CA FINANCIAL AID: Is there a way to register as an independant at age 19?

As far as I know, the FASFA goes by your parent's financial information until you are in your 20's- I believe 21-24 no matter what your situation.

I am 19 years old and I am living on my own. I work and get financial assistance from my parents, but my total income (even with my parent's contribution) is arox. only $17K a year...

...But the FASFA is only recording my father's information which is well over $40K. Because of this, I am not recieving as much financial aid as I need.

The people at FASFA tell me that they can't go off my financial information- Only my parent's. I've heard there's ways to get around it- Because I truly am independent with a small contribution, and my parents are giving me ALL they can...

http://www.salliemae.com ( For student loans)!!!!

http://www.iefa.org -------> International Students on the web <----

http://www.about.com --->Great search engine and information site for everything <---

http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml --> Dept. of Education for any questions<--

http://www.fastweb.com

http://www.gocollege.com

http://www.collegeboard.com

http://www.scholarships.com

www.walmartfoundation.org

Please go to the Department of Education for more help and a list of student loan foundations.

I believe the only way you can register as an independent if you are under 25 is if you are married. When you are married you are considered independent and you do not have to list your parent's income at all.

The only ways to be considered independent would be if you have a dependent child, married, orphan or ward of the court, veteran, and by age. Just living on your own, away from your parents does not make you independent by the financial aid's definition. Based on what you indicated, your answer to the items that would have made you independent are all no. Thus, unfortunately you will still be classified as dependent at this time.

To be independent you can't be eligible to be claimed on someone else's taxes. So, like the others said, you'd have to be married, have kids that you claim on your taxes, be over 24, etc...I'm currently struggling financially in school as well, but then I read this article that said that you are the brokest you will ever be when you are in college. I guess everyone goes through this. I've been eating oatmeal and ramen noodles so much for the past few years, I don't think I'll ever eat them again once I'm out of school!

Good Luck!