FAFSA independent status for apartment-living student with parental support - possible?

Unfortunately, living separately doesn't automatically make her independent for FAFSA purposes. The federal criteria for independent status are very specific, and include: - Being 24+ years old by December 31 of the award year - Being married - Having legal dependents - Being a veteran/active military - Being an orphan/ward of court/emancipated minor - Being homeless or at risk of homelessness Simply living in an apartment and working part-time won't qualify her as independent if she doesn't meet one of these criteria. Even if you stop claiming her on taxes, the FAFSA still requires parental information unless she meets one of the above conditions.

my daughter tried the same thing last year. moved out, got a job, the whole deal. FSA said NOPE still dependent. its stupid but thats the rules. doesnt matter if u help her or not, only those special cases count

Have you looked into a dependency override? It's a rare option, but some financial aid administrators can override dependent status in unusual circumstances. However, this typically requires documented cases of abuse, abandonment, or incarceration of parents - not just living separately or financial self-sufficiency. Your daughter should also make sure she's completing the work-study section of the FAFSA and applying for every scholarship possible through her school's financial aid office and outside sources. Many students miss out on institutional aid by not completing all the required forms. Some schools also have supplemental financial aid applications beyond just the FAFSA.

That SAI calculation suuuuucks lol. When i was in college my mom made like 65k and I got basically no need-based aid even tho I was responsible for everything. Eventually I just took a year off, worked full time, then went back to a cheaper state school instead. Sometimes the system is rigged against the middle class ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

If your daughter doesn't qualify as independent (which sounds like she won't), focus on maximizing her aid eligibility within her dependent status. Here are some strategies: 1. Minimize your reportable assets before applying (retirement accounts aren't counted on FAFSA) 2. Have her request a "Professional Judgment" review if your current income is lower than what's reported on the tax forms used for FAFSA 3. Check if her college offers any supplemental need-based or merit scholarships 4. Make sure she's applying for departmental scholarships within her major 5. Consider whether an appeal based on special circumstances might work Also, for 2025-2026 FAFSA, they'll be looking at your 2023 tax information. If your situation has changed significantly since then, document that clearly for the financial aid office.

I had EXACTLY this issue with my son last year!!!! It made me SO ANGRY!!!! The FAFSA system is completely broken. My son was living on his own, paying ALL his own bills, and I was helping with just health insurance. We got DENIED for everything except loans because of my income, even though I have 3 other kids at home and was paying child support for 2 of them! The system is RIGGED and UNFAIR!!!!

After struggling with the same issue for my son, I finally got through to an actual FSA agent who explained all our options by using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that holds your place in the phone queue and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The FSA agent we spoke with confirmed everything others have said here but also told us about some specific scholarship programs my son's university offered for students in our exact situation. Information we never would have gotten from just the website!

One other option to explore is a CSS Profile, which some private colleges use in addition to FAFSA. Unlike FAFSA, the CSS Profile considers more nuanced financial situations and may take into account that you're helping support multiple households. It costs money to submit ($25 for first school, $16 for each additional), but fee waivers are available for eligible students. The CSS Profile gives a more complete picture of financial circumstances and may result in better institutional aid at schools that use it. Check if your daughter's college accepts it.

If I can add one more thought - make sure your daughter talks directly with her school's financial aid office. While FAFSA rules are strict, many schools have institutional funds they can distribute at their discretion. Having your daughter meet in person (not just email) to explain her situation might help. Financial aid officers often have some flexibility with school-based scholarships and grants even when federal aid is limited. Sometimes it takes persistence and building a relationship with the financial aid office to access all available resources.