Fafsa, am i dependent or independent( living with grandparents)?

Question

My biological parents are still alive and i still see them even though my guardians are my grandparents. What should i do?

Answer 1

You are considered a dependent.

You put down your parents financial info despite the fact that you live with your grandparents.

From FAFSA:

Who is a dependent student?

One of the most common questions we're asked is "what defines a dependent student". The FAFSA does not take into account unusual family circumstances or situations like legally emancipated minors. For the 2007-2008 academic year, to be considered an independent student, you MUST meet one of the following conditions:

You were born before January 1, 1984.

You will be enrolled in a master's or doctorate program (beyond a bachelor's degree) at the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year.

You're married as of the day you apply (or you're separated but not divorced).

You have children who receive more than half their support from you.

You have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half their support from you at the time you apply and through June 30, 2008.

Both your parents are deceased, or you are (or were until age 18) a ward or dependent of the court.

You're currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training OR you're a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. Need more details on this topic?

And from a college website:

Q: I live with my grandparents. How do I fill out the FAFSA? Do I use their income?

A: Dependent students do not provide their grandparents’ income information on the FAFSA, unless they have legally adopted you. You do report income and assets from your parent(s), regardless of whom you live with. Recall that the FAFSA requires student and parent information for dependent students. Because this topic is often confusing, it’s best to contact the Financial Aid Office for more details.

(They are talking about contacting the school's financial aid office for help)