Dependency Status and Important Information for Completing Your Application

Determining whose information to put on the FAFSA is very important. Whether you file independently or with your parents, this distinction makes a tremendous difference on the type of aid you receive. Once you decide on your joint or independent filing, you are responsible for gathering your information, and potentially your parents’ information, in order to complete the FAFSA application.

Knowing the dependency status of the student is critical because it determines whose information should be put down on the FAFSA. Dependency is based on how taxes are filed.

Dependent Students
If you are a student dependent upon your parents financially, you must fill out the FAFSA with both your information and your parent’s information. If you are a dependent, your parents are expected to contribute to your education costs; however, this does not mean you will not get aid. Fill out your forms carefully and truthfully, and the FAFSA will determine your need.

If your parents are divorced or separated, you report information on the parent who you lived with the most over the past 12 months prior to filling out the FAFSA. If you lived with both parents equally, you report the parent who gave the most financial support 12 months prior to filling out the FAFSA.

If you are a dependent, step-parent information must be provided on the FAFSA as well.

Independent Students
If you are an independent student, you simply fill out your own information on the FAFSA.
You are considered independent if you are born before January 1, 1984 (for the 2007-2008 Academic Year); this pattern will continue for each year that arrives.

If you are enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program the academic year you are applying for, then you are considered independent. If you are married or separated at the time of application, you are also independent. If you pay half or more child support, you are independent.

You are also considered independent if: you have dependents, are a ward of the state, both your parents are deceased, you are on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (excluding training), and if you are a veteran.

Occasionally, there are rare cases when you may be considered an independent, and an aid administer can help you with your choices. For example, if you are dependent of your parents, but do not have any contact with them, then you may be considered an independent application. For all rare cases, you must provide the appropriate documentation.

Independent Married Students
If you are an independent married student, you fill out your information and your spouse’s information. It is your joint income and financial status that will be analyzed for your aid.

The Information Needed from the Chosen Party
Once you have determined whose information you need, you should gather this information together and put it in a safe place.

The following information pertains to both yourself, as well as your parents and/or spouse depending upon your filing.

• Name
• Address
• Phone number
• Social security number
• Driver’s license number
• Alien registration (if non U.S. citizen)
• Previous year tax information, tax returns, W-2 forms
• Records of untaxed income
• Amount of money they have in savings, checking, or CD accounts
• Amount of money invested
• Farm or real estate assets
• Email address
It is important that you maintain regular contact with the other parties in the case you may need more information.

It is recommended that once you have collected this information, you should complete the FAFSA as close to the January 1st deadline as possible. Once you have completed the application, it is advisable that you destroy or shred the documents containing personal information. In addition, if you apply online, make sure to clear your Internet browser’s cache to protect your privacy. You want to ensure that your personal information, along with your parents and/or spouse, is kept safe from any potential security breaches or identity theft.