Will student welfare help me out if I attend school full time?

Question

Hello my name is Alysha. I am 16..

Hello my name is Alysha...I am 16.. can someone give me an answer..my family situation is not the best and I can't live with my parents.

Answer 1

If you are low-income as you suggested then you have no worries (as long as you are willing to accept loans).

People from low-income families are eligible for several grants and loans. You must complete the FAFSA to qualify. You should complete FAFSA around Jan. of your Senior year in high school.

I was from a low-income family. I recieved an EFC of 0 (you will learn about that from FAFSA), it means expected family contribution, how much your family is supposed to pay. Anyhow I accepted all my loans and grants. I had enough money to pay for tuition, books, rent, food, and living expenses. Since my family was low-income I actually found I had more money that what I was used to having.

One tip is to not live in the dorms (unless you have to). They are more expensive than an apartment (considering you rent a cheap one or have a roomate).

You can also get a work-study job (if you qualify through FAFSA) at the college. These are usually 6-10 hr a week jobs that work with your student schedule. If you have a work study job (or a regular job 10+ hours) then you can apply for Welfare (food stamps) and qualify.

Hope this helps reduce some of your anxieties. Also, I live in Oregon. In this state if you are applying to in-state colleges/universities there is a way to defer the application fee. I would ask a financial aid counselor (call college 1-800 number) if there is a similar program in your state.