What are the federal guidelines to be considered an independent student for the purposes of filing for student financial aid?
• A student is considered independent by meeting any of these criteria: • if you were born before January 1, 1986, • if you are married, • if you are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training, • if you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, • if you are an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence, • if you will be working on a master’s or doctorate program at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, or graduate certificate, etc), • if you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, • if you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2010, • if when you were age 13 or older, both your parents were deceased, you were in foster care or you were a dependent/ward of the court, • if you are
