Who makes the rules of the FAFSA?

This Question From Computing Affiliate Programs | 1 Answer

QUESTION:

Some sort of government committee or something? I’m asking because I want to know who to write to to complain.
I think the FAFSA’s means of determining a student’s dependency status is seriously flawed. In my case, for example, I qualify only for an unsubsidized Stafford Loan, because my parents make more than 0k a year between them. However, I do not live with them. I am 18. They did not claim me on their taxes last year, I did my own taxes. I don’t even live in the same STATE as them. But by the FAFSA’s standards, none of that has anything to do with whether or not I’m dependent. You might think there’s some sort of mistake… certainly it asks somewhere on the form if my parents claimed me last year? If I actually expect to receive any money from them?
That’s what I thought, at first. But just so you don’t waste time telling me I’m wrong, here are the exact questions the FAFSA asks to determine if I’m legally dependent on someone(you can skip this if you believe me or have had similar experiences):

Were you born before January 1, 1986?

Are you married?

At the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, or graduate certificate, etc.)?

Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training?

Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?

Do you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010?

Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2010?

At anytime since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?

Are you or were you an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?

Are you or were you in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?

At any time on or after July 1, 2008, were you an unaccompanied homeless youth as determined by your high school or school district homeless liaison?

At any time on or after July 1, 2008, were you an unaccompanied homeless youth as determined by the director of an emergency shelter program funded by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development?

At any time on or after July 1, 2008, were you at risk of homelessness as determined by the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program?

So… according to the FAFSA, because I am not at least 24 years old, married, or currently going to school for a graduate program, and have never been orphaned, emancipated, homeless, at risk of being homeless, in foster care, or affiliated with the military, I am still dependent on my parents.
I honestly cannot fathom how this computes. Just because I answered no to all these questions does NOT mean that I have sufficient means of paying for college, which after all is what the FAFSA is supposed to determine.

This is pretty much what I’m planning on saying to whoever devised or has the ability to revise the FAFSA. So… who do I write to?
By the way… I do know that writing this complaint letter probably won’t help my case at all, unless I write to Ellen DeGeneres too, she’s always giving away money to people… maybe I should do that…. ANYWAY.
I’m sure lots of people have complained about this already, and I’d just like to add my voice to theirs, in the hopes that before my children go to college, this issue will be handles much better. Of course, this is theoretical; if I had children, I might actually be getting some grants.

1 Comment so far

Suddenly Human on August 23, 2010 10:03 am
You are completely correct, being dependent or independent on the FAFSA has absolutely nothing to do with supporting yourself… that would be WAY too easy for government standards!! lol

To avoid confusion and a lot of misunderstandings, I have suggested many many times they LITERALLY rename it to something that would be easier to understand. You are either classified as an A student or a B student. An X or a Y. Seriously, there would be a lot less headaches and far fewer misunderstandings..

The legislative branch of the U.S. government comprises two chambers of Congress: the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Senators are directly elected by the citizens of the United States, enacts laws, authorizes public spending and oversees governmental operations. So contact your friendly neighborhood politicians!!

You are right, the argument about the rules regarding dependency status has been going on for ages. The good news is that the criteria does occasionally change. Last year’s fafsa had much stricter guidelines about being independent… the “emancipated minor” and “homeless youth” criteria was not there until this year.

I know this prob doesn’t make you feel any better, but think about it this way… This is the governments LOGIC when determining eligibility for free money.

It is the STUDENT’S responsibility to pay for their college education. Period..

When the student’s family has limited resources, the student can sometimes get assistance with that. By not providing the parent’s income info, the student will get NO consideration for free assistance… except unsubsidized loans. (and even that is a new rule.. before this year if a dependent student could not produce parent info, he or she got NOTHING, not even student loans). They ARE getting better, but I don’t think it will ever get to the point where you are hoping it will… unless the totally get rid of the Pell grant all together.
Then they would prob consider 18 year old’s independent without parental information. With the economy where it is nowadays, who knows!!!

Who makes the rules of the FAFSA?

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