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When completing the free Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application, you must answer questions to determine the status of your dependencies. Students under the age of 24 who answer “no” to all dependency-related questions are usually considered dependent. This means that you need to provide parents’ information about FAFSA. This can affect the amount of aid received.
However, in some unique circumstances, students can request override FAFSA dependencies. If approved, they will be classified as independent students and will help you access more student assistance.
What is a dependency override?
Dependency overrides are status granted by the school’s Financial Aid Bureau, allowing parental information to be excluded from FAFSA even if it is considered a dependent. This can qualify for significantly more financial aid if your parents have income and assets that make you unqualified.
Who is eligible for dependency overriding?
The requirements to qualify for dependency overrides are very strict. Dependency overrides may be allowed in the following cases:
- Your parents are in jail.
- You left the house due to an abusive family environment.
- You don’t know where your parents are and you are not adopted.
- You have experienced human trafficking.
- You are an Asili or a refugee.
Your situation must be verified and approved by your school’s Financial Aid Bureau. The school’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.
How to get FAFSA dependency overrides
1. Fill in FAFSA
Complete the FAFSA as usual, but skip the parent information section. Section 7 – Student Unusual Situation – Select “Yes” to indicate that you are experiencing a situation that is entitled to override dependencies.
2. Please contact your school’s Financial Aid Bureau
Once you have submitted your FAFSA, please contact your school’s Financial Aid Bureau and provide documentation regarding the unusual situation. For example, if your parents are in prison, you can share a court order as proof. Alternatively, if you run away from an abusive household, you can provide court records, medical records, child welfare records, police reports, and signed statements from experts such as former teachers, social workers, and counselors.
Dependency and Independent Students on FAFSA
If you answer “Yes” to any of these questions in the Personal Situation section, you will be considered an independent student. Fafsa.
Answer “yes” to any of these questions and you are independent. This means using only the parent’s income and assets.
If you answered “No” to all of these questions, you are considered dependent and you must fill out the parent information section of FAFSA unless you are entitled to override the dependency.
Conclusion
How you submit your FAFSA will determine the amount of assistance you will receive in the next grade. Dependent students are students who receive financial support from their parents, and independent students are self-sufficient. You can also qualify for dependency overrides if you meet certain criteria, such as when your parents are in jail or come from an abusive home.
For more information, please contact your school’s Financial Aid Office for further guidance on next steps.
