FAFSA: Can 18-year-old get student loans without parent's bad credit? Parent lost job

Yes, you can get federal student loans without your parents' credit history affecting you! Federal Direct Loans don't require credit checks - both subsidized and unsubsidized. As a first-year dependent student, you can borrow up to $5,500 in Direct Loans. The key is making sure you've completed your FAFSA properly. Since your family situation has changed, you should contact your school's financial aid office about a "professional judgment" review based on your stepdad's job loss. They can adjust your SAI and potentially give you more aid. Private loans will be harder without good credit or a cosigner though.

when i was in ur situation i just got a co-signer from my aunt. she had good credit and the bank approved us. maybe u have a relative who can cosign? the interest was kinda high tho

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST FAMILIES WITH FINANCIAL HARDSHIP!! Your situation is EXACTLY why FAFSA is broken - they calculate that stupid SAI based on old tax info that has NOTHING to do with your current situation. My daughter went through this last year and we had to FIGHT for every dollar. The schools DON'T CARE if your circumstances changed - they just want their money!!!!

You definitely have options here. First, make sure you've maximized your federal Direct Loans through FAFSA - those don't require credit checks. But as others mentioned, the $5,500 limit for first-year dependent students likely won't cover your gap. Here's what I recommend: 1. Request a professional judgment review from your financial aid office with documentation of your stepdad's job loss 2. Ask if your dependency status can be reconsidered given your circumstances 3. Look into institutional payment plans that might let you spread costs over 10-12 months 4. Check if your school has emergency grants for situations like yours For private loans, most 18-year-olds will need a cosigner with good credit. If you truly have no family members who can help, some schools offer institutional loans that may have more flexible requirements.

Have u tried calling Federal Student Aid directly? I spent 3 weeks trying to reach someone bc I had a similar situation with my dad losing his job. Eventually used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to FSA in like 20 mins. They helped me understand all my loan options and how to document the income change for my school. They have this video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

My daughter just went through this exact situation! If your stepdad was denied a Parent PLUS loan due to adverse credit history, YOU automatically become eligible for additional unsubsidized federal loans - up to $4,000 more in your first year! This is a special provision many people don't know about. You need to make sure your financial aid office knows about the PLUS loan denial and request the additional unsubsidized amount. That would give you $9,500 total in federal loans for your first year, which might help close that gap.

OMG I'm literally going thru this right now... it SUCKS. I'm in my second semester and my dad got laid off right after I started school. Have you thought about taking a gap year to work and save up? That's what my brother did and honestly sometimes I wish I had too because the debt is scary. But if you're set on going now, definitely do the professional judgment thing others mentioned. Also apply for like a million external scholarships - I got a random one from my dad's credit union for $2500 that I didn't expect to get!

Based on everything discussed, here's a complete action plan for you: 1. Have your stepdad apply for a Parent PLUS loan (even though you expect denial) 2. Once denied, request the additional $4,000 in unsubsidized loans you'll be eligible for 3. Submit a professional judgment appeal with documentation of job loss (termination letter, unemployment statements, current bank statements showing reduced income) 4. Ask specifically about dependency override possibilities 5. Contact FSA directly about your options (using the contact method mentioned above if you have trouble getting through) 6. Create a spreadsheet of external scholarship opportunities - many have deadlines throughout the year 7. If you still have a gap, talk to your school about payment plans or emergency assistance funds With this approach, you might be able to secure enough funding without private loans and their credit requirements. Would you like more specific advice on any of these steps?

I'm in a very similar situation - my mom lost her job last year and our family income dropped by about 60%. Here's what worked for me: First, definitely have your stepdad apply for the Parent PLUS loan so you can get that denial letter - it's counterintuitive but necessary. Second, when you do the professional judgment appeal, include EVERYTHING: termination letter, unemployment statements, current paystubs (if any), bank statements showing the reduced income, even utility shut-off notices if you have them. The more documentation you provide, the better. Also, don't just email this stuff - make an appointment to sit down with a financial aid counselor in person if possible. They're more likely to really advocate for you when they can put a face to the situation. One thing that really helped me was asking specifically about work-study opportunities too - even if it's just a few thousand, every bit helps close that gap!