FAFSATipsforApplicantsinUniqueSituations

AsofJanuary11,2011

Thistipsheetisdesignedtohelpfederalstudentaidapplicantsinuniquesituationstackletrickyquestionson the201112FAFSA.Thissheetprovidestipsforsingleparents,TemporaryAssistanceforNeedyFamily(TANF) recipients,wardsofthecourt,fosteryouthandmore.

QuestionnumbersrefertothepaperFAFSA.SectionsrefertotheFAFSAontheWeb(FOTW)Worksheet.Somequestionsonthepaper FAFSAdonotappearontheFOTWWorksheet.AnsweringyestoanyquestioninStepThreeontheFAFSAand/orcheckingthe correspondingboxinSectionTwoontheFAFSAontheWebWorksheetmeansthatyouwillbetreatedasanindependentstudentandwill notneedtoprovideparentalinformationontheFAFSA.

Question#44 Section4 Freechildcare

Q:Iamasinglemomwithonechildandwillgetfreedaycareformychild(froma grandmother,aunt,orfreedaycarecenter)whileIgotocollege.Doesthevalueof thisfreechildcarehavetobereportedontheFAFSA? A:No,thisserviceisnotincomeandtheinformationisnotcollectedontheFAFSA. However,notethatyouneedtoletyourschoolknowthatyouarereceivingfree dependentcare;anallowancefordependentcaremaynotbeaddedtoyourcostof attendance. Q:IhaveachildwhowillbelivingwithmeandIwillreceiveassistancefromthe TemporaryAssistanceforNeedyFamilies(TANF)program.DoIansweryesto Question#50?AreTANForwelfarebenefitsconsideredtobelikeearnedincome? A:TANFbenefitscountassupportthatyouprovidetoyourchild.Youshould answerYestothisquestionaslongasyouprovidemorethanhalfofthechilds support.

Question#50 Section2 Doyouhavechildrenwho willreceivemorethanhalf oftheirsupportfromyou betweenJuly1,2011and June30,2012? Question#52 Section2 Atanytimesinceyou turnedage13,werebothof yourparentsdeceased,were youinfostercareorwere youadependentorwardof thecourt?

Q:Iamawardofthecourtthatgraduatedfromhighschoolandthenwenttolive withmymotherfortwomonths.DidIlosemyindependentstatus? A:Astudentisconsideredindependentifheorsheisawardofthecourt,orwasa wardofthecourtatanytimewhentheindividualwasage13orolder.Ifyourward ofthecourtstatuschangedbeforeyoureachedage13,youmaybeconsidered dependentonyourparent.Youshouldtalkaboutyoursituationwiththefinancial aidadministratoratyourcollegewhowillhelpyoudetermineyourcorrect dependencystatus.

Page1UniqueSituationFAFSATips,NASFAA2011

Question#52 Section2 Atanytimesinceyou turnedage13,werebothof yourparentsdeceased,were youinfostercareorwere youadependentorwardof thecourt? Question#52 Section2 Atanytimesinceyou turnedage13,werebothof yourparentsdeceased,were youinfostercareorwere youadependentorwardof thecourt?

Q:Iamadependentchildofthecourtofmycounty.Isthisthesameasawardof thecourt? A:Thetermwardisusedtomeandependentofthecourt.Youareawardofthe court(regardlessofwhetherthisstatusisdeterminedbythecountyorstate)ifthe courthasassumedcustodyofyou.Youshouldhavecourtordereddocumentsthat designateyouawardofthecourt.

Q:Iamnolongerunderthecourtbecausemyfosterparentstooklegalguardianshipof meafewyearsago.However,myfosterparentsdonotsupportmewiththeirown financialresources.Theystillgetafostercarecheckeachmonthforme.HowdoI answerquestion#52? A:Ifyouwereinfostercareatanytimewhenyouwere13orolder,answerYesto Question#52.Ifyouareinalegalguardianship,answerYestoQuestion#54. Note:Neitherlegalguardiansnorfosterparentsareconsideredparentswhen completingtheFAFSA.Thismeansyoudonotlisttheirincomeandhouseholdsize informationonyourFAFSA. Q:Iturned18andgraduated,somycourtcasewasclosed.MycollegeissayingI amnolongeranindependentstudentbecauseIamnolongerawardofthecourt. AmIconsidereddependentorindependent? A:Youareconsideredindependentifyouwereawardofthecourt,atanytimewhen youwereage13orolder.ThismeansyoushouldcheckYestoQuestion#52ifyou wereawardofthecourtwhenyouwereage13orolder.

Question#52 Section2 Atanytimesinceyou turnedage13,werebothof yourparentsdeceased,were youinfostercareorwere youadependentorwardof thecourt? Question#53 Section2 Asdeterminedbyacourtin yourstateoflegalresidence, areyouorwereyouan emancipatedminor?

Q:Iwasemancipatedatage15butlivedwithmyauntanduncleduringmylast semesterofhighschool.HowshouldIcompletetheFAFSA? A:Ifyouhaveacopyofacourtorderstatingyouareanemancipatedminor,answer YestoQuestion#53andcompletetheFAFSAasanindependentstudent.Thecourt mustbelocatedinyourstateoflegalresidence.Ifthecourtorderisnolongerineffect andyouhavenotreachedtheageofmajorityforyourstateoflegalresidence,answer NotoQuestion#53.CompletetheFAFSAasadependentstudentifyouanswerNo totheremainingquestionsonthepaperFAFSAandnoneoftheotherboxesinSection TwooftheFAFSAontheWebWorksheetapplytoyou.

Page2UniqueSituationFAFSATips,NASFAA2011

Question#54 Section2 Asdeterminedbyacourtin yourstateoflegalresidence, areyouorwereyouinlegal guardianship? Q:Mygrandparentsaremycourtappointed,legalguardians.Theyhaveprovided supportformeallmylife.HowdoIcompletetheFAFSA? A:Ifyouhaveacopyofacourtorderstatingyouareinalegalguardianship,answer YestoQuestion#54andcompletetheFAFSAasanindependentstudent.Thecourt mustbelocatedinyourstateoflegalresidence.Ifthecourtorderisnolongerineffect andyouhavenotreachedtheageofmajorityforyourstateoflegalresidence,answer NotoQuestion#54.CompletetheFAFSAasadependentstudentifyouanswerNo totheremainingquestionsonthepaperFAFSAandnoneoftheotherboxesinSection TwooftheFAFSAontheWebWorksheetapplytoyou. Q:Ibecamehomelessduringmysenioryearinhighschool.AmIconsideredan independentstudent? A:Youareconsideredanindependentstudentifyoureceivedadeterminationany timeonorafterJuly1,2010,thatyouwereanunaccompaniedyouthwhowas homeless.Thefinancialaidadministratoratyourcollegemayrequireyoutoprovidea copyofthedeterminationorotherdocumentation. Ifyouarenotsureyouhaveadetermination,butyoubelieveyouarean unaccompaniedyouthwhoishomelessorareanunaccompaniedyouth providingyourownlivingexpenseswhoisatriskofbeinghomeless,contactyourhigh schoolshomelessliaisonforassistance.Contactyourcollege'sfinancialaidofficefor assistanceifyourhighschoolshomelessliaisondidnotmakeadetermination. Youthmeansthatyouare21yearsofageorlessorarestillenrolledinhighschoolas ofthedayyousigntheFAFSA. Unaccompaniedmeansyouarenotlivinginthephysicalcustodyofaparentor guardian. Homelessmeanslackingfixed,regular,andadequatehousing,includinglivingin shelters,motels,cars,andtemporarilywithotherpeoplebecauseyouhavenowhere elsetogo.

Question#55 Section2 AtanytimeonorafterJuly 1,2010,didyourhighschool orschooldistricthomeless liaisondeterminethatyou wereanunaccompanied youthwhowashomeless?

Page3UniqueSituationFAFSATips,NASFAA2011

Question#56 Section2 AtanytimeonorafterJuly 1,2010,didthedirectorof anemergencyshelteror transitionalhousingprogram fundedbytheU.S. DepartmentofHousingand UrbanDevelopment determinethatyouwerean unaccompaniedyouthwho washomeless? Q:Ilivedinanemergencyshelterlastyear.HowdoIcompletetheFAFSA? A:AnswerYestoQuestion#56ifyoureceivedadeterminationanytimeonorafter July1,2010,thatyouwereanunaccompaniedyouthwhowashomeless.Thefinancial aidadministratoratyourcollegemayrequireyoutoprovideacopyofthe determinationorotherdocumentation. Ifyouarenotsureyouhaveadetermination,butyoubelieveyouarean unaccompaniedyouthwhoishomelessorareanunaccompaniedyouthprovidingyour ownlivingexpenseswhoisatriskofbeinghomeless,contactthedirectorofthe emergencyshelterforassistance.Contactyourcollege'sfinancialaidofficefor assistanceiftheshelterdirectordidnotmakeadetermination. Youthmeansthatyouare21yearsofageorlessorarestillenrolledinhighschoolas ofthedayyousigntheFAFSA. Unaccompaniedmeansyouarenotlivinginthephysicalcustodyofaparentor guardian. Homelessmeanslackingfixed,regular,andadequatehousing,includinglivingin shelters,motels,cars,andtemporarilywithotherpeoplebecauseyouhavenowhere elsetogo. Question#57 Section2 AtanytimeonorafterJuly 1,2010,didthedirectorofa runawayorhomelessyouth basiccenterortransitional livingprogramdetermine thatyouwerean unaccompaniedyouthwho washomelessorwereself supportingandatriskof beinghomeless? Q:MymomdiedafewyearsagoandIhavenocontactwithmydad.Iamina transitionalhousingprogram.AmIanindependentstudent? A:AnswerYestoQuestion#57ifyoureceivedadeterminationanytimeonorafter July1,2010,thatyouwereanunaccompaniedyouthwhowashomelessoratriskof beinghomeless.Thefinancialaidadministratoratyourcollegemayrequireyouto provideacopyofthedeterminationorotherdocumentation. Ifyouarenotsureyouhaveadeterminationbutyoubelieveyouarean unaccompaniedyouthwhoishomelessorareanunaccompaniedyouthprovidingyour ownlivingexpenseswhoisatriskofbeinghomeless,contactthedirectoroftheyouth centerortransitionalhousingprogramforassistance.Contactyourcollege'sfinancial aidofficeforassistanceifthedirectoroftheyouthcenterortransitionalhousing programdidnotmakeadetermination. Youthmeansthatyouare21yearsofageorlessorarestillenrolledinhighschoolas ofthedayyousigntheFAFSA. Unaccompaniedmeansyouarenotlivinginthephysicalcustodyofaparentor guardian. Homelessmeanslackingfixed,regular,andadequatehousing,includinglivingin shelters,motels,cars,andtemporarilywithotherpeoplebecauseyouhavenowhere elsetogo.

Page4UniqueSituationFAFSATips,NASFAA2011

Question#93 Howmanypeoplearein yourhousehold?

Q:Ilivewithmyfosterparentsandtheirchildren.Aretheymyfamilymembers? A:No.Ifyouareconsideredindependent(forexample,becauseyouareinfostercare), andyouhavenodependentchildrenofyourown,youareafamilyofone(yourself).

Question#103 Signatures

Q:IhavefilledoutthisformasanindependentstudentbecauseIamawardofthe court.DoIneedmyfathersand/ormotherssignature(s)?Idonotlivewiththem,but Iseethemsometimes. A:No.Becauseofyourstatusasawardofthecourt,youareconsideredan independentstudentandparentalsignaturesarenotrequired.

Source:NationalAssociationofStudentFinancialAidAdministrators(NASFAA) 01/11

Page5UniqueSituationFAFSATips,NASFAA2011