The dependency status on income taxes is not related or impacted by dependency status on the FAFSA. As a graduate student, you’re an independent student regardless. The financial aid office worked with me, declared me an independent. After calculating the total costs, I attended the private college and for four years signed an affidavit re-affirming my dependency override. Well, you can tell them over and over that whether you file your taxes or not, and whether you are their tax dependent or not, FAFSA does not consider you an "independent student." So their income is used in determining the EFC, and if that goes up your aid goes down. The year you turn 24 is the year that you are considered independent on the FAFSA. That means that you don't have to include your parents' income on the FAFSA and if you don't work or make very little money, you might be eligible for more in financial aid. TIL even if your parents refuse to help you pay for college, Federal Financial Aid won't let you declare independence until you're 24. FAFSA determines "expected family contribution" based on family tax information (basically). If you want to be classified as independent then you need to talk to a financial advisor at your school. In order to get declared independent, you must be able to answer Yes to one of these questions: Will you be 24 or older by Dec. 31 of the school year for which you are applying for financial aid? Will you be working toward a master’s or doctorate degree (such as M.A., M.B.A., M.D., J.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.)? You can be considered independent by the IRS but dependent by FAFSA criteria, and vice versa. You can look over the dependency criteria for FAFSA right here and the relevant part for you is: Hello people of Reddit! I have been searching all over for answers. I myself went to college and figured out financial aid alone, but now over a decade later, I have to help my younger brother navigate. When I went to college, my mother was denied a parent plus loan and I was able to increase my direct federal loan. I was “independent” but fafsa asked for my mom’s information even though You qualify as legally independent on the FAFSA if at any time on or after July 1, 2024 you were “ unaccompanied ” (not in your parents’ care) and are either A) homeless or B) self-supporting and at risk of being homeless. No I was in college in 2000 and couldn’t be declared independent even though my dad had early onset dementia and needed full time care at home. If your hadn’t claimed you on their taxes it wouldn’t have mattered AT ALL for FAFSA purposes. However, I run into this roadblock while applying for fafsa because there are no legal circumstances that show my independence from my parents and I don't fall into any of the guidelines they have for "special circumstances". The only offer I get through fafsa is an unsubsidized loan, which frankly, I just don't want to accept. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. hi i just graduated high school. every since i turned 18 i am not financially dependent on my parents, i have a job and i will be filing my taxes independently. i was looking on fafsa and it says i still am dependent on my parents till 24. does that still apply if i file my taxes independently and work to pay for my own needs. my parents make a For FAFSA purposes, you are considered a dependent student until you turn 24, regardless of your personal tax filing status. You will need to include parent information on your FAFSA. Here's the info: You'll need proof of being at risk of homelessness to be independent. It sucks, but your parents not supporting you doesn't matter to them. I know fafsa makes it hard for students under 24 to file independently, but if my parents cut me off then I can't use their tax files to apply for fafsa and I NEED fafsa for aid & loans. I heard one way I can file independently is if I'm at risk for being homeless. I’m doing the fafsa for 2021-2022 and one of the questions is “will you be claimed as a dependent on 2021 tax returns”. I pretty much don’t know. I live with my parents right now but there are issues in my family and I might be moving out and supporting myself soon. It’s hard to answer with a yes or no, so what should I answer? Will I get more aid if I say dependent or independent? FAFSA gives independent status to married divorced people. All they care about is if you've been married at some point in the past. Reply reply primarykey93 • Reply reply More repliesMore replies kylekunfox • Reply reply NimFeredir • Reply reply Objective_Banana1506 • Reply reply HowdidIenduphere22 • Reply reply More replies I am listed as independent on FAFSAs end but my school says since my FAFSA isn't "going through" they don't have an SAI number or status on their end. I have been getting the same error repeatedly saying I have missing tax information and I need to give my family size.
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