I have too high of EFC, I need to change my dependency status?

Question

Ok, so I have finished my financial aid process from FAFSA.
The school I am going to, in another state, will cost me $30,000.
I will be living on my own with a part time job. Yet, I am told I am Dependent and my family makes too much money for me to be eligible. I was hoping for a small grant, at least.
How can my EFC be 21600 (fafsa says efc has nothing to do with what I need to pay or what I'll be getting.) when my parents have NOT claimed me since I turned 18? I am now 20, almost 21.
I do not depend on them at all, and I consider myself to be in financial need.
My dad has way too much to pay for, my mom is suffering from brain cancer, there is no way my parents can be expected to help me but apparently they can not see all of this.
This is why I ask:
Is there any possible way I can become "independent" so I can get a grant without being 23 or married, etc?

Any help appreciated, thank you.

Answer 1

There is no way you can change your dependency status. Unless you can answer YES to one of the 13 dependency questions listed here:

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/fotw0910/WorksheetServlet?locale=en_US&wstype=WSDEP



This would be for the NEXT time you fill out the fafsa. (you can't change the answers for the fafsa you just did). Notice your dependency status (for the fafsa) has NO questions about who claims or doesn't claim you on their taxes. It has nothing to do with where you live. Has nothing to do with the fact that they will or will not be helping you pay for school.



Your EFC is not what you or your parents are expected to pay for school. It is just a code the school will use to determine what kinds and how much aid you will be offered and you are correct this Code is too high for you to get any type of free grants. But you WILL qualify for federal student Unsubsidized Stafford loan.



As a dependent freshman you can borrow up to 5,500 a year. Unfortunately, the government does not take into consideration that you want to attend an expensive out-of-state school costing 30K a year. They figure you can attend a perfectly good in-state school and have the 5,500 cover most or even ALL of your costs.



If you find a school that is under the 5,500 you will be fine. If you don't want to, your options for funding are very limited. Either find scholarships or convince your parents to take out a parent PLUS loan. They would start making montly payments on it immediatly and would have to take out a loan for you every year for you to afford this expensive out-of-state option. Out of state schooling is only a good idea for those who can afford it... but not wize for those who can not.



My advise to you is this...



Have an affordable (less than 5,500 a year if you have not saved any cash) "fall-back school" ready to go... just in case. Kids think that money is just going to start falling from the sky when they get accepted to these expensive schools. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but it doesn't happen.



Unless your Dad has 30,000 a year every year for the next 4 years, you will not ever graduate from this college. It pains me to see kids who somehow manage to scrape this money together to go ONE year and then end up having to come home because they didn't think ahead and realize they will be in college for FOUR years.



Now, about your Mom's illness, you COULD ask the schools financial aid office to consider the fact that your family has high medical bills because of her illness. You would need to turn in paperwork and documentation to this effect. Not often will it make a difference... (Not ONCE have I have ever seen someone suddenly qualify for grants when they did not before the petition, as a result of completing all this paperwork) but it couldn't hurt.



Just please, don't get your hopes up it will work.. because most of the time it doesn't.... (remember what I said about having a fall back school). If your mom has insurance and it is paying for most of her treatments, then this may not make a difference (the school will only take into account high PAID medical expenses that your family actually made) . it won't matter if they have outstanding bills (that aren't paid) or if someone else (like the insurance company) is paying.



And keep in mind that even if you did qualify for some sort of family income adjustment, it STILL isn't going to get you 30K a year. I repeat, it STILL isn't going to get you 30K a year. Becuase the max amount you can borrow as a dependent freshman is STILL 5,500 a year. Remember, what I said, money isn't going to fall from the sky...



I hope this helps. Email me if you have more questions!!!

Good LUCK

Answer 2

Usually when they ask about you supporting dependents they are asking for people under the age of 18 so you claiming your gf as a dependent of yours will probably not work. The reason aid is set-up like this is because it is suppose to be your parents responsibility to pay for your schooling and most of the time people are done by 24. They have the exceptions because once you have a child of your own, get married, join the military etc... than it is no longer your parents responsibility to care for you. Your choices are to try and get help from family for your education, go to a cheaper school, hold off on school until your 24 (like many people have to do), or get scholarships and loans.

Answer 3

The only way to claim independent status is if you're 24 or older, married, providing more than 50% of support to a dependent, or if you're an active member of the military. Now, if both of your parents become deceased (God forbid), or if both are incarcerated, you will also qualify for independence. It has nothing to do with if they support you or if they claim you on their taxes... sorry. You can still apply for scholarships and you will still qualify for federal stafford loans (which is financial aid, but has a maximum yearly limit). You may need to find a cheaper school, or your parents will have to take out a Pell loan or you'll need to qualify for private student loans.

Answer 4

You are unable to be change your dependency status. You are still considered a dependent student for financial aid purposes. However, you should contact the Financial Aid Office of the college that you are applying to to ask about an appeal process. Since your mother is suffering from a serious medical condition and I am sure that the medical expenses are extremely high, your financial aid office can review your family's situation based on additional information.

Answer 5

it sounds such as you have got to double assess your SAR when you consider that there isn't such factor as $four,6000 in revenue. That is prob it. Pay awareness while you fill out the style subsequent time. PS: Be conscious that an EFC is NOT a greenback quantity. Choose a college that bills two,000 a yr and that's what you'll pay. Choose a college that bills forty,000 and that's what you'll pay. No, you can not difference your dependency reputation since you do not like your EFC or since dad and mom don't seem to be going to aid.