“How do I file as an independent on the FAFSA?” or “How do I qualify as an independent student?” are some of the most common questions asked this time of year.  Once students and parents start digging into the FAFSA form, they quickly realize that independent students have lower EFC’s and therefore have a much better opportunity for financial aid than dependent students.  When this realization is coupled with the common position that “College is my student’s responsibility, not mine…” families quickly look to find out what does it take for a student to file as an independent on the FAFSA form.  It’s difficult… very difficult.

It is not as simple as not claiming your child as a dependent on your tax forms.  That is only a very small, if even insignificant aspect of student dependency status.  Below are the questions that the FAFSA form uses to determine dependency.

1. Are you older or will you be older than 23 during the award year?
2. Are you married?
3. Are you working on a graduate level degree?
4. Are you currently serving in the US Armed Forces other than training?
5. Are you a veteran?
6. Do you have children you support more than 50%?
7. Do you have other dependents you support more than 50%?
8. At any time since you were 13 regardless of present condition… are your parents deceased, or in foster care, or a ward of the court?
9. Are you or were you an emancipated minor as determined by a court?
10. Are you or were you in legal guardianship as determined by a court?
11. At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did your high school or district determine you to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
12. At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did the director of an emergency shelter or federally funded transitional housing program determine you were a unaccompanied, homeless youth?
13. At any time on or after July 1,2008, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth center determine you to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting at risk of being homeless?

Questions 1 through 8 were the standard dependency questions for years.  Not until last year have the questions been expanded.

These questions are pretty straight forward.  If the student can answer “yes” to any of the above questions, then they can file “independent” status.  If they cannot answer “yes” to any of the above questions, then the student will be considered a dependent student.  In some very unusual circumstances, students can get a waiver from the financial aid office at the college which they are enrolled.  But a parent’s desire for a student to take care of their own college expenses is far from likely to merit a waiver from a financial aid officer.

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