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Learn the criteria for determining parents in FAFSA applications, including divorced/separated parents, household size considerations, and dependency overrides. Get tips to complete the form accurately.
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5 Things You Need to Know about FAFSA Lisa Hearn, Director of Federal Programs
Who is the Parent According to FAFSA? Legal parents are biological and adoptive parents. Complete FAFSA with both legal parents (regardless of same or opposite sex) if : • Marred • They live together and are not married, separated, or divorced. Complete FAFSA with one legal parent if: • Legal parent is widowed or was never married and not living with the other legal parent then complete the FAFSA with only that parent. If legal parents are not U.S. citizens - still required to complete FAFSA with the same information as U.S. citizen parents
Who is the Parent According to FAFSA? Divorced/Separated FAFSA Definitions When married persons live as a married couple but are separated by physical distance or have separate households, they are considered married. Married parents are separated if they are: • Considered legally separated by a state, or • Have chosen to live separate lives, including living in separate households, as though they were not married.
Divorced or Separated Parents – Who to Use? Complete the FAFSA about the parent with whom you lived more during the past 12 months. • If you lived the same amount of time with each parent complete the FAFSA with the parent who provided more financial support during the past 12 months.
Divorced or Separated Parents – Who to Use? • Student does not live at home and parents provide no financial support then complete the FAFSA with the parent who provided more financial support in the last 12 months they actually received support from a parent. • If the legal parent the student is using on the FAFSA is remarried then you must provide information on the legal parent and stepparent.
Common Mistakes Household Size The number of children (other than yourself and even if they do not live with your parents) who will receive more than half of their support from your parents between July 1, 2020 and June 20, 2021.
Household Size • Would the child be required to use this parent’s information on the FAFSA? Use the decision making of which parent to use to help decide. If yes, then include in the household size. • If child is under 24; • Not married; • Not serving on active duty in the U.S Armed Forces (other than training); • Not a Veteran; Then include in the household size.
Working on Master’s or Doctorate Program Q. College grade level for the school year? • Never attended college/1st year. Q. Degree or Certificate working on? • Anything but Graduate/ professional degree. Q. Will you be working on master’s or doctorate program? A. Answer is no, unless you have a bachelor degree and enrolling in a professional program.
Dependent vs. Independent Under 24 you are dependent even if • You don’t live with parents. • Parents do not provide financial support. • Parents refuse to help pay for college. • Parents don’t claim you on tax return. • Parents don’t want to complete the FAFSA. Under 24 you’re Independent if • Married • Serving active duty in U.S. Armed Forces for other than training. • Veteran of U.S. Armed Forces • Provide more than 50% of child’s support • Since age 13, both parents deceased, were in foster care, or ward of the court • Court emancipated minor age 17 or younger. • In legal guardianship. • Homeless or at risk of homeless.
Provide more than 50% of child’s support If one or both of the student’s parents are directly or indirectly providing more than 50% support in cash or other assistance to the child, the student would answer “No”.
Homeless Status Letter • OTC must confirm each year student answers question on FAFSA. • Letter must confirm status was determined on or after July 1 based on FAFSA year. • Please update letter with each FAFSA year. • 19-20 FAFSA: on or after July 1, 2018 • 20-21 FAFSA: on or after July 1, 2019 • Letter resource: SchoolHouse Connection https://www.schoolhouseconnection.org/sample-form-letter-to-determine-the-independent-student-status-of-unaccompanied-homeless-youth/
Dependency Override • If both parents are incarcerated • An abusive family environment that threatens the student's safety or health • Inability to locate the parents May submit FAFSA without parent information Must complete Dependency Override process High School may provide letter if they have knowledge of the situation
Dependency Override Letter Documentation is critical to the dependency override process. Letter must originate from a third party with knowledge of the situation. High School may provide a signed letter with detailed information about the relationship between the student and the parents without giving specifics.
