Questions on the 2009-10 FAFSA which may cause difficulty for wards of the court or foster youth are listed below. Question numbers refer to the paper FAFSA. Sections refer to the FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) Worksheet. Answering yes to any question in Step Four/Section means that you will be treated as an independent student and will not need to provide parental information on the FAFSA.
Question #47
Section 6
Free child care
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Q: I am
a single mom with one child and will get free day care for my child
(from a grandmother, aunt,
or free day care center) while I go to
college. Does this “free” income have to be reported on the
FAFSA?
A: No, this service is not income and the information
is not collected on the FAFSA. However, note that you need to let
your school know that
you are receiving free dependent care; an allowance for dependent care
may not be added to your cost of attendance.
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Question #53
Section 2
“Do you have children who will receive more than half of
their support from you between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010?”
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Q: I have
a child who will be living with me and my income will be from TANF.
Do I answer “yes” to
Question #53? Are TANF or welfare benefits considered to be like earned
income?
A: TANF benefits count as support that you provide
to your child. You would answer “Yes” to this question as long as you provide more than
half of the child’s support.
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Question #55
Section 2
“At any time since you turned age 13, were both of your parents deceased,
were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?”
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Q: I am a ward of the court but graduated from high school and then went
to live with my mother for two months. Did I lose my independent status?
A: You are considered to be independent if you either
are a ward of the court now or were a ward of the court at any time
since you turned age
13, even if you no longer are a ward of the court today. If your ward
of the court status ended before you reached age 13, you may be considered
dependent on your parent. In that case, you should talk about your
situation
with the financial aid administrator at your college.
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Question #55
Section 2
“At any time since
you turned age 13, were both of your parents deceased, were you in
foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?”
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Q: I am
a dependent child of the court of my county. Is this the same as a “ward” of
the court?
A: The term “ward” is used to mean “dependent” of
the court. You are a ward of the court (regardless of whether this status
is determined by the county or state) if the court has, or had (at any
time since you turned age 13) assumed, custody of you. You should have
court documents that designate your court-related status.
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Question #55
Section 2
“At any time since you turned age 13, were both of your parents deceased,
were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?”
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Q: I am no longer under the court because my foster parents took legal
guardianship of me a few years ago. However, my foster parents do not support
me with their own financial resources. They still get a foster care check
each month for me. How do I answer question #55?
A: If you were in foster care at anytime when you
were 13 or older, answer the question yes. If you are in legal guardianship,
also answer Question
57 “Yes.”
Note: Neither legal guardians nor foster parents are considered parents
when completing the FAFSA.
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Question #55
Section 2
“At any time since you
turned age 13, were both of your parents deceased, were you in foster
care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?”
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Q: I turned
18 and graduated, so my court case was closed. My college is saying
I am no longer an independent
student because I’m no longer
a ward of the court. Am I considered dependent or independent?
A: You are considered to be independent if you were
a ward of the court, at any time when you were age 13 or older. You
should check “yes” to
this question if you were a ward of the court when you were age 13 or
older, even if you no longer are a ward of the court today.
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Question #56
Section 2
“Are you or were you
an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal
residence?”
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Q: I was emancipated at age 15 but lived with my aunt and uncle during
my last semester of high school. How should I complete the FAFSA?
A: Complete the FAFSA as an independent student
if you have a copy of a court order that you are an emancipated minor,
or that you were an emancipated
minor immediately before attaining the age of adulthood in your state.
The court must be located in your state of legal residence. If the
court order is no longer in effect and you are still a minor, or
if it was not
in effect at the time you became an adult, complete the FAFSA as a
dependent student.
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Question #57
Section 2
“Are you or were you
in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal
residence?”
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Q: My grandparents are my court-appointed, legal guardians. They have
provided support for me all my life. How do I complete the FAFSA?
A: Complete the FAFSA as an independent student
if you have a copy of a court order that you are in a legal guardianship.
The court must be located
in your state of legal residence. If the court order is no longer in
effect and you are still a minor, or if it was not in effect at the
time you became
an adult, you must complete the FAFSA as a dependent student.
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Question #58
Section 2
“At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did your high school or school
district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth
who was
homeless?”
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Q: I became homeless during my senior year in high school. Am I considered
an independent student?
A: You are considered an independent student if
you received a determination any time on or after July 1, 2008, that
you were an unaccompanied youth
who was homeless. The financial aid administrator at your college may
require you to provide a copy of the determination or other documentation.
If you do not have a determination but you believe you are an unaccompanied
youth who is homeless or are an unaccompanied youth providing your
own living expenses who is at risk of being homeless, answer “No” and
contact your school’s financial aid office for assistance or for
a determination by your school.
- “Youth” means
that you are 21 years of age or less or are still enrolled in high
school as of the day you sign this application.
- “Unaccompanied” means you are not living in the physical custody
of a parent or guardian.
- “Homeless” means lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing,
including living in shelters, motels, cars, and temporarily with
other people
because you have nowhere else to go.
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Question #59
Section 2
“At any time on or after
July 1, 2008, did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional
housing program funded by the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied
youth who was homeless?”
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Q: I lived in an emergency shelter last year. How do I complete the FAFSA?
A: Answer yes if you received a determination any time on or after July
1, 2008, that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless. The financial
aid administrator at your college may require you to provide a copy of
the determination or other documentation.
If you do not have a determination but you believe you are an unaccompanied
youth who is homeless or are an unaccompanied youth providing your
own living expenses who is at risk of being homeless, answer “No” and
contact your school’s financial aid office for assistance or for
a determination by your school.
- “Youth” means
that you are 21 years of age or less or are still enrolled in high
school as of the day you sign this application.
- “Unaccompanied” means
you are not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.
- “Homeless” means
lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing, including living in
shelters, motels, cars, and temporarily with
other people because
you have nowhere else to go.
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Question #60
Section 2
“At any time on or after
July 1, 2008, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic
center or transitional living program determine
that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting
and at risk of being homeless?”
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Q: My mom died a few years ago and I have no contact with my dad. I am
in a transitional housing program. Am I an independent student?
A: Answer yes if you received a determination any
time on or after July 1, 2008, that you were an unaccompanied youth
who was homeless or self-supporting
and at risk of being homeless. The financial aid administrator at your
college may require you to provide a copy of the determination or other
documentation.
If you do not have a determination but you believe you are an unaccompanied
youth who is homeless or are an unaccompanied youth providing your
own living expenses who is at risk of being homeless, answer “No” and
contact your school’s financial aid office for assistance or for
a determination.
- “Youth” means
that you are 21 years of age or less or are still enrolled in high
school as of the day you sign this application.
- “Unaccompanied” means
you are not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.
- “Homeless” means lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing,
including living in shelters, motels, cars, and temporarily with
other people because
you have nowhere else to go.
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Question #96
Section 4
Number in household
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Q: I live
with my foster parents and their children. Are they my “family
members?”
A: No. You are considered independent because you
are in foster care; if you have no dependent children of your own,
you are a family of one (yourself).
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Question #106
Section #
Signatures
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Q: I have
filled out this form as an independent student because I am a ward
of the court. Do I need
my father’s and/or mother’s
signature(s)? I don’t live with them, but I see them sometimes.
A: No. Because of your status as a ward of the court,
you are considered an independent applicant; parental signatures
are not required.
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