You may potentially receive more financial aid if you are no longer considered a dependent for your parents. The FAFSA asks the following 10 questions, and you must answer ‘yes’ to at least one of them to be considered independent, even if you don’t live with your parents, are not claimed by your parents on their tax forms or are paying for your own bills and education expenses.
- Will you be 24 or older by Jan. 1 of the school year for which you are applying for financial aid?
- Are you married or separated but not divorced?
- Will you be working toward a master’s or doctorate degree such as M.A., MBA, M.D., J.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., etc?
- Do you have children who receive more than half their support from you?
- Will you be 24 or older by Jan. 1 of the school year for which you are applying for financial aid?
- Are you married or separated but not divorced?
- Will you be working toward a master’s or doctorate degree such as M.A., MBA, M.D., J.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.?
- Do you have children who receive more than half their support from you?
- Do you have dependents, other than children or a spouse, who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you?
- Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training?
- Are you a veteran of the U.S. armed forces?
- At any time since you turned age 13, were both of your parents deceased, were you in foster care, or were you a ward or dependent of the court?
- Are you an emancipated minor or are you in a legal guardianship as determined by a court?
- Are you an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?
