Independent Student with no income

motrcolt
Mon, 20 Mar 2017 16:26:01 +0000

I’m filling out the fafsa for the first time as an independent student. In 2015 I did not have a job and have no income for the entire year. I know that if I fill out the fafsa with no income that I will be questioned on how I will be able to pay for school. How I see it I have 2 options

1. Put 0 income and fill out my parents tax information

2. Put the 30,000 my parents paid for college bills in 2015 as other income.

Which one am I supposed to do? If I put my parents income on my fafsa as an independent student will I get the same estimated family contribution as when I was a dependent student putting down their tax information? Or will my estimated family contribution go down?

Student bills paid for by the parents are something that can be put down as other income correct?