Is the Dept of Education trying to completely s***w people?

Question

I haven't lived at home for almost a year yet because I don't have children nor am I married, my parents income (which I don't have access to) still counts against me. Any ideas?

Answer 1

I had the same problem.  I tried to convince them that i was working and living on my own and that my parents were not going to give me a dime toward school, I even had a letter from my parent's saying that (they were more than happy to write it).  But I still didn't get any money.  

I hope you have better luck than I did.

Answer 2

Our son was on his own, and we didn't count him as a dependent on our taxes--however, because he was under 25, they still counted the value of our house--and we lived in California, so at that time our house looked good--against him.

The attitude of the people working for the Department of Education I can't really vouch for, I've never met one of them personally.

Answer 3

If ur under the age of 25 and u haven't been emancipated their income is going to count against u! =D it sucks but it's a law!  At least im my state.  U could get married! that would help u out!~

Answer 4

These are the laws that all students have to go by.  They are written by and passed by politicians you or your parents voted into office.  I would recommend call your friendly neighborhood politician and tell them your thoughts.  Until the law is changed, all unmarried kids under the age of 24, without kids, and without bachelor's degrees have to report the folks income.  

I suggest you call and ask your parents for thier tax information.  You have to have it if you want federal aid.

PS: Just because you don't report your parents income doesn't always make you eligible for grant money.  I've seen kids qualify for aid under parents, then become independent and NOT qualify... so you never know.  Most kids that are TRULY independent and make enough money to have an apartment and support themselves don't qualify for the grant money anyway.

Answer 5

Do your parents still claim you on their income tax return?  If they do, then you are not truly considered independent by tax law ans thus, financial aid is granted or denied based upon your parents' income and not yours.

Talk to them about becoming totally and legally independent so that you will qualify for financial aid.  Thank them for their help, but tell them that you need to claim yourself on your tax return so that you will qualify as independent in order to receive financial aid.  If medical insurance is the problem, most colleges have their own medical insurance plans for students and they are relatively cheap for minimal coverage.

Good Luck to you and Best Wishes.  This can be a sticky situation.

Answer 6

The Dept of Ed is not s******g you, or anyone else.  They simply enforce the policies that are enacted by politicians.. in this case it would be Congress.  

Congress has a dependency rule for students under 24 because they believe in having the parents continue to support their children into college.  In most families who are able do continue to do this.  Those that cannot - don't.  We cannot all be rich millionaires with nothing more to do with our money than spend it on our childrens academic pursuits.  

If everyone were decreed independent it would be even harder to determine who is eligible for federal grants from a need-based perspective.