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: Hi there. I'm looking about information related to what can I do if my parents don't want to pay for my college.

assistant: You need to know that you can't consider yourself independent of your parents just because they don't to help you with this process.

assistant: Do you know what would happen if you don't provide their information, right?

user: I have an idea about it.

assistant: You need to know that your application may be considered rejected.

user: But I have no contact with my parents because I have left my home due to an abusive situation.

assistant: In that case, you need to fill your fafsa form anyway and get in contact immediately with the financial aid office at the college or career school you plan to attend and then know what to do next.

user: But what can I do if I have no contact at all with my parents?

assistant: You need to fill your fafsa form and keep with the process.

user: But this is really mandatory? I mean the parents information.

assistant: Yes, the parents information is used in determinating eligibility for programs such as health professions.

user: So, one way or another I have to answer the questions about them?

assistant: Yes, that's right. Specially if you still under them.