The law governing the FSA programs is based on the premise that the family is the first source of the student’s support. The law also provides several criteria that decide if the student is considered independent of his/her parents for financial aid eligibility. A student reaching the age of 18 or 21 or living apart from his/her parents does NOT affect his/her dependency status and remains a dependent of their parent for financial aid purposes. In unusual cases a financial aid administrator can determine that a student who doesn’t meet any of the independence criteria should still be treated as an independent student.
Your parent’s refusal to provide information for your FAFSA is NOT grounds for granting independent status. Students whose parents refuse to provide information on the FAFSA may only receive unsubsidized Stafford loans. For a student to be eligible for these loan funds, you must provide documentation (1) that your parents refuse to provide information for your FAFSA and (2) that they do not and will not provide any financial support to you and the date the financial support ended.
PARENTS, by signing this document you understand that by refusing to provide your information for your child’s FAFSA they will only be eligible for unsubsidized student loans and they will NOT be eligible for any federal grants (free money) or subsidized student loan funds.