FAFSA residency dispute after living in-state for a year - dependent status causing problems

You're running into the classic FAFSA dependency status issue. For financial aid purposes, living with your aunt and her claiming you as a tax dependent doesn't automatically make her your "parent" or "legal guardian" in the eyes of FAFSA. What you need to do is file a Dependency Override appeal directly with your school's financial aid office. This requires documentation of your unusual circumstances. They'll need legal papers showing your aunt's guardianship or court documents explaining why you can't live with your biological parents. Without the dependency override, FAFSA will still consider your biological parents' state of residence as your residency for tuition purposes, regardless of how long you've lived in Michigan.

this happened 2 me last yr. total bs. they wont change it no matter what u show them trust me i tried everything. ended up taking out massive loans 😭

I successfully navigated this exact situation. The key is understanding that FAFSA residency and state tuition residency are determined by different criteria, which is why you're getting confused responses. For FAFSA purposes, your dependency status determines whose income is considered, not your state residency. For tuition purposes, each state has their own residency requirements that usually include: 1. 12+ months of physical presence (which you have) 2. Intent to remain in the state (driver's license, voter registration help) 3. Financial independence OR being claimed by an in-state resident The issue is likely that your aunt isn't considered your legal guardian for tuition purposes even if she claims you as a tax dependent. Here's what worked for me: 1. Request the specific written policy for dependency exceptions from your school 2. File for a "Special Circumstances Review" (might be called something else at your school) 3. Get an official letter from your previous state showing you've surrendered residency there 4. Have your aunt sign an affidavit of support showing she provides more than 50% of your financial support Don't give up - this is absolutely appealable if you target the right policies!

Quick question - did your parents file FAFSA with you listed as their dependent from Nevada? Because that would definitely cause the conflict the school is seeing.

One thing nobody mentioned is that you can actually call the Federal Student Aid people directly to get this sorted. I was on hold for HOURS trying to reach someone about my dependency status issue, but once I found Claimyr.com everything changed. They got me connected to an actual FSA agent in like 10 minutes who explained exactly what forms I needed for my situation. Check out their demo video if you're curious: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The FSA agent told me things my school's financial aid office didn't even know about handling unusual dependency situations. Definitely worth talking directly to the source on this one.

Your situation is incredibly frustrating, but unfortunately very common. The residency rules are designed to prevent people from moving to a state just to get cheaper tuition, which is why they're so strict about dependency status. One thing I haven't seen mentioned - look into whether your school offers any tuition reduction appeals based on financial need rather than residency. Some schools have institutional funds they can use to offset the out-of-state tuition difference for compelling cases. Also, double-check if Michigan has any tuition reciprocity agreements with Nevada. Some states have agreements where students pay reduced rates (not quite in-state, but lower than standard out-of-state). Last thing - make ABSOLUTELY sure your FAFSA has your aunt listed properly. If there's conflicting information between your FAFSA and your school's residency determination, that could be part of the problem.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST STUDENTS WITH COMPLICATED FAMILY SITUATIONS!!!! I went through THREE YEARS of fighting my university about this exact issue. They denied me in-state tuition even though I lived in the state for TWO YEARS before applying!!!! They kept saying I was "financially dependent" on my out-of-state parent even though I PAID MY OWN BILLS! The financial aid office literally told me to get married or join the military to establish independence. RIDICULOUS!!!!

Based on everything shared here, you're dealing with two separate issues: 1. FAFSA dependency status - determines whose income is counted for aid calculation 2. State residency for tuition purposes - determines in-state vs out-of-state rates For #1, you need the Dependency Override I mentioned earlier. For #2, you need to follow the specific residency appeal process for your Michigan university, which should include: - Documentation of 12+ months physical presence - Proof of financial ties to Michigan - Evidence you've cut ties with Nevada - Documentation of your aunt's legal relationship to you I recommend scheduling a meeting with both the residency determination office AND the financial aid office together, so they can coordinate. Often these departments don't communicate well with each other, which leaves students caught in the middle.

u should also check if ur schol has hardship grants or emergency aid. my friend got like $5000 when his tuition went up and he couldnt pay