How does one go about indicating there are no living parents, and thus no parental financial information, on the FAFSA? Student in question can easily get professional judgement at current school, but may be interested in transferring and so needs FAFSA to go to multiple schools.
The student would be independent for FAFSA purposes.
Yes, but how/where does one indicate it on the form?
The student would answer “yes” to question 53:
At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?
Yes to the above.
And be prepared to show death certs if asked. I’ve seen some here report that they’ve had to show death certs. I guess because, in the past, some have claimed that a parent or two is deceased in order to avoid using parent info.
If the student doesn’t have death certs, then request them to be ready.
In this case where both parents are deceased , student would be independent. Yes, student will have to show death certificates if that is the basis for claiming their independence.
If student lost parents as a minor and as a result was placed in either court ordered legal guardianship or foster care, that paperwork would also suffice and student would still be independent. If student was placed in foster care, depending on your state, s/he may be able to receive additional funds.
Depending on grades/gpa, student may be better served trying to go to a school that meets 100% demonstrated need (especially one with a low income threshold with no loans in the FA package). IF student needed loans for travel expenses, they could still borrow, but it would be an unsub loan.
Student would be a transfer (she’s currently a freshman advisee of mine). She does not have the stats for a 100%meets need school. She was 18 when her mother died, so not a minor. The father has been gone a long time.
However, she would still answer “yes” to question 53 as noted in reply #3.
https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1718/pdf/PdfFafsa17-18.pdf is the 2017-2018 FAFSA.
Her circumstances meet the requirements for answering “yes” to FAFSA question 53, so there shouldn’t be any question about independent status or the reason that parent financial information is not included.
The loan she could take as independent with junior standing is $12,500. Will she qualify for Pell and state aid? Is there an affordable instate school for her?
The current school is affordable. She already had full PELL and state aid. All she’s going to get extra is the additional loan money. This is really just about getting her paperwork done correctly so there are no additional issues for this student to deal with. She’s got enough on her plate right now.