Finacial aide?

Question

I need my mother's signature to complete the corrections on my finacial aide applicaton. However, we live in different cities (same state), I live at a homeless shelter and dont have a phone. I can't make any long distance phone calls from the shelter without a code to reduce long distance rates. the problem is the only times i can call, she is teaching summer school. I leave messeges and email her but she never responds. she has the ability to check her emails at home. I am 22 years old but the fincial aide people still need my mom's signature. If i go to my dad i wont get as much from finacial aide. So I have 3 questions. 1. how do i get my mom to sign. 2. why do they need my mom's signature if i am not 25 & 3. is there away around getting my mom's signature even when the finacial aide office has told me no? I need it before july 14th so i can get the best times for my classes

Answer 1

By federal law, you are classified as a "dependent student", despite the fact that your parents may or may not actually give you any money.

You are a dependent unless:

1. You were born before January 1, 1985

2. You are married.

3. You have children, for whom you provide greater than 50% of their support

4. You provide greater than 50% of the support for another dependent who lives in your home

5. You are between 19 and 23, and a veteran of the US Armed Forces

6. You are or were a ward of the court until age 18

7. You are an active duty member of the US Armed Forces

That's it - those are the only possible qualifications for "independent student" status. If you can not answer "yes" to one of those 7 questions, you are a dependent student for federal financial aid purposes, and you must submit financial information and a signature from responsible parent(s) or guardian(s).

So the answer is - unless your financial aid office has other advice, you MUST get that signature in order for your aid to be processed. Sorry the answer wasn't more encouraging!

(Avoid the temptation to fake or forge her signature - the Department of Education randomly selects 30% of all FAFSA forms for verification. If you lie on a financial aid application, this could bar your eligibility for any future aid (and require you to pay back any aid received under fall premises).

Answer 2

How did you get your mother's 07 tax return? You had to have it in order to fill out your fafsa? Or, did you leave the parents information blank? I recommend you talk to your schools financial aid office to see if you can file a petition for independence. If you are approved, they will only request information from you and not your parents.