Step 3

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Renewal FAFSAs

The questions in Step Three are used to determine, according to law, whether you are a dependent or an independent student for purposes of calculating an EFC. If you answer "No" to all of the questions in Step Three, you are a dependent student, even if you do not live with your parents. A financial aid administrator (FAA) may make an otherwise dependent student independent in individual cases if he or she determines that such an action is appropriate.

A dependent student provides information about himself or herself in the pink areas and about his or her parents in the purple areas. The dependent student and at least one parent whose information is provided in Step 4 must sign the FAFSA. An independent student gives information only about himself or herself and about his or her spouse (if married) in the pink areas only, and can skip Step 4 and go to Step 5. The independent student must sign the FAFSA.

Questions 54 - 59 - Answer all of the questions in this step. Answer "Yes" (in which case you will be considered independent) if you meet any of the following criteria:

1. you were born before January 1, 1977;
2. you will be working on a degree beyond a bachelor's degree in school year 2000-2001; You should answer "Yes" if you will be enrolled in a graduate or professional program (a course of study beyond a bachelor's degree) in the first term of 2000-2001. If your graduate status will change during the school year, notify your FAA. A graduate or professional student is not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, so if you incorrectly report that you are a graduate or professional student, you will need to submit a correction to receive a Federal Pell Grant.
3. you are legally married on the date you sign the application; "Married" does not mean living together unless your state recognizes your relationship as common-law marriage. Answer "yes" if you are separated but not divorced.
4. you have
   • children who receive more than half of their support from you, or
   • dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and currently receive more than half of their support from you, and will continue to receive that support through June 30, 2001.
5. you are an orphan or a ward of the court (or were a ward of the court until reaching the age of 18); You should answer "Yes" if you are currently a ward of the court or were a ward of the court until age 18, or both your parents are dead and you do not have an adoptive parent. If your parents are dead, but you have legal guardian(s), you are considered to be an orphan for purposes of completing the FAFSA. You are not considered a ward of the court based solely on being incarcerated
6. you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard);

   You should answer "Yes" (you are a veteran) if

   • you have engaged in active service in the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard), or were a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, and
   • you were released under a condition other than dishonorable. You should also answer "Yes" if you are not a veteran now but will be one by June 30, 2001.
   You should answer "No" (you are not a veteran) if you are currently an ROTC student, a cadet or midshipman at a service academy, or a National Guard or Reserves enlistee (and were not activated for duty). You should also answer "No" if you are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and will continue to serve through June 30, 2001.

Courtesy of: "Completing the 2000-2001 FAFSA," from the U.S. Department of Education