FAFSA Dependency Status 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which question on the FAFSA determines if a student is at risk of being homeless?
- Housing situation question
- Homeless or at-risk question (Correct answer)
- Dependency override question
- Special circumstances question
Correct answer: Homeless or at-risk question
The FAFSA includes a homeless or at-risk question that can classify a student as independent if they are unaccompanied and homeless.
Question 2: What is a dependency override and who grants it?
- An automatic status change based on age; the DOE
- A financial aid administrator's decision to change a student's dependency status; the school (Correct answer)
- A court order changing dependency; a judge
- A tax filing change; the IRS
Correct answer: A financial aid administrator's decision to change a student's dependency status; the school
A dependency override is a professional judgment decision made by a financial aid administrator to change a student's dependency status due to unusual circumstances.
Question 3: A student with legal dependents (not a spouse) who they support is classified as:
- Dependent
- Independent (Correct answer)
- Semi-independent
- Conditional
Correct answer: Independent
Students who have legal dependents other than a spouse who they provide more than half of the support for are classified as independent.
Question 4: What document might a financial aid office request to verify a student's independent status claim?
- Bank statements only
- Court documents, tax returns, or signed statements from officials (Correct answer)
- High school transcripts
- Employment records only
Correct answer: Court documents, tax returns, or signed statements from officials
Schools may request court documents, tax returns, letters from social workers, or other official documentation to verify claimed independent status.
Question 5: A student who is currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training is classified as:
- Dependent
- Independent (Correct answer)
- Temporarily independent
- Conditional
Correct answer: Independent
Students currently on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (not for training) are classified as independent on the FAFSA.
Question 6: Which of the following does NOT make a student independent on the FAFSA?
- Being 24 or older
- Being a graduate student
- Working full-time (Correct answer)
- Being a ward of the court
Correct answer: Working full-time
Employment status alone does not determine independent status on the FAFSA; specific legal or life circumstances are required.
FAFSA Dependency Status 2
Which question on the FAFSA determines if a student is at risk of being homeless?