Will $3000 in support from parents effect my financial aid much?

Question

Before I turned 24, I was classified as dependent by FAFSA. So I had to submit my parents tax information. I got financial aid for my tuition. After tuition, I got over $1000 extra money as a refund.

Now that I am 24, I am classified as independent. So I did not have to submit my parents tax information. I also did not have to submit my tax information because I did not work and did not have to file taxes. So when I filled out the verification worksheet, my financial aid office also wanted to know my means of support for 2007 and an estimated dollar amount. They told me to estimate the amount that my parent supported me (gas, food, clothing, housing, etc.). I estimated $3000. This was just an arbitrary number. It could be $6000, $1000, etc. I don't know. So I just put $3000.

Will receiving $3000 in support from my parents effect how much financial aid I receive compared to last year when I was dependent? What I am asking is, will I likely receive less aid or more aid?

Answer 1

If the only thing on your FAFSA is $3000, then you are in really great shape and you should not worry about anything. I am assuming that your EFC came back as zero and that means you should get grants.

Answer 2

No because your not a dependant anymore, you should be fine.