FAFSA dependency status for 21-year-old living independently since 17 - will parents' income still count?

Unfortunately, your wife is generally correct. For federal financial aid purposes, students are considered dependent until age 24 regardless of how financially independent they actually are. There are specific exceptions, but simply living on your own and supporting yourself doesn't qualify. The exceptions include: being married, having dependents you support, being a veteran/active military, being an emancipated minor, being homeless/at risk of homelessness, or being/having been in foster care. Working full-time and supporting himself sadly doesn't change his dependency status for FAFSA purposes.

my cousin had tha same thing happen!!! hes been on his own since 18 but they still counted his parents who dont even talk to him anymore. something about "legal dependency" not actual dependency. its messed up

He should talk to the financial aid office at his school about filing a "Dependency Override" request. While rare, some schools can make exceptions in extreme circumstances. He'll need to document his independence thoroughly - tax returns showing self-support, lease agreements, utility bills in his name, maybe letters from employers confirming his work history. It's a long shot but worth trying. Alternatively, if his circumstances match ANY of the automatic independent criteria (like if he was ever in foster care even briefly), he should focus on documenting that specific exception. The school's financial aid office is the best resource to help with this process.

I HATE THIS STUPID RULE SO MUCH!!! I was in almost the exact situation with my daughter who moved out at 18, and we couldn't get her any aid because of our income - even though we were barely covering our own bills after a medical bankruptcy! We didn't have a penny to give her for college but FAFSA didn't care. The whole system is built on this fantasy idea that all parents support their adult children through college. It's complete BS and punishes hard-working kids.

After hours of trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid about this same issue for my son, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through. I was connected to an agent in about 10 minutes who explained the documentation needed for a dependency override. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent confirmed that in rare cases, students who can document complete financial self-sufficiency AND unusual circumstances (like parents refusing to provide information) might qualify for a dependency override. It's still very hard to get, but at least I got clear information instead of just website FAQs.

Another option to consider is having him complete his Associate's degree at the community college level first (assuming that's where he's attending part-time). Community colleges are significantly more affordable, and by the time he finishes, he might be closer to the 24-year age threshold for independent status. Also, has he looked into scholarships specifically for working students? Many organizations offer scholarships based on work ethic and not just financial need or academic merit. His 60-hour work weeks while attending school shows incredible dedication that many scholarship committees value.

has he tried applying for the Pell Grant? my friend was in a kinda similar spot and still got some Pell money even with parents making decent $. worth a shot maybe

Thank you all for the responses. It's both helpful and incredibly frustrating to confirm what my wife suspected. I'm going to have my stepson look into: 1. Speaking with his financial aid office about a dependency override (long shot but worth trying) 2. Continuing at community college to minimize costs until he reaches 24 3. Applying for scholarships specifically targeting working students 4. Still completing the FAFSA anyway just in case It's crazy that a system designed to help students can be so disconnected from real-world situations. A young adult who has been completely self-sufficient for years shouldn't be tied to parents' finances for aid purposes.

This is such a common frustration! I went through something similar with my nephew a few years ago. One thing that might help - if your stepson has ANY documentation of being self-supporting before age 18 (like if he filed taxes independently at 17), that could strengthen a dependency override case. Also, some states have their own financial aid programs with different dependency rules than federal aid. He should check if his state offers grants or scholarships that don't rely on the FAFSA dependency determination. It's worth researching every angle since the federal system is so inflexible about real-world independence.

This is exactly why I think the FAFSA dependency rules need serious reform! Your stepson sounds incredibly responsible and self-sufficient. One additional option to consider - if he's working 60+ hours a week, he might qualify for employer tuition assistance programs. Many restaurants and retail chains now offer education benefits, even for part-time college students. It won't solve the FAFSA issue, but could help offset some costs. Also, make sure he's claiming the American Opportunity Tax Credit on his own tax return if eligible - that's up to $2,500 per year that goes directly to him, not based on your income since he files independently. The whole system assumes family financial support that often doesn't exist in reality. Definitely pursue all the suggestions others mentioned, especially the dependency override documentation.