<p>My friend has received Survivors benefit and worked last year. Can he file as an independent student</p>
<p>Does he still have a living parent? If so, then unless he can answer yes to one of the dependency questions (aged 24 or over, married, a veteran etc etc) he is still considered a dependent for FA purposes. </p>
<p>Receiving survivors benefits and working does not make him an independent. Only being able to answer yes to one of the dependency questions.</p>