I am a 5th year senior about to graduate this semester. In 2019, I filed as independent for the first time, since it was the first time my parents "allowed" me too. Before my EFC (Expected Family Contribution) was always around $30,000 so never saw any FAFSA money. However, my parents didn't pay my tuition or rent or books, but did have some money for me in a 529. They did send me $100 monthly for food (they also pay my health insurance, phone bill, and car insurance). (Car insurance is $8/year because my car is so old). I paid my rent, books, tuition and took on $12,000 in debt. When I just now filled out my FAFSA, as an independent for the first time, my EFC went down to zero, my expected Pell Grant amount is ~$6,000.
Since I'm about to graduate and this FAFSA was for the 2021-2022 school year, will I see a cent of that $6,000? Did my parents cost me $12,000 by not letting me file as independent 5 years ago?
Submitted October 15, 2020 at 09:41PM by fafsahelpthrowaway https://ift.tt/3ducivU
