Can my sister qualify as independent on FAFSA without parent info when I'm her guardian at 26?

Unfortunately, FAFSA has very specific rules about who can qualify as an independent student, and living with a sibling instead of parents doesn't automatically qualify her. For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, to be considered independent, she would need to meet one of these criteria: - Be 24 or older by January 1, 2025 - Be married - Have dependent children she supports - Be a veteran/active military - Be an orphan/ward of court/in foster care after age 13 - Be an emancipated minor - Have a court-appointed legal guardian (not just living with you) - Be homeless or at risk of homelessness - Be a graduate/professional student However, there is a path forward. She can apply for a 'Dependency Override' due to unusual circumstances. Your sister would need to document why she can't provide parental information (the conflict with stepdad). Each school's financial aid office has discretion here. She should contact her school's financial aid office directly with documentation of your support.

been thru this exact same mess with my younger brother!!! the dep override is ur best bet but warning its a HUGE pain. schools make it super hard and most deny them tbh. does she have ANY documentation of abuse or neglect? that helps a ton. otherwise ur fighting uphill battle :/

Rather than going the dependency override route (which is extremely difficult to get approved), you might have an easier option. If your dad is still willing to provide his information, your sister might be able to complete the FAFSA with JUST his information and indicate that she cannot obtain the stepparent's information. There's a special circumstance provision for this. She should call the Federal Student Aid Information Center to explain the situation and ask about completing the form with only one parent's information due to the stepparent's refusal to cooperate.

I went thru this EXACT situation but with my mom refusing to provide info! Spent HOURS on hold with Federal Student Aid trying to get answers. When I finally reached someone, they told me I needed a "special circumstances review" at my school's financial aid office. Brought letters from my therapist, my aunt who I was living with, and some financial records. The school rejected it TWICE before finally approving it for my last year. The whole process took like 4 months and almost made me drop out because I couldn't pay tuition while waiting. The system is completely broken for students in non-traditional family situations!!!

just wondering why youre sister cant file as independent if shes 22?? i thought you could file without parents after 21?? my cousin did this last year for her fasfa and didnt need parent info

When I was trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid about a similar situation with my FAFSA, I spent days getting busy signals and disconnections. Finally tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The FSA agent I spoke with explained that your sister has three options: 1) somehow get the stepparent to complete their portion, 2) pursue a dependency override through her school's financial aid office, or 3) file with special circumstances using just your dad's information. The agent recommended option #3 as the path of least resistance given your situation.

Financial aid counselor here. Your situation is unfortunately common, but there are clear paths forward: 1. For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, your sister should first attempt a special circumstance review using only your father's information. The FAFSA now has built-in pathways for students with non-cooperative parents/stepparents. During the application, there should be an option to indicate "unable to provide information for one parent" where she can explain the stepparent situation. 2. If that's denied, then pursue the dependency override with documentation including: - Your tax returns showing her as your dependent - A statement from your father confirming the living arrangement - Utility bills/lease showing your address and timeframe - Third-party documentation (therapist, clergy, school counselor) Key point: Financial aid administrators have professional judgment authority to make exceptions in cases like these. The most successful appeals have strong third-party documentation and clear timelines showing the separation from parents.

btw has ur sister checked her SAI score yet from last years FAFSA? the new system is weird af and the SAI determines how much aid she gets. if her current SAI is already super low with the parents info maybe its not worth the hassle to change everything?? just a thought

Ok so one more important thing: make sure your sister submits her FAFSA EARLY this cycle! The dependency override process or special circumstances review can take weeks or even months. If she waits until the deadline, she might miss out on aid while the review is happening. Most schools handle these cases in the order they're received, so being first in line can make a huge difference in how quickly it's resolved.

I went through something very similar with my nephew a few years ago when his mom refused to cooperate with FAFSA. Here's what worked for us: First, document EVERYTHING. Save all those ignored emails from studentaid.gov that your stepdad isn't responding to - those are gold for proving non-cooperation. Second, your sister should contact her school's financial aid office NOW (don't wait for the new FAFSA cycle) to discuss her options and get the dependency override paperwork ready. Third, consider having your dad write a formal letter explaining the family situation and his willingness to provide his information while confirming stepdad's refusal to cooperate. The financial aid administrators have seen this situation before and they do have ways to help, but you need to be proactive and organized with your documentation. Also, make sure she applies for any emergency aid her school might offer while waiting for this to get resolved - many schools have funds specifically for students caught in these bureaucratic tangles.

Hey Giovanni, I'm actually a financial aid officer at a community college and see cases like your sister's regularly. Here's my professional take: The best immediate strategy is to have your sister attempt the "special circumstances" route using only your dad's information first, as others have mentioned. But here's what most people don't know - when she fills out the FAFSA and encounters the stepparent section, there should be a pathway to indicate "unable to provide stepparent information due to refusal to cooperate." Document every attempt to contact the stepfather with screenshots of unanswered emails from studentaid.gov. Also, since you've been claiming her as a dependent and providing full support, gather bank statements showing payments for her expenses, not just tax returns. The fact that she's been completely financially independent from both parents for 3+ years while being fully supported by you creates a strong case. Most importantly, have her reach out to her school's financial aid office BEFORE the next FAFSA cycle opens - they can walk her through the exact process and may even pre-approve her situation to expedite things. Don't let the horror stories scare you off - about 60% of dependency override requests I review get approved when they have proper documentation like your situation does.