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FAME's 5 on the 5th 
December 2013

Five Situations When a High School Senior Can Be Considered Independent When Filing the FAFSA

      
Most students under the age of 24 are generally considered dependent for financial aid purposes. The U.S. Department of Education requires that parent income and assets be considered when determining financial aid eligibility for dependent students. However, there are situations when a high school senior may be considered independent and, therefore, not required to provide parent information on the FAFSA. The following are some possible scenarios:   
 
1. Emancipated, in Legal Guardianship, Orphaned, in Foster Care, or a Ward of the Court   
 

If a student is an emancipated minor or in legal guardianship (or was upon turning age 18), as determined by a court in the student's state of legal residence, the student is considered independent.

 

Also, if both of the student's parents are deceased, the student was in foster care, or was a dependent ward of the court at any point when the student was 13 years or older, the student is considered independent.  

 
2. Marriage  
 
If the student is married on the day the FAFSA is signed, the student is considered independent. However, the student would need to include his or her spouse's income and asset information on the FAFSA.  
 
3. Children or Legal Dependents  
 
If the student has a child (or is expecting a child that will be born before the end of the award year) or a legal dependent that will receive more than half of his or her support from that student during the upcoming academic year, the student would be considered independent.   
 
4. Homeless Youth  
 
If, at any time after July 1st of the previous year, the student was determined to be an unaccompanied homeless youth by a school district homeless liaison or the director of an emergency shelter program funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the student is considered independent. The director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program can also make this determination, as well as whether a student is independent because he is an unaccompanied youth who is self-supporting and at risk of being homeless.   
 
5. Unusual Circumstances  
 
If the student does not meet any of the previous conditions but has extenuating circumstances, the student should contact a financial aid administrator at the college the student is planning to attend. A dependency override may be considered by a financial aid administrator on a case-by-case basis for students with unusual circumstances. Supporting documentation must be provided and typically originates from a third-party with knowledge of the student's unusual circumstances.   
 
In all of the above circumstances, students should be prepared to provide documentation of their specific situation to the financial aid office. For additional information or other circumstances under which students may be considered independent, please contact a financial aid office or call FAME at 1-800-228-3734. 
Finance Authority of Maine
www.famemaine.com
 
Tel:      (207) 623-3263
           (800) 228-3734
Fax:     (207) 623-0095
TTY:    (207) 626-2717