Dependency Status Review Procedure

When you apply for federal student aid, it must be determined if you are considered a dependent or independent student.  The US Department of Education has specific criteria that determines your status.  The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will ask a series of questions that will help you determine your status and will guide you through the application process.  These questions have to do with:

• Your age
• Whether you stated that you are enrolled in a graduate program (beyond a Bachelor’s degree)
• Your marital status
• Children you support
• Legal dependents
• Orphan or ward of the court status
• Veteran/Active duty status
• Emancipated minors
• Legal guardianship
• Homeless unaccompanied youths
• Youths at risk of homelessness

 

Listed below are two situations in which a student who does not meet the above criteria may still be able to exclude their parental information on the FAFSA.

• Dependency Override:  The federal government’s regulations on dependency overrides are strict; however, there may be extenuating circumstances when a student should be considered independent and parental information is excluded from the FAFSA.

             Please note the following:

• A student’s reluctance to request income information from parent(s) or the unwillingness of parents to pay or provide information is NOT justification for granting a dependency override. 
• The fact that a student is self-supporting is, by itself, NOT justification for granting a dependency override. 
• Examples of situations where petitions may be approved include an abusive family environment or removal of the student from the parent(s)’ residence by court order.

 

If you would like to be considered for a dependency override, download and submit the 2009-2010 Petition for Dependency Override.

• Parent’s Unwillingness to Provide Income Information:  Federal regulations give schools the authority to allow a student to borrow a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan when the student’s parents have ended all financial support and have refused to complete and sign a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

If you feel that you meet this condition, download and submit the Unsubsidized Loan Request for Dependent Students Without Parental Data***.

Note: This form does not allow you to apply for federal aid as an independent student.

*** If you DO NOT want to complete this form, please make all necessary corrections to your existing FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) and include your parent's financial information and signature(s).