can someone help with a serious question about financial aid and parents refusing to sign their portion?

Question

I want to go to college. I am 22, self sufficient, live alone, have a good job, have no contact with my parents at all (jerks) but, I want to better myself and go back to school. I went to fill out the financial aid form and there is a section that they have to fill out. they refuse to enter their info or sign the form, and I have been told since I don't fit any of the standard exemption criteria, that if they don't fill it out that i can't get aid or student loans. This seems very unfair. Does anyone know any ways around this, and if so, can you provide me with links to print up. I can't imagine that I am the only person who has bad parents that had to leave home early and who wants to go to school. this seems like discrimination to me and all people who want to better themselves but have bad parents. Any help would be appreciated. thanks

Answer 1

Please ignore 95% of the answers to your question because they don't understand the dependent/independent process. Mary is correct in her post so I won't repeat it but here is my insight to this problem.

A dependency override ability is something that is given to the fin aid director/office AT EACH SCHOOL for unusual or extreme family situations.
EACH SCHOOL has a different financial aid director. And although things appear to have gotten more consistent from school to school over the years, I have noticed some schools are more, "dependency override" friendly then others.

Some FA Directors are very strict and wouldn't authorize one even if the student could prove abuse, neglect, or whatever horrible thing that prevented parent contact. (Many of the people I've worked with are embarrassed to disclose this and have to be prompted into sharing this with a stranger.) Other fin aid Directors I've known to change the dependency status with ease and encouragement.

So to summarize, shop around - you might find a a "dependency override friendly" financial aid officed school locally.

I will tell you this, if you walk in there and say.... "my parents won't give me their taxes", you aren't going to get anywhere. Your reasons have to be more extreme than that AND you have to be able to back everything up. And the financial aid director has to be comfortable enough with your justification and your paperwork when they are audited to override this federal law.
Good Luck!

Answer 2

Your parents DO have to fill out that part of the FAFSA.

Even though you are 22 and have no contact with them, unless one of your parents is deceased or you have an extreme family situation, you are a dependent student till you are 24.

Believe me, I'm 21 and I have no contact with my family. But because I'm not 24 yet, I still have to put my mother's information on the FAFSA.

Being a dependent student, you have to provide your parent's tax information and they must sign it, either electronically or actually sign a piece of paper.

For what you should do, I'd go to your school's financial aid department and explain your situation. You're right, I'm sure this has happened to many before and they will be able to give you more advice on the subject.


Check out the link below for more information.

Answer 3

Found 1 is the right answer. It will vary from school to school. A large part of your solution will be WHY. Find out from the school you want to go to what the requirements are. As a former director, you have to have a GREAT case on why you should be forced independent. Also remember that if you are granted it this year, it is no guaranty it will be the next. I would make an appointment with the senior counselor or director. Someone with the authority to make this change. Good luck.

Answer 4

Julvrug is right. You are 22 and self sufficient. You don't need your parents to sign anything. Go online to FAFSA.gov and start filling out a new app. You will answer that you live alone, and it will direct you to skip the parents portion. If you need help filling out the forms (they can be overwhelming the first few times), go into your school's financial aid office with last year's tax return and they will assist you. Since you are living on your own, you may even qualify for a grant instead of a loan, and those do not have to be repaid. (Will depend on how much you make at your job.)

Once someone walks you through the first time, it is easier to reapply each year. A lot of your info will stay in place and you just update it as needed. Definitely do it online though ... it is SO much easier.

Answer 5

It does sound as though the information you were given must be inaccurate or incomplete. You are an independent adult, not a dependent child. Your parents' income, consent or knowledge should be completely irrelevant to your quest for an education or financial assistance. Please go talk to someone else in the financial aid department and discuss your circumstances fully. Don't give up. You can get a college education one way, or another, if you want one.

Answer 6

If you are 22 and no longer live with your parents, there is no need for them to fill in that part. The section for parents are for students that rely on their parent for support, fresh out of high school and no job.Your form will not need that section completed. I am 45 and have everything in my name only for financial aid.

Answer 7

Your parents may be helping you. It sounds like they have too much money for you to qualify. Try another avenue.. My daughter got a Federal grant because she didn't qualify.

Answer 8

Whether they're bad or not, you have no association with them. It's completely inappropriate for them to be involved in this process. It's for parents whose children still live with them. It doesn't matter what the reason is. You're out of their house so it isn't an option.
.

Answer 9

check this link its good




http://datentryworksworkathomeobs.blogspot.com/

.