FAFSA Dependency Status
For financial aid, yourstatus as dependent or independentisbased onyouranswers to thedependency questionslisted on the FAFSA.
You are automatically independentif you are:
- 24 years of ageor older
- Married
- Seeking a graduate/master's degree
- At the risk of homelessness*
- Considered an orphan (both parents deceased)*
- Under legal guardianship as determined by a court*
- Considered a ward of the court or placed in foster care at the age of 13 or older*
- Have a child and/or dependents*
- Currently serving active duty or veteran of US armed forces*
*You may be required to submit additional documentation to Millersville to confirm your situation if you are not independent by age, marriage, or degree type.
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I can't provide my parent's information
You maybe able to request a Dependency Override tobe treated as an independentstudentifthere are unusual circumstances that make it difficultor impossibleforyouto provide parent income information on the FAFSA.
Potential Reasons:
- Circumstances that threatenyourhealth or safety
- Abandonment by parents
- Custodial parent(s) is/areincarcerated
- Both parents are deceased (and/or the non-custodial parent is estranged)
- Other
Reasons Not Considered:
The Department of Educationdoes notconsider the following situations to be eligible for dependency appeal consideration:
- Your parents refuse to contribute to your education.
- Yourparents will not provide information for the FAFSA or verification.
- Your parents do not claim you as a dependent for income tax purposes.
- You demonstrate total self-sufficiency to support yourself.
Pleaseget in touch with usif your parent is refusing to provide their information on the FAFSA or if you would like to request a Dependency Override for unusual or extenuating circumstances and have questions.
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i am homeless or At Risk of Homelessness
If you indicated that you are homeless or are at risk of homelessness on your FAFSA, you may be considered independent — meaning you won't need to provide parental information on your FAFSA.
If you became homeless or are at risk of homelessness after completing the FAFSA, pleasecontact us.
What You'll Need:
- Your financial aid office will request additional documentation from you to verify the information before your financial aid is finalized.
- If you cannot provide this documentation, schedule a meeting with the Office of Financial Aid—you will need to discuss your situation with a counselor.
Types of Documentation:
In some cases, you may have received documentation fromone or more ofthe following:
- A local educational agency homeless liaison, per the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act;
- The director (or designee) of an emergency/transitional shelter, street outreach program, homeless youth drop-in center, or other program serving individuals experiencing homelessness;
- The director (or designee) of a project supported by a Federal TRIO or GEAR-UP grant;
- A financial aid administrator at another institution who has documented the student’s circumstances in a prior award year.
If you do not have documentation from any of the individuals above, a financial aid administrator may also make the determination.
Additional Forms:
Millersville Universityhas a form you must complete. In addition to the form, you must submit the documentation noted above, and documentation that you can complete indicating your status. This form will be listed as a financial aid requirement and must be completed to finalize your aid.You will be able to access it under your student requirements on the Financial Aid Overview section of your MAX account.
Don't forget to submit your documentation!
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I am an orphan
You may be considered independent if you are an orphan. An orphan is defined as a person whose parents are deceased and who does not have an adoptive parent or legal guardian.
If you indicated that you are an orphan on the FAFSA, Millersville's Office of Financial Aid will request additional documentation from you to verify this information. You will be able to access the required form in your myVILLE Portal under your Financial Aid Requirements.
In addition to the form, you will be required to submit official documentation. Examples include:
- Copy the student's birth certificate
- Copy of death certificates for parent(s) listed on the birth certificate
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I am a ward of the court
You may be considered independent if you are a ward of the court on or after the age of 13. A ward of the court is defined assomeone under the protection of the courts.
If you indicated on the FAFSA that you were a ward of the court on or after the age of 13, Millersville's Office of Financial Aid will request additional documentation from you to verify this information. You will be able to access the required form in your myVILLE Portal under your Financial Aid Requirements.
In addition to the form, you will be required to submit official documentation. Examples include:
- Official court documentation
- Certification from a social worker
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I was placed in foster care
You may be considered independent if you were placed in foster care on or after the age of 13. Foster care (also known as out-of-home care) isa temporary service provided by States for children who cannot live with their families. Children in foster care may live with relatives or with unrelated foster parents.
If you indicated on the FAFSA that you were placed in foster care on or after the age of 13, Millersville's Office of Financial Aid will request additional documentation from you to verify this information. You will be able to access the required form in your myVILLE Portal under your Financial Aid Requirements.
In addition to the form, you will be required to submit official documentation. Examples include:
- Official court documentation
- Certification from a social worker
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I am in legal guardianship
You may be considered independent if you are in legal guardianship. Legal guardianship means a court grants someone other than a biological parent the right to care for a minor.
If you indicated that you are in legal guardianship on the FAFSA, Millersville's Office of Financial Aid will request additional documentation from you to verify this information. You will be able to access the required form in your myVILLE Portal under your Financial Aid Requirements.
In addition to the form, you will be required to submit official documentation. Examples include:
- Official court documentation that someone other than your parents has legal guardianship of you
Disclaimer: Legal custody isnot legal guardianship
Custody (most often) generally describes a parent caring for his or her own child. Guardianship does not always grant custody or definitively mean a biological parent's custody is revoked.
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I am an emancipated minor
You may be considered independent if you were an emancipated minor. Emancipation isthe legal process by which a person under 18 years of age (a minor) is granted the legal status of an adult.
If you indicated on the FAFSA that you were an emancipated minor, Millersville's Office of Financial Aid will request additional documentation from you to verify this information. You will be able to access the required form in your myVILLE Portal under your Financial Aid Requirements.
In addition to the form, you will be required to submit official documentation. Examples include:
- Official court documentation
- A personal letter explaining the circumstances under which emancipation was granted
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I have a child or other legal dependents
You may be considered independent if you support yourself 100% and have a child you support and/or a legal dependent(s) to whom you provide at least 51% of their support during the academic year you are applying for aid. A legal dependent can be your child or a person who is not your child (niece/nephew, sibling, parent) for whom you provide 51% or more of their living expenses.
If you indicated on the FAFSA that you have a child you support or another legal dependent, Millersville's Office of Financial Aid will request additional documentation from you to verify this information. You will be able to access the required form in your myVILLE Portal under your Financial Aid Requirements.
In addition to the form, you will be required to submit official documentation. Examples include:
- A signed copy of your latest tax return and W-2s
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I am on active duty or a Veteran of US armed forces
You may be considered independent if you are a veteran of the US Armed Forces or if you are currently serving on active duty in the US Armed Forces for purposes other than training.
Examples of documentation you may be asked to provide include:
- A copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
- A copy of your "Member 4" DD214 or Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE)
- A letter from your current command, in memorandum form, stating intent to release you from active duty with other than dishonorable character of service.