For 2008-2009, you are considered an independent student for financial aid purposes if you can answer "Yes" to one of the following questions at the time you complete and sign the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):

• Were you born before January 1, 1985?
• At the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year, will you be working in a master's or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, or graduate certificate, etc)? Note: To answer "yes" to this question you must have first completed a bachelor's degree.
• As of today, are you married? (Answer "Yes" if you are separated but not divorced.) "As of today" refers to the day that you sign your FAFSA.
• Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
• Do you have dependents other than your children/spouse who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2009?
• Are (a) both of your parents deceased, or (b) are you (or were you until the age 18) a ward/dependent of the court?
• Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training?
• Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?                                             Answer "Yes," you are a veteran if you (1) have engaged in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard) or are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee who was called to active duty for purposes other than training, or were a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, and (2) were released under a condition other than dishonorable. Also answer "Yes" if you are not a veteran now but will be by June 30, 2009.

Note: If your answer is no to all of the above conditions you are considered a dependent student and must provide parental information on the FAFSA.

May You Appeal Your Dependency Status?
Many students feel they are independent because they currently live on their own or because their parents no longer claim them on their income taxes. Others feel they should be considered independent because their parents refuse to provide information on the FAFSA or because their parents cannot afford to help with college expenses. However, these reasons are not sufficient for an appeal.

The Office of Student Financial Assistance is required to consider parent information and expect a parental contribution for students who are not independent according to the above FAFSA definition unless exceptions are made. Exceptions are made only when adequate documentation of extenuating family circumstances exists. Extenuating circumstances are generally defined by students' inability to have contact with their parents.

Review the reasons for appeal below. If none of these circumstances apply to your situation, do not request an Appeal to be Made Independent form.

Reasons for Appealing Dependency Status

1. Severe circumstances within your family prevent you from obtaining your parents' financial information. Examples:
   1. an abusive home situation which is detrimental to your physical or mental well-being
   2. abandonment by both parents
   3. history of parental alcohol or drug abuse
   4. incarceration of the custodial parent
      
       
2. Death of a parent after filing the FAFSA and the surviving parent meets one of the conditions listed above in number 1.
    
3. You are a non-citizen of the United States of America (who is otherwise eligible to receive Federal financial aid) and your parents currently reside in a foreign country. However, you are unable to communicate with your parents because of a long-standing political policy or civil unrest in your parents' country of residence.
    
4. You are divorced after being married for at least two years.  During your marriage you maintained a residence apart from your parents and your spouse's parents. Since your divorce, you have maintained a residence apart from your parents and pay all expenses from your own income and assets.
    
5. You have extenuating circumstances not described above which prevent you from having contact with your parents to obtain parental information for FAFSA filing.
   
   Contact our office for an Appeal to be Made Independent form if you are able to document one or more of the above conditions. Two to three letters from third parties such as Children and Family Services will be required to support your appeal.  This appeal form may also be downloaded from this Web site under SFA Forms.