Question: Ever since I start college (08) I have been supporting myself financially. I admit they did give me a few hundred bucks every now and then, but I paid for my own bills and stuff. I don't want to depend on them on filling out FAFSA form anymore cause of the questions regarding their refund tax info. What should I do to officially declare myself independent so I can use my own tax info for FAFSA instead of theirs. Is there a form that I have to fill out? A Department that I have to talk to? An accountant? I appreciate your help.
PS: I have filed my own refund tax for the year 2008
Answer: It's not really fair, and a lot of people fall victim to it (myself included), but the FAFSA has a really cut-and-dry method of determining dependency, which has nothing to do with whether or not you support yourself financially. According to their website, in order to qualify as an independent in the eyes of FAFSA, one or more of the following must apply to you:
1. Be 24 years of age or older by December 31 of the award year;
2. Be an orphan (both parents deceased), ward of the court, or was a ward of the court until the age of 18;
3. Be a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States;
4. Be a graduate or professional student;
5. Be a married individual;
6. Have legal dependents other than a spouse;
7. Be a student for whom a financial aid administrator makes a documented determination of independence by reason of other unusual circumstances.
If the first six don't (which I assume), the seventh is the only option. I haven't tried it, but make an appointment with a financial advisor and see what requirements he/she would need to declare your financial independence. The phrase "unusual circumstances" is purposefully vague, so it may depend on your advisor: one advisor might be willing to sign off on a form at request, another might demand documentation that you can't possibly provide (after all, how do you prove to Fafsa, an advisor, or anyone else that your parents don't write you checks?), or even refuse altogether. If you go to a large school with multiple advisors, you might try visiting multiple advisors until you find one who will help you. If you qualify for any kind of Equal Opportunity program through your school (programs where you hold special status with your financial aid department for having proven income under a certain threshold), that could be very helpful; if not, ask a financial advisor about qualifying for such a program (I believe most schools call it EOPS).
Good luck. Whatever the outcome, it may be time-consuming qualifying yourself.
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