For purposes of applying for federal student aid, what s the difference between a dependent student and an independent student? 
Read the definitions, find out who has to provide parent information on the FAFSA form, and learn what to do if you aren t in contact with your parents. Your dependency status determines whose information you must report on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA form. If you re a dependent student , you will report your and your parents information. If you re an independent student , you will report your own information and, if you re married, your spouse s. The federal student aid programs are based on the concept that it is primarily your and your family s responsibility to pay for your education. A dependent student is assumed to have the support of parents , so the parents information has to be assessed along with the student s, in order to get a full picture of the family s financial strength. If you re a dependent student, it doesn t mean your parents are required to pay anything toward your education ; this is just a way of looking at everyone in a consistent manner. 

Am I dependent or independent? 
Your answers to questions on the FAFSA form determine whether you are considered a dependent or independent student. The questions change a little from one year s application to the next year s ; for instance, the 2020 21 FAFSA form asks whether you were born before Jan. 1 , 1997, while the 2021 22 FAFSA form will ask whether you were born before Jan. 1 , 1998. Here are the questions that determine your dependency status, first in a graphic format and then for 2020 21 specifically in a table of dependency status questions : View text-only version 

Dependency Status Questions on the 2020 21 FAFSA Form 
* Answer " No " you are not a veteran if you 1 have never engaged in active duty including basic training in the U.S. armed forces , 2 are currently a Reserve Officers Training Corps ROTC student or a cadet or midshipman at 

user: How can I tell the difference between a dependent student and an independent student?

assistant: Read the definitions, find out who has to provide parent information on the FAFSA form, and learn what to do if you aren't in contact with your parents.

user: What if my parents don't want to help me pay for college?

assistant: Well, you can't be considered independent of your parents just because they refuse to help you with this process.

assistant: Can't you provide their information on the FAFSA form?

user: Yes, I can't. They refuse to give me all information that is needed.

assistant: In that case the application will be considered rejected, and you might not be able to receive any federal student aid. The most you would be able to get depending on what the financial aid office at your college decides would be a loan called an unsubsidized loan.

user: Could it be that the questions on the form change each year? My friend tried to help me by showing me his form from last year, but some questions were different.

assistant: Yes, questions may change depending on the year. You'll find the questions that determine your dependency status on our website, first in a graphic format and then for 2020/21, specifically in a table of dependency status questions.

user: How can I tell the difference between a dependent student and an independent student again?

assistant: Read the definitions, find out who has to provide parent information on the FAFSA form, and learn what to do if you aren't in contact with your parents.

user: What if I have answered that I'm a dependent student?

assistant: Then for federal student aid purposes, you're considered to be an independent student and will not provide information about your parents on the FAFSA form.