How can I become Independent on my FAFSA without adding my parents to it. Do all loans need a co-signer?

Question

I want to know how can I appear more Independent when applying for my FAFSA and other aids for college without adding my parents so I can get more money for school. Do all loans need a co-signer?

Answer 1

If your parents still claim you on there taxes, their info goes on your FAFSA forms.  Not all student loans need a co-signer.  Student loans are separate from FAFSA.

Answer 2

Other than meeting one of the requirements from the FAFSA (veteran, married, support a child, or be 24), the only way to become independent is to appeal to the Financial Aid Office at the school where you plan to attend.  Most schools have an appeal process outlined to let you know what will qualify and what won't.  In general, you need to be able to document abuse, abandonment or some other circumstance that is out of the ordinary.  You actually being independent and supporting yourself is not unusual and not grounds for an independency override.

Most federal student loans do not require a co-signer.  Most private educational loans do.

Good luck to you!

Answer 3

well....the government makes the circumstances of independent satus very clear.  If you answer yes to any of the questions of my first source, then you can claim you are independent, but I'm sure you already knew that.

There a few options that our financial aid office gives us if we choose to appeal the dependent status:

My second source is a copy of the form SIUE allows for additional options to appeal the dependent status.  You should contact the financial aid office of the school you will be attending to see if they have an appeal form/process for you.

If you want to think outside of the box, you could marry a terminal person....being married and widowed are both ways to be considered independent.  :)  lol.

Well...I know how frustrating it is to not get any money from your parents, but to have to have their income included on you fafsa.   Good luck.

Answer 4

If your parents claimed you as a dependent, you can't claim yourself as an independent. Also, any direct lenders will run your credit and loan to you based on your credit history. Direct lenders usually want you to pay the money back immediately after you graduate. A government loan gives you more flexibility as far as paying it back over a certain number of months or years. You don't need a co-signer for government loans and you can have any credit history or none at all. Direct lenders will usually require a co-signer if your don't have excellent credit.

EDIT: Beware of loan sharks and solicitors on here that try to get your financial information. Go to a trusted bank for direct loans like Bank of America.