Can my daughter's roommate file FAFSA independently at 21 when parents won't provide tax info?

Unfortunately, the financial aid office is correct. For FAFSA purposes, a student is considered dependent until age 24 unless they meet very specific criteria. The main exceptions are: - Marriage - Having dependent children you support - Military veteran status - Emancipated minor by court before age 18 - In legal guardianship by court determination - Homeless or at risk of homelessness as verified by certain officials - Both parents deceased, in foster care, or ward of court after age 13 Being financially self-sufficient is NOT one of the exceptions, which is a huge frustration for many students in your daughter's roommate's situation. However, she does have options: 1. She can complete a "Dependency Override Request" at her school's financial aid office. This is for extreme cases (abuse, abandonment, incarceration) but worth trying. 2. She can submit the FAFSA with just her information and indicate she cannot provide parent information. This allows her to receive unsubsidized Direct loans only, but it's better than nothing. 3. She could meet with a financial aid counselor to document her situation and request a "Professional Judgment" review.

they should just get married to someone lol. sounds crazy but my cousin did this with her best friend. they got married for financial aid reasons and both qualified for WAY more money as independents. they're planning to get divorced after graduation. financial aid system is broken imo

Has she spoken with her school's financial aid office about a "dependency override"? While rare, they can be granted in extreme circumstances. That said, most schools won't approve them just because parents refuse to provide information or support. Another option: she can file the FAFSA without parent information by indicating she doesn't have access to it. This will allow her to get unsubsidized federal loans only (no grants, subsidized loans, or need-based aid). It's not ideal, but it's something to help her continue. Also, if her parents haven't filed 2023 taxes yet, remember the 2025-2026 FAFSA uses the 2023 tax year. They need to file ASAP as we're already past the extension deadline. The IRS issues penalties for late filing, which increase over time.

I was literally in THE SAME BOAT last year!!!! The whole system is RIGGED against students who are actually independent but don't meet their stupid arbitrary rules. I couldn't get any financial aid because my parents wouldn't cooperate even though I haven't lived with them since high school. Why should their income count when they contribute ZERO to my education??? The 24 year age requirement is absolute BS and needs to be changed.

One option that hasn't been mentioned yet - she should try requesting a "Professional Judgment" review with her financial aid office. If she can document her financial independence with rent receipts, utility bills, tax returns showing she files independently, etc., some schools will make exceptions. Also, has she looked into state aid programs? Some states have their own grants that might have different requirements than federal aid. Lastly, I had a similar issue getting my parents' info when I was in college. I was completely stuck trying to call Federal Student Aid for weeks. Finally I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent quickly. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ - the agent was able to document my situation and give me specific instructions for my school's financial aid office that actually worked! Worth a try when regular channels fail.

tell her 2 apply 4 scholarships too. i got like 5 different ones from local businesses and stuff that didnt need fafsa info. also some colleges have emergency funds 4 students in weird situations like this. she should ask financial aid about those too

I wanted to clarify something important: For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, the rules have changed slightly with the FAFSA Simplification Act. While the 24-year age requirement for automatic independent status remains, the new form asks about more specific situations like whether the student has a special circumstance that prevents parental involvement. For maximum unsubsidized loan amounts without parent info: - First-year undergraduates: $8,000 - Second-year: $10,000 - Third-year and beyond: $12,000 These are annual limits. It's not ideal compared to what she might get with a complete FAFSA, but it can help her continue her education while working towards a more permanent solution.

Has anyone suggested that she request an "absent parent" form? In some colleges, if a student can document that one parent is completely absent from their life (no contact, no financial support), they might be able to complete the FAFSA with just one parent's information. If one of her parents would be willing to cooperate, this could be a path forward. Also, please remind her that even with these FAFSA challenges, she should still complete the CSS Profile if her school requires it. Some institutional aid has different requirements than federal aid.

To address some of the excellent points raised in this thread: 1. The CSS Profile is a financial aid application used by about 400 mostly private colleges to award their institutional aid (separate from FAFSA). 2. For the "Professional Judgment" review, she should bring: proof of self-support (tax returns, W-2s, pay stubs), proof of separate residence (lease, utility bills), and a detailed personal statement explaining her situation. Letters from objective third parties who know her situation (teachers, counselors, employers) can help strengthen her case. 3. If her parents simply haven't filed 2023 taxes yet, they can provide estimated figures on the FAFSA and update later. The problem is getting them to participate at all. 4. For the dependency override, abuse or abandonment doesn't have to be formally documented through court systems - a detailed personal statement with supporting letters can sometimes be sufficient. Each school has different requirements. The key is persistence - she should not take one financial aid officer's "no" as the final answer. Sometimes speaking to different counselors or escalating to the director can yield different results.

I went through something similar a few years ago and wanted to share what ultimately worked for me. The key was documenting EVERYTHING and being very strategic about how I presented my case. Here's what I wish someone had told me: 1. **Keep detailed records** - I created a binder with every bill, lease agreement, tax return, and pay stub from the past 3 years showing complete financial independence. 2. **Write a compelling personal statement** - Don't just say "my parents won't help." Explain the specific circumstances that led to your independence and why parental cooperation is impossible. 3. **Get supporting letters** - I had letters from my employer, landlord, and a professor who knew my situation. These third-party perspectives really helped validate my case. 4. **Appeal to the right person** - The front desk staff often can't make exceptions, but department directors have more authority. I had to request a meeting with the financial aid director specifically. 5. **Be prepared for multiple attempts** - It took me three separate meetings and two written appeals before they approved my dependency override. The whole process took about 6 weeks, but I was eventually approved for full need-based aid. Don't give up after the first "no" - the system is designed to be difficult, but exceptions ARE possible with proper documentation and persistence. Also, while she's working on this, she should definitely file the FAFSA without parent info to at least get those unsubsidized loans. Something is better than nothing while fighting for the full aid package.