FAFSA and independent 21-year-old daughter - do I still need to be on her application?

Unfortunately, age alone doesn't make her independent for FAFSA purposes. At 21, she's still considered a dependent student unless she meets specific criteria. The main ones are: married, veteran/military, has dependents she supports, orphan/ward of court, homeless/at risk, or has a dependency override approved by her school's financial aid office. Her living separately and supporting herself doesn't automatically qualify her as independent for FAFSA.

I went thru this EXACT thing w/ my son!! So annoying. FAFSA doesn't care if they're financially independent in real life. My son was 22, hadn't lived with us for 3 yrs, we didn't claim him on taxes, but STILL had to provide all our info. The whole system is rigged against middle-class families!!!!

To give you the most accurate information: For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, your daughter will be considered a dependent student unless she meets one of the specific criteria for independence. Simply living apart and being self-supporting is not enough. You will need to provide your financial information (including tax returns) regardless of whether you support her financially or claim her on your taxes. Regarding your move: Your state of residence doesn't affect federal aid calculations, but it could potentially impact state-based financial aid if she's applying in NY. Your daughter should check with her school's financial aid office about any state residency requirements. The specific dependency criteria are: - 24 years old or older - Married - Graduate/professional student - Veteran/active duty military - Has dependents that receive more than half their support from her - Orphaned, ward of court, in foster care after age 13 - Emancipated minor - In legal guardianship - Homeless or at risk of homelessness - Dependency override approved by financial aid administrator

my daughter had this same problem and her financial aid offer was WAY lower because they counted my income even though I dont give her any money! we tried to get a dependency override but the school said no

I work in financial aid, and unfortunately this is one of the most common and frustrating situations students face. The federal definition of independence is very strict - Congress sets these rules, not the schools. Your daughter can request a dependency override, but they're granted only in extreme circumstances (abuse, abandonment, incarceration of parents, etc.). Simply not living with or receiving financial support from parents doesn't qualify. As for your move, your state of residence doesn't affect the federal FAFSA calculation, but if your daughter is applying for NY state aid, your move could potentially impact her eligibility for state programs. She should check with her school's financial aid office. The 2025-2026 FAFSA requires contributor information from parents if the student is dependent. With the new FAFSA Simplification, you'll provide access to your tax information through the IRS Data Retrieval Tool or by manually entering information from your tax return.

If you don't financially support your daughter, there is one option: she can include a letter with her FAFSA submission explaining her situation. While this won't change her dependency status, it may help if the school does a "professional judgment" review. She should write a detailed letter explaining: 1. How long she's been self-supporting 2. Documentation of her finances (rent payments, bills, etc.) 3. A clear statement that you don't provide financial support This won't affect the SAI calculation, but some schools have institutional funds they can award at their discretion after reviewing special circumstances.

When I was trying to submit my FAFSA last year, I kept getting hung up on the dependency questions. I needed to reach someone at Federal Student Aid to clarify my situation, but it was IMPOSSIBLE to get through on the phone - kept disconnecting after being on hold for hours. I finally used this service called Claimyr that connected me to a live FSA agent in about 10 minutes - totally worth it. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent I spoke with was super helpful and walked me through exactly what documentation I needed for my specific situation. Their website is claimyr.com if you're struggling to get through to someone.

wait i thought if ur kid is over 18 they r automatically independent???

One additional point: With the FAFSA Simplification Act changes, there is now a clearer process for dependency overrides. Your daughter should schedule an appointment with her school's financial aid office to discuss her specific situation. While living separately and being self-supporting typically isn't enough for an override, each school has some discretion in evaluating unusual circumstances. Also, if you have limited contact with your daughter, make sure you're listed as a contributor on her FAFSA and create your own FSA ID so you can provide your information. The system now requires contributors (typically parents) to provide their own information directly rather than the student entering it. If you're unable to reach the financial aid office or Federal Student Aid, consider requesting a virtual appointment or sending a detailed email outlining your questions.

I'm going through something similar with my 20-year-old son. What really helped us was getting organized before starting the FAFSA process. Make sure you have your tax returns ready and create your FSA ID ahead of time like others mentioned. One thing I learned is that even though it feels unfair that your income counts when you're not supporting her, the schools do sometimes have additional aid available through their own programs. After we submitted the FAFSA, my son's school offered him a work-study position and some institutional grants that weren't based on the federal aid formula. Also, document everything about her financial independence (lease agreements, utility bills, bank statements showing she pays her own expenses) - even if it doesn't change the FAFSA dependency status, it can be helpful for appeals or institutional aid decisions later.

I'm in a very similar situation with my 22-year-old daughter! She's been completely financially independent for over a year, has her own apartment, pays all her bills, and I don't claim her on my taxes. But we still had to include my information on her FAFSA. What really helped us was being proactive about it - we gathered all the documentation showing her independence (rent receipts, utility bills, bank statements) even though it didn't change her dependency status for federal aid. Her school's financial aid office was actually really understanding when we explained the situation and they were able to offer some additional institutional aid that wasn't tied to the federal formula. Don't lose hope - while the FAFSA rules are frustrating, many schools have their own programs to help students in these situations!

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! My daughter is 21 and has been completely independent for almost 3 years - she has her own lease, pays all utilities, works full-time, and I haven't claimed her as a dependent on my taxes since she moved out. But we still had to include all my financial information on her FAFSA because she doesn't meet any of those specific independence criteria. What I learned through this process is that you should definitely still fill out the FAFSA with your information, even though it feels wrong. Your daughter might qualify for federal loans regardless of your income, and many schools have their own aid programs that can help bridge the gap when the federal formula doesn't reflect your actual family situation. Also, regarding your move to Florida - make sure to check if your daughter is applying for any New York state grants or scholarships that might be affected by your residency change. Some state aid programs have specific requirements about parent residency that could impact her eligibility. The whole system really needs reform, but don't let the frustration stop you from completing the process. There are often more aid opportunities available once you get through the initial FAFSA hurdle!

I'm a financial aid counselor and I see this situation constantly - it's one of the most frustrating aspects of the current FAFSA system for families. Your daughter's age and financial independence unfortunately don't change her dependency status for federal aid purposes. However, here are some actionable steps that can help maximize her aid opportunities: 1. **Complete the FAFSA anyway** - Even with your income included, she may still qualify for federal loans and some need-based aid. 2. **Appeal for institutional aid** - Many colleges have emergency funds or special circumstance reviews for students who are truly self-supporting. Have your daughter write a detailed letter to the financial aid office explaining her situation and include documentation (lease, utility bills, employment records). 3. **Look into your state's timeline** - Since you're moving to Florida, research whether this affects any NY state aid she might be eligible for. Some programs have specific deadlines or residency requirements. 4. **Consider community college options** - If the aid doesn't work out at a 4-year institution, starting at a community college while establishing true independence (until age 24) might be more financially feasible. The system is definitely flawed, but don't give up - there are often more options available than the initial FAFSA results suggest.

I'm going through this exact same situation with my 20-year-old! She's been living independently for over a year, working full-time, and paying all her own expenses, but we still had to include my financial information on her FAFSA. It's incredibly frustrating when the federal rules don't match the reality of these kids being truly self-sufficient. What helped us was being very organized and proactive. We gathered every piece of documentation showing her financial independence - lease agreements, utility bills in her name, bank statements, employment records, everything. Even though it didn't change her dependency status, her school's financial aid office was really receptive when she presented all this information along with a detailed letter explaining her situation. The good news is that many schools do have institutional aid programs that can help bridge the gap when the federal formula doesn't reflect your actual family circumstances. Her school ended up offering additional grants and a work-study position that weren't tied to the FAFSA results. Don't let the frustrating dependency rules discourage you from completing the process - there are often more opportunities available once you get through that initial hurdle!

I'm new to this whole FAFSA process and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! My 20-year-old is in a similar situation - she's been supporting herself for about 8 months now, has her own apartment, and works part-time while going to school. I had no idea that being financially independent didn't automatically make her independent for FAFSA purposes. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the key is to complete the FAFSA with parent information AND then work directly with the school's financial aid office to explain the situation. I'm definitely going to start gathering all the documentation people mentioned - lease agreement, utility bills, bank statements showing she pays her own expenses. One question I have is about timing - should we submit the FAFSA first and then contact the financial aid office, or reach out to them before submitting to get guidance on the best approach for our specific situation?

I'm also new to navigating FAFSA with an independent-living child, and this discussion has been so helpful! My 19-year-old has been completely self-supporting for about 6 months - she has her own lease, pays utilities, works full-time, and I don't provide any financial support. Like everyone else here, I was shocked to learn that none of that matters for federal aid purposes. What I'm taking away from all these experiences is that we need to play the long game - complete the FAFSA with parent info as required, but then immediately start building a case for institutional aid. I'm going to help my daughter create a comprehensive file with lease agreements, utility bills, employment records, bank statements showing independent expenses, and a detailed timeline of her self-sufficiency. It's frustrating that the federal system is so rigid, but I'm encouraged by how many people here found success working directly with their school's financial aid offices. Even if we can't change the dependency status, it sounds like there are real opportunities for additional aid when schools understand the actual family situation. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's made this overwhelming process feel much more manageable!