Student Financial Services
FAFSA Questions 53-58
Documentation Required for Verifying Independent Status
If any of these apply to you, please provide documentation to the Office of Student Financial Services to validate your response.
53. Parents deceased, student is ward of the court or in foster care.
Need: Copy of death certificates or court’s decision
54. Is or was the student an emancipated minor?
Need: Copy of court’s decision.
55. Is or was student in legal guardianship?
Need: Copy of court’s decision.
DEFINITIONS FOR QUESTIONS 56-58
Homeless means lacking fixed, regular and adequate housing, which includes living in shelters, motels or cars, or temporarily living with other people because you had nowhere else to go.
Unaccompanied means you are not living in the physical custody of your parent or guardian.
Youth means you are 21 years of age or younger or you are still enrolled in high school as of the day you sign the FAFSA.
56. Is student an unaccompanied youth as determined by High School/ Homeless Liaison?
Need: Letter from authorized high school personnel or homeless liaison (letterhead).
57. Is student an unaccompanied Homeless Youth as determined by HUD?
Need: Documentation from HUD (letterhead).
58. Student is homeless or at risk of being homeless.
Need: Letter from cognitive source aware of student's circumstances (letterhead).