I've attempted a few times (1 year in jr), for the FAFSA. I always get turned down. I don't live at home, I live with my grandma, & I work part time to get me through. My parents can't claim me anylonger on their taxes, so I should qualify.... Any input would help me understand why or how I can qualify.
2007-03-14 08:52:28 · 10 answers · asked by Alice M 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Financial Aid
It's very important for applicants to understand that the IRS and the Department of Education (DOE) have two different definitions of "dependent." Whether or not someone claims you as dependent on their tax return has no bearing on whether you can file the FAFSA as independent. Moreover, it doesn't matter if you live with your grandmother. Unless someone other than your parents actually adopts you, you are REQUIRED to report your parent's income/asset information on your FAFSA. The only students who are considered INdependent on the FAFSA are people who
*are 24 or older
*are married
*have children or other dependents
*are veterans of the US armed forces
*are orphans or wards of the court
*have already earned a bachelor's degree (i.e. graduate students)
If you do not fit into one of these categories, you can only be deemed independent if your school Financial Aid Office overrides your dependency status with the DOE. This override process varies by school but will generally require you to submit information that your parents are physically or mentally unable to provide for you, that you are unable to locate them, or that you have been abused in some way. A parent's unwillingness to pay for a student's education is not, in and of itself, grounds for a dependency override.
For more information on this topic, I highly recommend this explanation: http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/parentsrefuse.phtml
2007-03-14 09:53:53 · answer #1 · answered by FinAidGrrl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will have to put them on the FAFSA until you are independent by the FAFSA guidelines (over 24, married, have children, member of military, veteran, orphan, working on Masters, or have a dependent). If you are independent than you probably make over 25000 a year which usually will put you out of the running for a Pell grant if you only support yourself but you could still qualify for loans and maybe a state grant so talk to your financial aid office.
2007-03-14 09:12:20 · answer #2 · answered by appylover 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
FAFSA is the application you fill out opening the doors to all financial aid. FAFSA doesn't qualify you or disqualify...it houses all your financial info for that year. You should apply yearly...everyone's circumstances change. The taxes and the FAFSA are separate issues....just b/c your parents can't claim you doesn't mean you are not required to submit their tax info on your FAFSA.....any questions you have about this really should be directed to your financial aid officer at school
2007-03-15 16:20:10 · answer #3 · answered by bundysmom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
File your taxes as an independent and even if you say you live with grandma indicate you file independent of her. If you havent filed period or in the last tax year or if you work and don't make enough to qualify for taxes go to the local IRS office and get yourself a non filer's statement and take that to the school's financial aid office when you get all your paperwork together so you can have your file started with them.
2007-03-14 09:40:13 · answer #4 · answered by nabdullah2001 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no longer probably. the emancipation technique is rather tedious and there are various factors that they think approximately in the past granting you emancipation. affirming which you rather choose to become emancipated to become eligible for extra federal help won't cut back it. do you have a job? (do you be attentive to in case you have been eligible for federal artwork study? this implies which you have the skill to artwork on campus in a PT place) having a job would allow you to make sufficient $ to verify what you would be offered in can provide. you will possibly no longer receive can provide on the 2d yet you're eligible for loans (that are no longer the final element yet howdy, its extra useful than no longer something). you additionally should word for each scholarship probability which you come returned in the time of whose standards you meet. yet in a diverse thank you to become self sustaining may well be if you bought married or had a newborn. lol good success!
2016-11-25 20:10:53 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can apply by yourself if you're not doing this now. They also need to know income information. If you have your W-2 forms you should do your income tax if not them still let them know your earnings. Maybe you are not filling out the form correctly, you should qualify.
2007-03-14 12:29:07 · answer #6 · answered by justmmez 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you asked the financial aid dept. in your university? They can find out why. Try filing it in without using any tax info from parents, file independently.
2007-03-14 08:58:46 · answer #7 · answered by Maria b 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, the requirements are listed if you read it. Even if you are supporting yourself, or your parents are not involved, you won't qualify if you are unmarried, under 24 and have no children.
2007-03-14 09:09:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How old are you? There is a age limit. My friend tried and did not get help because she was under 24 and single.
2007-03-14 08:56:49 · answer #9 · answered by Mandy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
doesnt matter if your parents claim you or not, it is based on your age.
2007-03-14 09:50:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋