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k2kornbizkit · Sep 15, 2009, 12:35 PM

I am a 21 year old,in Illinois, student trying to get a student loan right now and it says my parents make too much money. They can't even pay their own bills but somehow their supposed to have 18,000$ for me? What a joke. I want to disown my parents so that their income will not count toward my fafsa application. If I do that I will definitely qualify as impoverished, maybe even qualifying for grant money instead of just loans. Please tell me if this is possible and how I can go about doing this.
Thank you for your help

Zach

JudyKayTee · Sep 15, 2009, 12:38 PM

I don't understand how the income of your parents makes any difference when you apply for a student loan.

You are of legal age so you cannot emancipate yourself.

Do you live with your parents? Where is the information that they have money saved for your College coming from?

k2kornbizkit · Sep 15, 2009, 12:44 PM

When you fill out the fafsa application( free application for federal student aid) it asks for all of your parents info, if you are under the age of 24. I live on my own and have lived on my on for about a year now.

Based on the info my parents provided it "expects" them to be able to come up with 18,000$, even though they filled out all boxes indicating their debt was greater than their income and their saving/checking accounts had only about 50$ in them.

Fr_Chuck · Sep 15, 2009, 12:54 PM

No you are stuck with your parents, and they often look just at your parents income, not their debts, expecting them to have saved or be able to borrow toward your education

MomWontGiveUp · Sep 15, 2009, 12:55 PM

Have you talked with the Student Loan Office at the school? I am willing to bet, they've had other students with this problem. They might have some ideas for you.

I remember many years ago, a co-worker of mine faced challenges with this issue. She was a single mother and the "powers that be" behind the student loan felt since she owned a home, she could just jolly well borrow money against it to pay for her daughter's education. Unfortunately, I don't remember the outcome but seem to recall that she (my co-worker) was able to contest their assessment of her assets.

Good Luck!

k2kornbizkit · Sep 15, 2009, 01:03 PM

I am out of options then, unless I can find a way to get my parents off my fafsa worksheet.

I have talked to financial aid, and they pretty much told me my only two option was to find another co-signer(which is not an option for me.period) or get an alternative loan(which you cannot get w/o a qualified co-signer).

I asked blatently what other students did when they didn't have a co-signer and she said everyone can find one. I can't even believe that. I'm the only person ever who can't get alternatve loans?

So I should probably just quit school then till I turn 24 right? That is seeming like the only option @ this point and all I want to do is learn and get a degree...

k2kornbizkit · Sep 15, 2009, 01:04 PM

Is there any way at all I can disown them?

Wondergirl · Sep 15, 2009, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by k2kornbizkit

is there any way at all I can disown them?

Can you resubmit the FAFSA and omit your parents? After all, you live alone and support yourself, you said. Why did you even include them?

k2kornbizkit · Sep 15, 2009, 01:14 PM

You can be 23 1/2 live on your own, pay all your own bills and not even be on speaking terms with your Parents,. yet still have to include them in your fafsa. You have NO choice but to include them.

justcurious55 · Sep 15, 2009, 01:18 PM

When I submitted my fasfa I had to go through hoops to submit it without my parent's info. I don't even know where my parents are living right now or how to contact them. I had to bring in old court orders from the guardianship, letters from the attorneys about it, and fill out a bunch of extra papers. That was all just to get them to even look at it at the school. It's stupid. But I haven't found anyway to get around the mountain of paperwork.

Have you tried looking into scholarships? It's a lot of paperwork again, but there seems to be a scholarship for everything under the sun these days. If you've got the patience you can get a lot of aid through scholarships. It's just taking the time to find them, fill them out, and then hopefully receiving them.

k2kornbizkit · Sep 15, 2009, 01:23 PM

Im getting kicked out of my dorm I think in about a 3 weeks, Scholarships typically take around 4-6 weeks.

I did ask already if I can get my payment deffered until January when I will receive more financial aid money and they said no.

Wondergirl · Sep 15, 2009, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by k2kornbizkit

you can be 23 1/2 live on your own, pay all your own bills and not even be on speaking terms with your Parents,... yet still have to include them in your fafsa. You have NO choice but to include them.

That's not true. This is from the FAFSA site --

If you believe you have a special circumstance and are unable to provide parental information, you should complete information about you and your finances and skip any questions about your parents. You should sign your FAFSA with your PIN and leave your parent's PIN blank. It is important to note:

1. We will allow you to submit your FAFSA without parental information, however your FAFSA will not be considered complete.
2. Because your FAFSA is not considered complete, we will not calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is the index used by colleges to determine how much student aid you are eligible to receive.
3. If you are approaching any deadlines for your state, college, or scholarship aid, you may want to contact your financial aid administrator (FAA) before submitting your FAFSA without parental data.
4. Once you submit your FAFSA without parental data, you must follow up with the FAA at the college you plan to attend, in order to complete your FAFSA and receive an EFC. Also note the following:
* Under Federal law, only your FAA has the authority to decide whether or not you must provide parental information on your FAFSA.
* You will have to provide documentation to verify your situation. Gather as much written evidence of your situation as you can. Written evidence may include court or law enforcement documents, letters from a clergy member, school counselor or social worker, and/or any other relevant data that explains your special circumstance.
* After reviewing your circumstances carefully, your FAA will decide if you must provide parental information or if your circumstances allow you to proceed without providing parental data. Your FAA’s decision is final and can not be appealed to Federal Student Aid.

Justwantfair · Sep 15, 2009, 01:25 PM

Independent Status

You are at least 24 years old on the day you file your FAFSA
You are or will be enrolled in a masters or Doctoral degree program at the beginning of the school year
You are married on the day you file your FAFSA
You are a parent
You have dependents other than your spouse who live with you and who receive more than half their support from you at the time you apply
Both your parents are deceased (or were until age 18) a ward of dependent of the court
You are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training
You're a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
You were a foster child after the age of 13.
You are an emancipated child as determined by a court judge.
You are homeless or at risk of homelessness as determined by the director of a HUD approved homeless shelter, transitional program, or high school liaison.

Other than the above listed reasons, the government will consider you a dependent student and you can only apply with your parent's information.

Have you tried a student loan?
Reevaluated your situation for other options?

Justwantfair · Sep 15, 2009, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

That's not true. This is from the FAFSA site --

If you believe you have a special circumstance and are unable to provide parental information, you should complete information about you and your finances and skip any questions about your parents. You should sign your FAFSA with your PIN and leave your parent's PIN blank. It is important to note:

1. We will allow you to submit your FAFSA without parental information, however your FAFSA will not be considered complete.
2. Because your FAFSA is not considered complete, we will not calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is the index used by colleges to determine how much student aid you are eligible to receive.
3. If you are approaching any deadlines for your state, college, or scholarship aid, you may want to contact your financial aid administrator (FAA) before submitting your FAFSA without parental data.
4. Once you submit your FAFSA without parental data, you must follow up with the FAA at the college you plan to attend, in order to complete your FAFSA and receive an EFC. Also note the following:
* Under Federal law, only your FAA has the authority to decide whether or not you must provide parental information on your FAFSA.
* You will have to provide documentation to verify your situation. Gather as much written evidence of your situation as you can. Written evidence may include court or law enforcement documents, letters from a clergy member, school counselor or social worker, and/or any other relevant data that explains your special circumstance.
* After reviewing your circumstances carefully, your FAA will decide if you must provide parental information or if your circumstances allow you to proceed without providing parental data. Your FAA’s decision is final and can not be appealed to Federal Student Aid.

He does not have special circumstances.

Wondergirl · Sep 15, 2009, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Justwantfair

He does not have special circumstances.

He said he doesn't even know where they live now.

cdad · Sep 15, 2009, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by k2kornbizkit

Im getting kicked out of my dorm i think in about a 3 weeks, Scholarships typically take around 4-6 weeks.

I did ask already if i can get my payment deffered til january when i will recieve more finacial aid money and they said no.

Are you working full time ?

Justwantfair · Sep 15, 2009, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

He said he doesn't even know where they live now.

I don't see that, sorry.

k2kornbizkit · Sep 15, 2009, 01:35 PM

So if I let myself get kicked out of the dorm, I technically can qualify as homeless right? Or since Im at school six hours away from my parents house,will they somehow assume I live at their house. Ill be homeless if I can become an independent student...

As far as special circumstances for not including parents information I am not opposed to saying they beat me or that I don't speak with them however I have zero proof of that beyond my own word. The guy a few posts back that he had to provide legal documents, police reports, and all types of physical evidence that he has no idea of how too get a hold of his parents.

Short of being homeless I do not qualify as independent under any of the above stipulations...

k2kornbizkit · Sep 15, 2009, 01:38 PM

I work full time but as a server with barely any reportable income...

And I do have parents, I do know where they are, am not opposed to lying about or disowning them, and they have bad credit.
And so do I, so loans are not an option...

Justwantfair · Sep 15, 2009, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by k2kornbizkit

so if i let my self get kicked out of the dorm, i technically can qualify as homeless right? or since Im at school six hours away from my parents house,will they somehow assume I live at their house. Ill b homeless if i can become an independant student...

as far as special circumstances for not including parents information I am not opposed to saying they beat me or that I dont speak with them however i have zero proof of that beyond my own word. The guy a few posts back that he had to provide legal documents, police reports, and all types of physical evidence that he has no idea of how too get a hold of his parents.

short of being homeless i do not qualify as independant under any of the above stipulations...

You can talk to a Financial Advisor at your school but right now, it doesn't look like a good situation for you.