FAFSA dependent vs. independent status for 22-year-old returning student - no parental support

Unfortunately, FAFSA doesn't care if he's self-supporting - they only care about specific criteria for independent status. At 22, he's automatically considered dependent unless he meets one of these qualifications: - Married - Has dependents he supports - Veteran/active military - Orphan/ward of court/in foster care after age 13 - Legally emancipated minor - Homeless or at risk of homelessness Just living on his own and supporting himself doesn't qualify. You'll still need to provide your income info unless he can document one of those situations or get a dependency override (very rare).

went thru this with my daughter last year...so annoying!! she was 23 and still had to use our info even tho we havent given her a dime since she was 20. the whole system is garbage

Financial aid advisor here - while the other commenters are correct about the general rules, there is a possible solution: dependency override. It's not easy to get but not impossible either. Your son would need to document his self-sufficiency and complete estrangement from parents (not just financial independence). He should contact the financial aid office at his college and specifically ask about a "Professional Judgment Review" or "Dependency Override" process. He'll need documentation like: - Lease agreements showing he pays his own housing - Tax returns showing he files independently - Letters from objective third parties who can verify his situation (teachers, counselors, clergy, etc.) Each school handles these differently, but it's worth trying if your relationship truly qualifies as an estrangement beyond just not providing financial support.

Unfortunately, a good relationship with limited financial support typically won't qualify for a dependency override. The Department of Education specifically states that a parent's unwillingness to provide financial support or information does not constitute grounds for an override. For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, students under 24 need parental info unless they meet one of the criteria mentioned earlier. The only exceptions are for documented cases of abuse, abandonment, or similar circumstances where contact is dangerous or impossible. However, there are still options! Have your son look into these alternatives: 1. Work-study programs at his school 2. School-specific scholarships for returning students 3. Private scholarships for non-traditional students 4. Income-driven repayment plans for any federal loans

I went through EXACTLY this situation with my FAFSA application last year! I was 23, completely self-supporting, but still had to include parent info. After dozens of calls trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid to explain my situation (kept getting disconnected after 2+ hour waits), I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual FSA agent in about 15 minutes! The agent confirmed I needed parent info but helped me understand special circumstance options. Check their demo video: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ and website claimyr.com - it saved me HOURS of frustration when I needed urgent answers about my specific situation. Sometimes talking to an actual person is the only way to get clear guidance.

Yes! It worked for me after I'd been disconnected three times trying on my own. The FSA agent I spoke with explained some nuances about my situation that weren't clear from the website. Definitely worth it when you're dealing with financial aid deadlines.

A trick I learned from my college financial aid office: have your son submit the FAFSA with your information, then immediately contact his school's financial aid office to explain his situation. While not a formal override, many schools have institutional funds they can allocate at their discretion to students in special circumstances. They might not be able to change his federal aid status, but they often have scholarship or grant money they can direct to students who fall through the cracks of the federal system like your son.

The WHOLE SYSTEM is broken! My daughter worked full-time for 3 years, lived completely on her own, paid ALL her own bills, filed her OWN taxes, and STILL had to include our information because she was 23! Then because our household income was "too high" (we have 3 other kids to support!), she got MINIMAL aid despite being 100% financially independent for YEARS!!! And here's the kicker - once she turned 24, her SAI score dropped by $12,000 and she qualified for WAY more aid despite NOTHING changing in her financial situation except her stupid age on paper. Makes ZERO sense!!! 🤬

One important tip: even though you need to provide your income information, you should clearly indicate on the FAFSA that you're not providing any financial support. There's a section where you can enter $0 for parent contribution. While this won't change his dependency status, it does signal to the college financial aid office that they should consider his actual financial situation when allocating institutional aid. Also, make sure he applies for all possible scholarships - many are specifically designed for returning students or students who are supporting themselves. The CS department at our local university has special scholarships just for students who took a gap and are returning to finish their degree.

my brother just waited till he was 24 before going back to school. worked full time and saved up, then when he hit 24 he could file independent and got way more aid. might be worth considering if your son can wait a bit longer?