FAFSA and in-state tuition when my parents live out-of-state...?

Question

Hi. So I've been living in Seattle with my fiance for over a year now. He works full time, I work part time, and we both run a business together. I've applied to University of Washington as a washington state resident, and everything seems fine... only now that I'm filling out the FAFSA, I realize that since I'm 22 and we aren't married yet, I have to claim myself as a dependent. Obviously, I don't consider myself "dependent" on my parents as I have nothing to do with them anymore - just calls to say Hello every few days. My fiance and I own our own car, pay our rent, buy our groceries, etc. So now that I'll be going back to school it looks like I have to put them down on the FAFSA, which wouldn't be that big of a problem if they didn't live in CHICAGO. So is that going to s***w up my residency in washington? Are they going to see that I'm a "dependent" on Illinois state parents and I won't be getting in state tuition for WA? or does that not even matter? I'm pretty confused.

Answer 1

Theviolet obviously hasn't filled out a FASFA, you can't just consider yourself independent even if you're not claimed on anyone's taxes. You have to either be 24, married or have a dependent of your own.

Answer 2

I'm attaching residency requirements for you from Wash State.

If you applied, got admitted, and the bill was for in-state tuition you should be fine.  however, if you still don't know for your you may be screwed.  I just read through the requirements.  What is going to get you is not have worked full time.  So you aren't "Financially independent for the current and prior calendar years"

Yes, you are considered a dependent on your fafsa.  It doesn't matter where you live and has absolutely nothing to do with who claims who on what tax form.. (ignore violet).  Since you do not work full time it appears you do not meet requirements for residency.

theViolet doesn't know what she is talking about.  She hasn't gotten to the last and final step where the is actually been deemed a resident.  When she gets there she will be sadly disappointed in realizing that you can't count your time in state while you are enrolled as a student. in the state of Washington without working at least 30 hours a week.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Think of dependency in terms of taxes. If your parents "claim" you on their taxes, you are considered dependent on them, and therefore "reside" where they live. So, yes, if you were to say on your FAFSA application that you were dependent (your parents claim you on their taxes), then you will be considered on a Illnois resident and NOT a resident of Washington.

Now, there is a way around this. I"m not sure if you're applying for college as an undergraduate student or a graduate student. But here's something that may help.

You can state yourself as INDEPENDENT on your application. By doing that, you need to make sure your parents STOP claiming you for tax reasons. The YEAR before you Fill out your FAFSA, you will need to file yourself as an independent. Sure, it might me you'll have to pay more taxes yourself, but then you could possibly get more financial help through the FAFSA application.

The thing is, you HAVE to be labeled Independent from your parents BEFORE You begin filling out yoru FAFSA. So, tell your parents to stop claiming you. Your parents will have to lose the tax benefit they have, but in the end, you'll save money by being a resident in the state of Washington.

However, if you do NOT claim yourself independent, you will be considered a dependent until the age of 24/25 (depending on the college requirements), meaning you'll have to pay Out-of-state tuition that entire time.

The reason I know this is because I'm going to graduate school at age 21, and since it is out of state, and the first year I will be considered out of state, until I gain residency. But even then, because i'm not 24, I need to specifically have my dad not claim me for taxes this year, so by next year, I'll be independent and can be a resident of the state BY myself.

If you really have issues with this, the best thing to do is to contact the schools office and ask about residency requirements.

Hope this gives you an idea on what to expect.

Good luck.

EDIT: For those Below me, you BOTH don't know what you are talking about. I'm going to be a GRADUATE Student (which I stated even in my response) and as such, when I fill out that FAFSA form, there are a bunch of "yes/no" questions, and one of them concerns whether the education I will be using that particular year is ABOVE a bachelor's degree, which ha ha, it is. With that, I am eligible to be an "independent", EVEN at an age younger than 24.

Also, I would be "employed" by the school, because I would be a Researcher and a T.A, and being PAID. So, my circumstances ARE correct, just not consistant with those that an UNDERGRAD might have to contend with.

I apoligize for that, because the asker did NOT specify whether they were applying for undergrad or gradute school.