So apparently because I meet the requirement of being under the age of 24 I automatically need to provide my parents information. Can someone give me some clarification as to why this is required, and if there’s anything I can do to NOT provide parental information?
Why don’t I want to provide parental information? Very simple, I want the best rates, loan type, and loan amounts.
About me:
-Age 22
-Undergrad student
-Live 800 miles from parents. Haven’t lived with them in over 3 years.
-Parents do not contribute anything ($0) to my tuition or living expenses.
-My parents do not claim me on taxes. (have not done so for 3 years)
Here is a section of the FAFSA application about parental information:
The following are examples of some special circumstances where you may submit your FAFSA without providing parental information:
Your parents are incarcerated; or
You have left home due to an abusive family environment; or
You do not know where your parents are and are unable to contact them (and you have not been adopted).
But not all situations are considered a special circumstance. The following are situations that would not be considered a special circumstance:
Your parents do not want to provide their information on your FAFSA; or
Your parents refuse to contribute to your college expenses; or
Your parents do not claim you as a dependent on their income taxes; or
You do not live with your parents.
I hope you can understand my frustration when it is “assumed” that anyone under the age of 24 gets financial support from their families when this is not the case for some individuals. I called up the FAFSA support number and they told me “talk to my college” essentially giving me the runaround. Any clarification on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
There is a provision whereby you would be allowed to borrow the student loans without parental data if they are willing to sign a document stating that they do not provide, and will not provide, any support for you. For details on how that is handled, speak with the financial aid office at your college.
Other than that, you would need to convince the financial aid office at your college to make a professional judgment exception in your case.
Lots of people are in your situation. Yes, it is frustrating.
The federal government doesn’t care that your parents are not supporting you at this point, it is the assumption that parents will choose to support their children through college if they are financially stable enough to do so. There isn’t any way of really getting around this unless you have extensive records of parental abuse (as mentioned in the FAFSA regulations).
Unfortunately, from what you have described, this is likely not a situation where a dependency override would be approved by a college.
Yes, it sucks for you, being a truly independent young adult. Why don’t you work a couple of years and then apply when you will be considered independent. This “not an adult for FAFSA purposes” is really stupid.
You can ask your parents to provide the info with the understanding that they won’t be under ANY obligation to pay. IF they’re low income, you’ll get a Pell grant. Either way , you’ll get a loan.
Can you start at a CC and pay as you go?
I do think that those over 18 should be able to submit FAFSA w/o parent info IF all they want is an unsub loan.
My understanding is that a dependency override is granted by colleges directly, it’s not something that you could get done at the FAFSA headline.
I’ve always thought it was silly that parental information is needed for unsubsidized loans though. It’s not like the parental information affects it in any way; it’s not means-tested.
I’m not sure that this will work though. If you earn enough to support yourself, it’s likely that your income alone would push you over the limit for the federal subsidized Stafford loans in terms of interest deferral. Your loan amount eligibility would definitely go up though regardless of your income.
The rules now are tougher than they used to be in my day. FAFSA requires it for exactly the reasons you don’t want to provide it–because it gives you a financial advantage. It sounds harsh but why should tax payers pay for your education if your parents won’t? Especially if they theoretically could.