24-year-old with no income history applying for FAFSA as independent student - will she qualify?

Your daughter is in a great position for maximum financial aid! At 24, she's automatically independent (no parental info needed), and having $0 income means she'll likely qualify for the maximum Pell Grant amount, which is around $7,400 for the 2025-2026 aid year. Her previous associate's won't hurt her aid eligibility as long as she's pursuing a higher degree (bachelor's). The system might flag her for verification because $0 income is unusual, but she just needs to submit a "Verification of Non-Filing Letter" from the IRS and possibly a written statement explaining how she supported herself during those years. Many students with similar circumstances get substantial aid packages!

my brother was in almost the exact same situation!!! he had zero income and was 23 when he went back. got flagged for verification and it was a NIGHTMARE trying to prove he had no income. took like 2 months to get his aid approved becuase they kept loosing his paperwork. make sure she keeps copies of EVERYTHING she submits!!

I work in financial aid, and your daughter's situation is not as uncommon as you might think. Here's what she should know: 1. Her SAI (Student Aid Index, formerly EFC) will likely be 0 with no income, qualifying her for maximum need-based aid 2. She WILL almost certainly be selected for verification - this is standard for $0 income reports 3. For verification, she'll need: - Statement of Support (explaining how she met basic needs with no income) - IRS Non-Filing Letter (can be requested on irs.gov) - Possibly signed statements from those who provided support (you) 4. Her previous associate's degree won't affect eligibility as long as she hasn't used 600% of her Pell Lifetime Eligibility (which is unlikely if she only did the early college program) The financial aid should be processed quickly IF she responds to verification requests promptly. Most schools have a dedicated verification staff person - she should get their direct contact for follow-up.

She should track verification status through BOTH studentaid.gov AND her school's financial aid portal. Schools often require additional forms beyond what the federal system requests. Most verification issues happen when students only check one system but not the other.

The FAFSA system is BROKEN when it comes to non-traditional situations. I was in a similar position (though I had SOME income, just very little) and got flagged for verification EVERY SINGLE YEAR. It was an absolute nightmare trying to prove my situation over and over. Your daughter should prepare for endless bureaucratic loops and unhelpful people who can't seem to understand that not everyone has a normal financial situation. The whole system assumes everyone either has parents supporting them or a stable work history. Anyone outside those boxes gets treated like they're lying.

Wait, if she's never had a job, how has she been supporting herself all these years? I'm confused how someone can have literally zero income for 6 years... not even part-time or cash jobs?

If she gets selected for verification (which she almost certainly will with $0 income), be prepared for endless phone calls trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid. I spent literally 4 weeks calling multiple times a day trying to get verification help. I eventually discovered Claimyr.com which got me through to an actual FSA agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours or getting disconnected. They have a demo video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ It was so much easier than the nightmare of trying to call directly, especially during peak FAFSA season when everyone is trying to reach them at once.

Yes, the agents were actually really helpful once I finally reached them! They walked me through exactly what documentation was needed and even put notes on my file about my special circumstances. The problem was never the agents themselves - just the impossible task of reaching one. Good luck with your daughter's application!

One more thing about your daughter's situation - she should also apply for the California College Promise Grant (if you're in CA) or your state's equivalent waiver program. With $0 income, she should automatically qualify for waived tuition at community colleges. This is SEPARATE from FAFSA and requires its own application. Many students don't realize this and miss out on having their tuition completely covered while waiting for federal aid to process.

Yes! In Texas, she should apply for the Texas Public Educational Grant (TPEG) and the Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG) - both are excellent for low-income students at community colleges. With her $0 income, she'll likely qualify for full tuition coverage. These are often automatic when you file FAFSA, but it never hurts to specifically ask the financial aid office about them!

just wondering why she's starting at community college if she already has an associates degree? wouldn't it make more sense to go straight to a 4-year for her bachelors?

Anyone saying verification is no big deal has clearly never been through it with an unusual situation. I was homeless for a period and had $0 income, and they required me to get written statements from the shelter AND people who occasionally let me stay with them. Then they LOST those documents, then claimed they never received them even though I had confirmation emails. The whole system is designed for people with traditional situations and everyone else gets treated like they're trying to game the system.

Your daughter sounds like she's in a really good position for financial aid! As someone who went through a similar situation (though I was 25 when I returned), I can tell you that having $0 income as an independent student actually works in her favor for need-based aid. A few things that helped me navigate the process: 1. Get organized early - create a folder (physical or digital) for all FAFSA-related documents because you'll be referencing them multiple times 2. The IRS Non-Filing Letter is super easy to get online at irs.gov - it takes about 5 minutes to request 3. Write a clear, simple statement explaining her situation (family caregiver role) - financial aid offices see this more often than you'd think 4. Contact the school's financial aid office directly and ask if they have a verification specialist - having one point of contact makes everything smoother The verification process might seem daunting based on some horror stories here, but remember that most cases go smoothly - people just don't post about routine experiences! Her situation is actually pretty straightforward compared to some I've seen. Good luck to both of you!

I went through something very similar when I returned to school at 26 with almost no income history! A few things that really helped me that I don't see mentioned here: 1. **Document everything from day one** - screenshots of your FAFSA submission, emails, phone calls, everything. I had to reference these multiple times during verification. 2. **Get ahead of the verification process** - don't wait for them to contact you. Once your FAFSA is processed, proactively gather the IRS Non-Filing Letter and write your statement of support. This saved me weeks. 3. **Community college financial aid offices are usually amazing** - they deal with non-traditional students all the time and are much more helpful than university offices in my experience. 4. **Apply for EVERYTHING** - not just federal aid. Many community colleges have emergency grants, foundation scholarships, and work-study programs specifically for students in situations like your daughter's. The verification process took about 3 weeks for me total, which was way better than the horror stories I'd read online. Having zero income actually made some parts easier because there were fewer tax documents to verify! Your daughter's situation is more common than you think - she'll be fine.

I'm in a somewhat similar situation - returning to school at 23 after taking care of my disabled mother for several years with no formal income. Just wanted to add a few things that helped me through the process: 1. **Keep a simple log of your verification submissions** - date sent, method (email/mail/fax), and confirmation numbers. This saved me when documents went missing. 2. **Ask about "Professional Judgment" reviews** - if your daughter's situation is truly unusual, some schools can use professional judgment to adjust her aid package beyond the standard formulas. Not all schools advertise this, but it's worth asking about. 3. **Don't stress about the $0 income flag** - I was terrified about this too, but the financial aid counselor told me they see it more often than I expected, especially with caregivers and people who've had extended family responsibilities. 4. **Consider work-study positions** - even with maximum aid, having a small campus job can help with books and personal expenses. Many schools prioritize work-study for students with the lowest incomes. Your daughter's caregiving experience actually demonstrates responsibility and maturity that will serve her well in college. The financial aid system isn't perfect, but it does work for situations like hers. Wishing you both the best of luck!

I just want to add that your daughter's situation as a family caregiver is actually quite respected by financial aid offices - they understand that unpaid caregiving is real work that prevented traditional employment. When I was going through verification for a similar situation, the counselor specifically mentioned that they see this frequently and have streamlined processes for it. One thing I'd recommend is having her practice explaining her situation in a clear, confident way before any phone calls or meetings. Sometimes when you're dealing with bureaucracy, people can make you feel like you need to justify or over-explain your circumstances. But her caregiving role is completely legitimate and doesn't require defensive explanations. Also, make sure she signs up for the school's student portal notifications so she gets alerts immediately when documents are needed or when her aid package is ready. This can save days or weeks compared to waiting for postal mail. The faster she responds to any requests, the smoother everything will go. Your daughter sounds like she has a great support system with you helping her navigate this process. That makes a huge difference compared to students trying to figure it out completely on their own!

Your daughter is in an excellent position for financial aid! As an independent student with $0 income, she'll likely qualify for the maximum Pell Grant and other need-based aid. Here are some key points from my experience helping students in similar situations: **Good news:** - Independent status means no parental income affects her aid calculation - $0 income typically results in a $0 Student Aid Index (maximum aid eligibility) - Her associate's degree won't hurt her - she's pursuing a higher degree level **Verification process (which she'll likely face):** - It's standard procedure for $0 income, not a red flag - She'll need an IRS Non-Filing Letter (easy to get online at irs.gov) - A simple written statement explaining how she was supported (family caregiving situation) - Possibly a statement from you confirming you provided support **Pro tips:** - Get verification documents ready before they ask - saves weeks - Keep copies of everything submitted - Contact the school's verification specialist directly for faster processing - Check both studentaid.gov AND the school portal for status updates Her caregiving role is completely legitimate and financial aid offices see this situation regularly. The process might seem daunting, but with $0 income and family support documentation, it's actually quite straightforward. She should be well-positioned for substantial aid!

I went through almost the exact same situation when I returned to school at 25 after caring for my grandmother with dementia for several years! Your daughter is actually in a really strong position for financial aid. A couple of things that made my process smoother: 1. **Start a "FAFSA binder" now** - print/save every email, confirmation page, and document. I referenced mine constantly during verification. 2. **Write her statement of support before verification starts** - keep it simple, factual, and about one page. Something like "I provided unpaid caregiving for family members with health needs from [dates], living at home where my parents provided housing, food, and basic necessities." 3. **Her previous associate's is actually a plus** - it shows she's academically capable and serious about education, which can help with institutional scholarships. 4. **Community colleges are GREAT with non-traditional students** - they deal with returning students, caregivers, and unusual financial situations all the time. Much more understanding than big universities in my experience. The verification process took about 2.5 weeks for me total, and I ended up with a full Pell Grant plus additional state and institutional aid. Her $0 income situation is more common than you think - she'll do great!

I'm a current financial aid counselor at a community college, and I want to reassure you that your daughter's situation is actually very common and manageable! We see family caregivers with $0 income frequently, especially post-COVID when many people had to step away from traditional employment for family care. A few specific things that will help her process go smoothly: **Timing:** Submit her FAFSA ASAP if she hasn't already. For spring 2025 start, she's actually in good shape timing-wise. **Verification prep:** She'll almost certainly be selected, but this is routine. Have her request the IRS Non-Filing Letter about 2 weeks after FAFSA submission (it stays valid for months). For the statement of support, one clear paragraph explaining the caregiving situation is sufficient. **Aid outlook:** With $0 income as an independent student, she should qualify for maximum Pell Grant ($7,395 for 2025-2026) plus likely additional state and institutional aid. Her previous associate's won't impact eligibility negatively - if anything, it demonstrates academic readiness. **Pro tip:** Once enrolled, have her ask specifically about "completion grants" or "last-dollar scholarships" - many community colleges have these for students who already have some college experience. Her caregiving experience actually demonstrates exactly the kind of responsibility and dedication that makes for successful returning students. You're both on the right track!