My niece is 21 and has a son, she has a full time job and files her own taxes. However when she filed her FAFSA she got a letter from her college saying they needed proof that she was the main support for her son. Since she lives in her grandfathers home her name is not on any of the household bills and that is the proof they requested. According to the rules she can’t use her grandfathers tax info on FAFSA just her parents. Her bio father is not in the picture at all and her mother is a dependent on her boyfriends taxes. Where does she go from here?
Does she pay someone for rent and have evidence (checks, receipts)? Does she pay for daycare or food or other expenses for her son?
Does she have health care for her son, food stamps, pay a daycare provider? If so, the school may reconsider, especially if she has a full-time job. She must prove she provides more than half the support for child. If the school is only factoring in rent they are missing the rest of the picture.
The school needs documentation that the mother provides at least 51% of the support … HERSELF … in order to allow the student to be considered independent solely because she has a dependent she supports at least 51%. Does she receive public assistance? If so, she can submit that information. She can also submit documentation that she has paid for x, y and z for the child. If she doesn’t pay for anything for the child - for example, if the father provides the money for the things the child needs - or if her parents pay for the things her child needs - she is not providing at least 51% of the support.