For the 2009-2010 award year, the law defines an independent student as one who meets at least one of the following criteria:
* was born before Jan. 1, 1986; * is legally married on the date he or she applies ("legally married" includes applicants who are separated but not divorced); * is working on a master's or doctoral program in the 2009-2010 award year; * is currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (or is a member of the National Guard or Reserves called up to active federal duty for a purpose other than training); * is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces; * has dependent children who receive more than half of their support from the applicant; * has legal dependents, other than children or a spouse, who live with and receive more than half of their support from the applicant; * had no living parent, was in foster care, or was a dependent/ward of the court since the applicant turned age 13; * is (or was) an emancipated minor as determined by a court in the applicant's state of legal residence; * is (or was) in legal guardianship as determined by a court in the applicant's state of legal residence; * was determined by the applicant's high school or school district homeless liaison as an unaccompanied youth who was homeless at any time on or after July 1, 2008; * was determined by the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as an unaccompanied youth who was homeless at any time on or after July 1, 2008; or * was determined by the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program as an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or was self-supporting and at risk of being homeless at any time on or after July 1, 2008.
A student who meets none of the above criteria is considered dependent and therefore must complete all parental questions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as well as provide a parent's signature.
You should contact the financial aid office at your school if you believe that your circumstances warrant a special determination. The school's decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.
If you have other questions about financial aid, application procedures, eligibility formulas or other student aid topics, please contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 319-337-5665 between 8:00 a.m. and midnight EST, Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday. You may also e-mail general questions about financial aid by clicking on the "Contact Us' link at our Web site (www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov) if you have further questions.
WHERE DO I FIT IN THIS? NOWHERE.
2 comments:
Its not right man, If you are over 18 and are taking care of yourself - You should be considered a Independent.
This is my thought as well. But they make it incredibly hard for students to get aid. It sucks.
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