How to Document Independent Status
The FAFSA asks a series of questions to determine if a student is dependent or independent. If a student answers “yes” to any of these questions, the FAFSA identifies them as being an independent student. If the student answered “yes” on the FAFSA and was granted provisional independent status, documentation will be requested if the student has not provided documentation previously.
In some cases, students are unable to provide the required documentation but have other circumstances whereby they may want to request an Appeal for Independent Status. Student Financial Services staff can counsel the student regarding what documents and situations might be appropriate for an appeal.
Students unable to provide satisfactory documentation to verify independent status and who cannot qualify for provisional independent status will be expected to correct the answers on the FAFSA and add a contributor(s) to the FAFSA. If the contributor(s) fails to provide information, the student will only be able to receive unsubsidized Federal Direct Student Loans at the dependent loan limits.
Independent Status documentation requirements
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Students who are active duty military need to provide a letter from their commanding officer detailing their branch of service and anticipated discharge date.
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For federal aid purposes, the definition of a veteran is different than that of the Department of Veterans Affiairs. To prove veteran status for aid purposes, a student must submit a copy of the DD-214, member 4, showing at least one day of enlistment, and that they were not dishonorably discharged.
Students who are in the reserves or National Guard are only considered veterans if they were called up for active duty (not for training) as indicated on the DD-214.
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If, since turning age 13, both of a student's parents have died, then copies of the parents' death certificates need to be provided.
Similarly, a student who was in foster care or was designated as a Ward of the Court at age 13 or later, must provide copies of legal documents supporting that claim.
Incarceration does not make a student a Ward of the Court for aid purposes.
If a student's parents both died prior to the student turning 13, and the student was subsequently adopted before turning 13, they would be a dependent student, reporting the adoptive parents' income. If the adoption occurred after they turned 13 then they would be independent since they had no legal parents living when they turned 13.
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A student who has gone through the process of becoming an emancipated minor must supply copies of the court documents granting the student emancipation.
Similarly, a student who has legal guardians (a parent is not considered a legal guardian) must supply copies of the court documents detailing the guardianship. Legal guardianship that is temporary in nature, e.g. so that the student can complete high school where they are, rather than relocating with parents, does not qualify a student to be independent.
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Homelessness is defined as someone who does not have a stable living situation. "Couch surfing" is described as an unstable living situation.
Students who are homeless or at risk of being homeless must provide verification from a professional authority (e.g., a person operating a homeless shelter or a high school guidance counselor). A student who does not have or cannot obtain documentation from any of these authorities should contact Student Financial Services to discuss their situation.
If a determination of homelessness status is approved, the independent status for that student will roll forward for subsequent years. Students must still complete their FAFSA annually, and if they receive a rejection notification from the U.S. Department of Education, once UM's Student Financial Services receives that notification, we can roll forward their eligibility from year to year. The only time that additional documentation may be required is if the student informs us that their circumstances have changed or if we receive conflicting information.
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In some cases, students are unable to provide the required documentation to prove independence, but are able to provide adequate documentation to be granted a dependency override.
The determination of which is more appropriate is made by the staff in Student Financial Services after review of the documents supplied.