The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is filled out by college students across the United States every year in order to obtain student financial aid from the federal government. One of the first questions on the FAFSA application asks students if they are dependent or independent. Dependent students will need to provide parental financial information while independent students will not. Those who argue against this question do so because of how the answer to it is determined.
Dependency Status on FAFSA
The government determines whether the applicant is dependent or independent of his/her parents’ financial status by asking these few questions:
- Was the student born before January 1, 1986?
- Will the student be enrolled in a master’s or doctorate program at the beginning of the school year?
- Is the student married as of the day he/she is applying with the FAFSA?
- Does the student have children or other dependents living with him/her who receive at least half of their support from him/her?
- Are both of the student’s parents deceased or was the student a ward or dependent of the court until age 18?
- Is the student currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
If the applicant’s answer to any one of these questions is “yes” he/she is considered independent and will not have to provide the parent’s financial information. Otherwise, the applicant is automatically considered dependent of the parents and will need to provide that information.
Behind This FAFSA Worksheet Rule
According to the government’s student aid website each student’s family is primarily responsible, as much as they are able, for funding the college experience. This is actually stated under federal law. The reason that independent students will receive more aid is because those students are thought to receive less (or no) money from their parents.
Financial questions that will be asked of both parents of dependent students include:
- Social security number
- Date of birth
- Marital status and date of marriage, divorce, separation, or becoming a widow
- Whether or not anyone in the household received federal benefits such as food stamps
- Adjusted gross income for the school year
- Year’s earnings
An Argument Against the FAFSA Form Method
Every school year there are many students who fill out the FAFSA and find themselves asking what they can do to receive federal aid since their parents refuse, or are unable, to provide financial information. Parents might refuse to provide copies of their tax returns as they’re nervous about the security of their information.
Some guardians may be wealthy according to their tax returns but have suffered a sudden financial hardship, like a large medical bill. On the FAFSA it does not matter if the parents refuse to provide aid, perhaps due to a family dispute; if they have enough money to help, they are seen as responsible for funding the student’s education.
There is also the issue of students of same sex couples receiving more financial aid because of a homosexual parent not being considered a step parent or legally adoptive mother/father. In that case, only one of the parents (the biological or legal parent) would have to provide his or her financial information while those with heterosexual married parents are required to obtain both parents’ information.
Tips for the FAFSA Dependent Student
Students who are considered dependent according to the government but feel that they have a special circumstance rendering them independent do not have many options. If the parents simply refuse to provide information it may help to inform them of this: their information will be kept secure by the Department of Education and will only be used to determine aid eligibility.
Filling out the FAFSA does not in any way obligate a parent to provide financial assistance. Guardians may be reminded that without federal financial aid, such as Pell Grants and subsidized or unsubsidized student loans, the cost of a college education increases substantially for the attendant. Any financial adviser will be able to answer questions that parents have about the FAFSA process.
How to Become a FAFSA Independent Student
A student who has failed at gaining parental aid with the FAFSA will need the help of the school’s financial adviser. The final decision on a student’s financial aid package is made by the university’s financial adviser who will have to examine the applicant’s plea for independent status.
Boise State University has a dependency override process which includes these instructions:
- Attach a detailed letter to the petition form explaining how the student plans to support him/herself without parental aid during the school year.
- Attach a budget with detailed sources of income and expenditures during the school year.
- Attach the completed FAFSA.
- At least one parent must sign the petition.
After completing a petition such as this with the school’s financial aid office and being deemed independent, a student still is only eligible for a federal unsubsidized loan. The process must be repeated every school year that a dependent student wishes to be considered independent.
Independent Student Status FAFSA
The U.S. Federal government has finally allowed dependent students with special circumstances to apply for an unsubsidized Stafford loan, which is a loan with low interest that accrues while the student attends school. Unfortunately it is not as helpful as a grant because it must be repaid.
Applicants who are already planning to join the military may consider completing training before filling out their FAFSA so that they may file as independent. Those who are engaged to be married might do so before applying for federal student aid, as well, and have a formal ceremony later.
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