How do I file financial aid base on my income and not my moms?

Question

I am 20 years old and going to a community college in Texas. I do NOT have a good relationship with my mother. I have lived on my own and supported myself for 3 years. I was living on my own my senior year of high school and now 2 years in college. We talk maybe 3 times a years and it is difficult to get her to fill out my Fasa (financial Aid) once I finally do get her to fill it out. I am denied any help by the school because they base it all on her income. I am like most college students and am broke. I live with a friend, and am working at a YMCA. I need help with tuition, but my school has tried to tell me that there is no way that I can file without using my moms income and tax info. She has not contributed to any part of my schooling and for that matter has not given me any sort or financial help in 3 years. My grandparents have helped when they can, but are retired and can’t help much longer. I recently had to call CPS over some abuse that my sister told me about and n

Answer 1

Unfortunately, it appears that your financial aid office has already made the determination that you must be considered a dependent student for purposes of federal student aid.

To be considered an independent student on the FAFSA you must be 24 or older, married, have children or dependents of your own that live with you and that receive more than 50% of their financial support from you, be working on a masters or doctorate program, be a veteran of the Armed Forces, or an orphan or ward of the court. That's it. If you are none of those things, then parent information must be provided on the FAFSA until you do meet one of those criteria.

There is such a thing called a Dependency Override. This is granted to students who normally are considered dependent on the FAFSA but due to extenuating circumstances, the Financial Aid Counselor can use a professional judgement to make you independent. To qualify for a Dependency Override you must meet and prove one of two things: ABUSE or ABANDONMENT. This means that there must be a history that is documented of some type of abuse between yourself and your parent where contact with them would be harmful to you, OR you literally have no idea where your parents are (a common case is a student who has never known their father and mother has passed away, for example). Either way, this must be documented by legal proof such as court documents, a letter from a social worker or counselor, police reports, etc. In the end, the decision to approve your Dependency Override is in the hands of the FA Counselor--they are given the right to make these decisions on a case-by-case basis by federal regulation.

Based on your statement "my school has tried to tell me that there is no way that I can file without using my moms income and tax info", it appears that you have already explained all of this information to your school and they have already advised you that you must remain dependent. There is nothing more you can do once this decision has been made by an FA Counselor.

There are many students in your situation and, unfortunately, the federal government has decided (per their regulations on federal aid) that the responsibility for a students education rests in the hands of the parents above all else, until that student reaches age 24 or becomes married (therefore starting a family of their own) or is an orphan and therefore is literally unable to provide parent information. Whether the parent decides to accept this responsibility is up to them.

Answer 2

Well from my experience. It is very difficult to be classified as independant however, there is a process by which you have to show proof that you are independant and this may include letters from your mother or other individuals vouching for you saying that you have been on your own for the last 3 years. I think you only have to prove it for the last 2 years. Check with your financial aid office and ask them about this. Tell them your situation and stay positive. I commend you on getting a degree and being on your own. Kudos. Check this website that I provided. They have great info and you might want to make your financial aid office aware of this also. Good Luck.

Answer 3

Generally, you are considered a dependent until you reach age 24 or meet certain conditions such as serving in the U.S. armed forces, marriage, death of parents, and so forth.

Your school makes a strong case for classifying you as a dependent. However, you may appeal this classification and request that your school's financial aid office review your status. You may have a case, in light of the abuse your sister reported.

Talk to a counselor at your school's Financial Aid office and ask about procedures for an appeal of dependent status. You will need to inform the school of the alleged abuse and provide supporting documentation (the reports from CPS, letters from non-relatives, etc.).

Answer 4

So that isn't one hundred% a similar difficulty yet i'm going to describe to you what happened to me. right now i grow to be a based. My mom have been given married the three hundred and sixty 5 days until eventually now i began out college yet grow to be not mutually submitting taxes. the individuals at FAFSA defined that i did not might desire to declare my stepfather's earnings until eventually they mutually filed. I have been given an EFC (predicted kinfolk contribution of approximately $3,000) and won all gives you, some loans, and had to pay $3,2 hundred out of pocket. by capability of how---i'm in a private college so this may be diverse while you're in a state employer. here 3 hundred and sixty 5 days, they filed mutually and that i enter my stepfather's earnings information. He have been given a hefty tax rebate and that i won an EFC of $29,000 and basically won stafford loans to cover around $9,000. had to take out a federal plus own loan that's a greater physically powerful activity unsubsidized own loan that has amassed over $a million,000 in basically the previous 10 months. So---make certain you talk with somebody at FAFSA. it may not be a clever option to mutually document as though could seem which you the two are greater acceptable geared up to pay with a double earnings.

Answer 5

It is really impossible to be declared independent on a FAFSA form if you are not a military veteran, married, or have a child. However, you might want to check with the individual school to see if there is help. Good luck!