claimed you - you should have. But if most of the support came from her or someone else, she was entitled to claim you.</p>