Independent Students

Determining Your Dependency Status

Dependent Student Criteria

• Are you 24 years of age or older?
  
• Are you married?
• Do you have any dependents? (This can include children who do not live with you but receive more than half of their support from you.)
• Are you in the military?
• Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
• Are you homeless or at risk of homelessness? (This expanded definition of "independent student" was introduced in 2013.)

If you can answer "YES" to any of the above questions, you are considered an independent student, and you are not required to provide your parents' information on the FAFSA.

Tips for Filing as an Independent Student

• Ensure you include yourself when indicating the number of people in your household. An error in household size can significantly impact your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and, consequently, your eligibility for financial aid.
  
• Being an independent student doesn't always mean you can leave the parent section of the FAFSA blank. In some cases, such as graduate health profession students, parental data may be required even if you are classified as independent.
• Be prepared for your school to verify your dependency status when filing as an independent student. Have the necessary documentation ready to avoid any delays in processing your application.

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Can You Change Your Dependency Status?

Independent vs. Dependent Student: Which Are You?

Your First Step: Filling Out the FAFSA

Understanding the Difference

• Dependent Students: They must report information from both themselves and their parents.
  
• Independent Students: They only need to report their own financial information, and if applicable, their spouse's.

When Are You Considered a Dependent Student?

• ou were born after January 1, 1997.
  
• You're not married.
• You're not working on a master's or doctorate degree.
• You don't have children or dependents who receive at least half of their financial support from you.
• You're not currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces.
• You're not a veteran.
• Your parents are not deceased.
• You're not in foster care, and you're not a ward of the court.
• You're not an emancipated minor.
• You're not an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless.

If you're an undergraduate dependent student, you might qualify for Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans and potentially private student loans to cover educational expenses.

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• You were born before January 1, 1997.
  
• You are married.
• You are working toward a master's or doctorate degree.
• You have children or dependents who receive at least half of their financial support from you.
• You are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces.
• You are a veteran of the U.S. armed forces.
• Since you turned 13, your parents are deceased, you were in foster care, or you were a dependent or ward of the court.
• On or after July 1, 2019, you were determined to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless.

It's important to note that being an independent student or dependent student has a significant impact on your eligibility for financial aid. Whether you qualify for subsidized and unsubsidized student loans, grants, or other forms of financial assistance depends on your dependency status.

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• If You're a U.S. Citizen, but Your Parents Are Undocumented: Being a U.S. citizen qualifies you for federal financial aid, regardless of your parents' immigration status. If your parents are concerned about filling out the FAFSA due to their status, reassure them that the form does not inquire about their citizenship. They can enter all zeros in the Social Security number fields. You can print the completed FAFSA, sign it manually, and mail it.
  
• If You Have No Contact With Your Parents: Even if you are estranged from your parents, you are typically required to include their information on the FAFSA. If this is impossible or not in your best interest, you can indicate on the FAFSA that a special circumstance prevents you from obtaining your parents' information. Your school's financial aid office will then assess your situation and may require additional documentation.
• If Your Parents Are Unwilling to Help: In cases where your parents are unwilling to provide their information, select the option on the FAFSA that states, "I am unable to provide information about my parent(s)." You will need to contact your school's financial aid office immediately. Depending on the circumstances and the financial aid office's decision, you may still qualify for unsubsidized student loans.
• Other Special Circumstances: There are additional situations, such as parental incarceration, unknown whereabouts of parents, or homelessness, which may warrant special consideration for your dependency status. In such cases, it's essential to communicate with your school's financial aid office and be prepared to provide relevant information or documentation.

Can You Appeal Your Dependency Status?

• Age 24 or Older: If you are 24 years of age or older, you are generally considered independent for FAFSA purposes.
  
• Graduate or Professional Student: Students pursuing graduate or professional degrees, such as a master's or doctorate, are typically considered independent.
• Married: If you are married, you are usually classified as an independent student.
• Parent or Guardian of at Least One Dependent Child: If you have legal dependents, such as children, who receive at least half of their financial support from you, you may qualify as independent.
• Active-Duty Military Service Member or Veteran: Current active-duty military service members and veterans are often designated as independent students.
• Orphan or Ward of the Court: Students who are orphans or wards of the court may be considered independent.
• Emancipated Minor: If you are legally emancipated from your parents, you are typically considered independent.
• Homeless or at Risk of Becoming Homeless: Students who are homeless or at risk of homelessness may qualify as independent.

The FAFSA determines a student's dependency status through a series of questions, and if a student answers "yes" to any of the questions corresponding to the criteria above, they may be designated as an independent student. It's essential to accurately determine your dependency status on the FAFSA, as it can impact the types and amount of financial aid you are eligible to receive.

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How Does Your Dependency Status Affect the FAFSA?

• Dependency Status Determines Whose Information Is Reported: The FAFSA distinguishes between dependent and independent students. Dependent students are required to provide their parents' or guardians' financial information along with their own when completing the FAFSA. Independent students, on the other hand, report only their own income and assets (and their spouse's, if applicable).
  
• Impact on Financial Aid Eligibility: Dependency status plays a crucial role in determining your eligibility for various types of financial aid. Dependent students often have their eligibility based, in part, on their parents' income and assets. Independent students, on the other hand, are assessed based on their own financial situation.
• EFC Calculation: The EFC is calculated differently for dependent and independent students. For dependent students, it takes into account both the student's and parents' financial information. For independent students, it considers only the student's financial information. Typically, the EFC for independent students is lower, indicating a higher financial need.
• Financial Aid Package: Once your EFC is determined, schools use it to create a financial aid package tailored to your specific circumstances. This package may include grants, scholarships, federal loans, and work-study opportunities. The composition of your financial aid package can vary depending on your dependency status.
• Amount of Financial Aid: In general, independent students may qualify for more financial aid than dependent students, assuming they have a lower EFC. This is because independent students are often considered to have fewer financial resources and support available, so they may require more assistance to cover their educational expenses.
• Types of Aid: While both dependent and independent students can access federal aid programs like Pell Grants and Direct Loans, independent students may be more likely to receive need-based aid due to their lower EFC. They may also have access to additional aid opportunities.
• Special Circumstances: In some cases, there may be special circumstances that prevent dependent students from including their parents' information on the FAFSA. These students should contact their school's financial aid office for guidance on how to proceed.

What If You're a Dependent Student Without Family Support?

• Providing Parental Information: Dependent students are typically required to provide financial information about their parents or legal guardians on the FAFSA, even if they don't live with them or receive financial support from them. This can pose difficulties if you are estranged from your parents or if they are unwilling or unable to provide the required information.
  
• EFC and Financial Aid Package: When you submit the FAFSA with parental information, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is calculated based on your parents' income and assets. If your parents have limited income and resources, your EFC may be low. A lower EFC generally indicates a greater financial need, which could result in a larger financial aid package.
• Special Circumstances: If you find yourself in a situation where you cannot obtain your parents' financial information or they refuse to provide it, you can still complete the FAFSA. In such cases, you should indicate that you have "special circumstances" and explain your situation. Additionally, you should reach out to your school's financial aid office to inform them of your circumstances.
• Dependency Override: Some schools may conduct a "dependency override" review for students in exceptional situations. A dependency override is a process where the financial aid administrator at your school, after reviewing your case and documentation, may determine that you can be treated as an independent student for financial aid purposes. This would allow you to submit the FAFSA without parental information.
• Contact the Financial Aid Office: It's crucial to maintain open communication with your school's financial aid office. They can provide guidance on how to navigate the process, submit the necessary documentation, and explore available options to secure financial aid.
• Consider Other Financial Resources: While federal aid programs like Pell Grants and Direct Loans may still be available to dependent students, you should also explore other financial resources, such as scholarships, grants, and institutional aid offered by your college or university.
• Document Your Circumstances: Be prepared to provide documentation that supports your claim of not having parental support. This documentation may include letters from counselors, social workers, or legal authorities, or other evidence that substantiates your situation.

frequently asked questions (FAQs)