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: I want to be considered on my own because my mom isn't going to help me with college and my forms

assistant: You can not be considered independent of your mother just because she refuses to help you with this process 

assistant: Are you having difficulty getting her information for the FAFSA forms?

user: yes, I can't get it

assistant: If you can't get her information 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 would be a loan called an unsubsidized loan. 

user: but she is nasty and I can't get her to help, what should I do?

assistant: So you have no way of contacting your mom and getting her to help you?

user: yes, that is the situation I am in

assistant: Fill out the FAFSA form and then immediately get in touch with the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend. The financial aid office will tell you what to do next. 

user: why do you need her info anyway?

assistant: This is just a way of looking at everyone in a consistent manner to evaluate information.

user: can I do the filling in on the form for them?

assistant: You can find out who has to provide parent information on the FAFSA form with our help