<p>Could someone explain to me the Dependency override term?
based on your knowledge would it be necessary for my D to have this status ???</p>
<p>Situation is:
age 21
Bachelors rec’d in May 2011 , finishing internship now
currently conditionally accepted to Graduate school out of state, can begin in July
filed dependent on her dads taxes, ( dad would not allow her to file independent)
filed FAFSA this past week waiting on awards information</p>
<p>Her step-mom has stated 'they need to talk w/ an attorney and get her an minority override ( or some term I have never heard) so D can file truly independent status for Financial aid purposes in the future. Something about 'so she does things the legal way"…</p>
<p>I have read here and on other sites and understand that once she receives the Diploma in May she is considered Dependent for FA purposes, altho when she completed her FAFSA this past week for the upcoming 1st yr at grad school, her dad and step-moms info was asked for and provided. It’s also my understanding that if she were filing independent on her IRS taxes she could be eligible for more funds for continued ed. She chose to remain on her dads taxes as a dependent. ( I would not have remained dependent, her choice) </p>
<p>What is the legal form / filing being referred to??
does anyone know ?
Is is necessary for D? </p>
<p>Once a student receives her first bachelor’s degree, she is considered independent for FAFSA purposes. Her tax status as dependent or independent is irrelevant for FAFSA.</p>
<p>However, if a university is considering an award of its own funds, rather than federal funds, they can ask for any information they like and can consider it any way that they like. It is probable that your daughter’s university asked for her father & stepmother’s information since your daughter clearly does not support herself in any meaningful way (no job, right out of school, etc.). That has nothing to do with FAFSA.</p>
<p>There is no harm in contacting a financial planner, accountant or attorney to try to maximize your daughter’s financial aid. But this has nothing to do with FAFSA, dependency for IRS purposes, or “minor status.”</p>
<p>Grad students are considered independent for FAFSA purposes…it has nothing to do with whether they’re claimed as a dependent on anyone’s taxes. If she correctly answered the FAFSA questions, she would be classified as an independent student and does not need any kind of dependency overrride. She should be able to determine her classification and whether she answered the qualifier questions correctly by looking at her FAFSA SAR.</p>
<p>I have no idea what the stepmom is talking about as your D is not a minor and no one needs an attorney to request a dependency override even at the undergrad level…that decision is made by the school on a case-by-case basis be reviewing the circumstances and requires adequate documentation that the undergrad fits the criteria. Your D doesn’t sound like she was abandoned, abused, homeless, in guardianship or foster care, or any of the other scenarios that might have supported a dependency override and it’s moot anyway since, at this point, she’ll no longer be an undergrad after this semester. </p>
<p>Some grad programs do require parent information but that is not a FAFSA issue. There generally is very little in the way of financial aid for grad students, other than loans, but there are some limited federal loans, such as the Health Professions Student Loan Program, and some state grants that are specifically for disadvantaged students - those generally require parent info.</p>
<p>My next question is : is it true that IF SHE WOULD HAVE FILED INDEPENDENT THIS YEAR ON INCOME TAXES SHE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR MORE FAFSA FUNDING??</p>
<p>Posters have stated that the two are independent of each other. I’m sure many parents would have changed their tax forms if it meant more money in financial aid offsetting the tax deduction.</p>