Danii Kolb
New member
I'm trying to get financial aid for college, and my situation is complicated.
My mother was a crack whore (not kidding). She was murdered when I was 8 years old, and not even SHE had any idea who my biological father was. I can't really say both parents are deceased when I don't know about my father, right?
Now the problem. I was adopted by my aunt and uncle at 9, which apparently disqualifies parental death as a reason for financial aid. I was kicked out of the only high school in the small town they live in and at 15 I went to live with my brother's father across the state.
The FAFSA requires parental tax forms, and I am FOUR MONTHS too young to be qualified as independent. My aunt and uncle won't submit forms due to the amount of money they smake. They do not support me financially, emotionally, or really at all. Apparently it doesn't matter.
I'll be 23 in April. I've wasted 5 years of my life at a crappy job I hate, trying to save up the money to go to school on my own. Needless to say, I have no money. I'm lucky I've been able to pay my bills on time, let alone afford an education that is granted to many more fortunate.
Why does parental death only apply if it happens after you're 13 years old?
My mother was a crack whore (not kidding). She was murdered when I was 8 years old, and not even SHE had any idea who my biological father was. I can't really say both parents are deceased when I don't know about my father, right?
Now the problem. I was adopted by my aunt and uncle at 9, which apparently disqualifies parental death as a reason for financial aid. I was kicked out of the only high school in the small town they live in and at 15 I went to live with my brother's father across the state.
The FAFSA requires parental tax forms, and I am FOUR MONTHS too young to be qualified as independent. My aunt and uncle won't submit forms due to the amount of money they smake. They do not support me financially, emotionally, or really at all. Apparently it doesn't matter.
I'll be 23 in April. I've wasted 5 years of my life at a crappy job I hate, trying to save up the money to go to school on my own. Needless to say, I have no money. I'm lucky I've been able to pay my bills on time, let alone afford an education that is granted to many more fortunate.
Why does parental death only apply if it happens after you're 13 years old?