FAFSA dependency override options when parent refuses to provide info at 18

Unfortunately, a parent simply refusing to provide information isn't automatically grounds for a dependency override. The Department of Education is very strict about what qualifies. Your niece should: 1. Document everything - get her mom's refusal in writing or text messages if possible 2. Meet with the financial aid office at her intended school and request a "Professional Judgment" review 3. Complete the FAFSA with as much information as she can, then follow up with the financial aid office 4. Be prepared to provide documentation about her living situation with you Most schools can at least offer unsubsidized federal loans without parental information. She won't be eligible for grants or subsidized loans though unless she gets that dependency override approved.

my sister did the EXACT same thing to my niece!! said she was "teaching her independence" by refusing to give tax info for FAFSA. it was a NIGHTMARE. the school gave her some unsubsidized loans but she missed out on like $7000 in grants she would have qualified for if my sister had just filled out the stupid form. pisses me off to this day

Why don't you just ask her father instead? The FAFSA only requires one parent's information if they're separated or divorced.

Financial aid counselor here. Your niece is in what we call the "FAFSA gray area" - doesn't qualify as independent but can't get parent information. Here's what she can do: 1. File the FAFSA without parent information, which will be incomplete 2. Contact each college's financial aid office to request a "Parent Refusal" form (different schools call it different things) 3. With that documentation, schools can offer UNSUBSIDIZED Federal Direct loans only 4. For a full dependency override (to get grants/subsidized loans), she would need to document complete parent estrangement or dangerous situation The standard for dependency overrides is very high and "refusing to provide info" generally doesn't meet it. However, each school has some discretion in how they interpret special circumstances. Some schools may offer institutional aid to help bridge the gap for students in this situation. Have her ask about all available emergency aid programs.

Did you try calling the Federal Student Aid hotline? I spent TWO WEEKS trying to get through to someone about a similar issue with my son's FAFSA. Eventually I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a live agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The FSA agent told me there's a special form called "Special Circumstance: Parental Refusal" that can at least get your niece some loans without the parent info. Worth asking them directly about your specific situation.

OMG my mom did this to me!!! She flat out said "you're 18, it's not my problem anymore" and I almost lost my chance at college!! I had to take a gap year and work full-time until I turned 24 and could file as independent. TWENTY-FOUR!! The system is BROKEN!!! The only other ways to be considered independent before 24 are: - Be married - Have your own dependents - Be a veteran - Be in foster care/ward of court - Be emancipated minor - Be homeless or at risk of homelessness Literally NONE of these applied to me either. It was infuriating!!!

i think she could maybe get married to one of her friends??? that would make her independent for fafsa. my cousins friend did that i think

One thing no one has mentioned yet - have your niece talk to her mom about the CSS Profile as well as FAFSA. Many private colleges require both, and CSS Profile requirements can sometimes be even stricter. Just something to be aware of if she's applying to private colleges.

I work at a community college and we see this ALL THE TIME. Parents don't realize that their refusal to provide info doesn't make their child independent - it just prevents them from getting full aid. Definitely have your niece start at the financial aid office at her school of choice. Each institution has some discretion in how they handle these cases. Also, suggest she look into the college's emergency aid programs or special foundation scholarships. Many schools have funds specifically set aside for students who fall through bureaucratic cracks like this.

This is such a frustrating situation that unfortunately many students face. As someone who went through something similar, I wanted to add that your niece should also consider applying to schools with strong need-based aid policies, particularly those that meet 100% of demonstrated need. Some of these institutions have more flexible policies for students in unusual circumstances. Also, make sure she applies for every single scholarship she can find - local community organizations, her high school, religious institutions, civic groups, etc. These don't require FAFSA and can help bridge the gap. Many small scholarships ($500-$2000) go unclaimed because students think they're "too small" to bother with, but they add up quickly. One more suggestion - if your sister is being stubborn about "teaching independence," maybe approach it from that angle? Point out that helping with the FAFSA isn't giving money directly, it's just providing information so your niece can access the loans and aid she'll be responsible for repaying herself. Sometimes reframing it as "enabling independence through education" rather than "providing handouts" can change parents' perspectives.

I'm so sorry your niece is dealing with this - it's unfortunately more common than it should be. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that she should document the timeline of her living situation with you. Since she's been with you for 6 months, that could potentially help support a case for unusual circumstances, especially if there was a specific reason she left her mother's home. Also, encourage her to apply to multiple schools with varying financial aid policies. Some state schools have emergency aid funds or institutional grants specifically for students who can't access traditional financial aid due to family circumstances. Community colleges are often more flexible with these situations and can be a great starting point. Has she considered talking to a high school guidance counselor? They often have experience navigating these exact situations and may know about local resources or have connections with college financial aid offices that could help advocate for her case.