Chances at suing FAFSA

[DataXUnknown]

(Cliff notes at bottom)

As many of you know, FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) helps everyone with financial needs to get through school. The term "I can afford school" and "school is affordable for everyone" are coined throughout various schools and advertisements.

However, this information is false. Here is my situation.

My parents don't make much; they had to sell their beautiful 5 bedroom, two story, Anaheim Hills - California home, to go rent a small 3 bedroom, one story, Huntington Beach - California home, along with various other financial hardships of them owning their own machine shop, being only them there now (no other employees), and all the manufacturing being outsourced to China.

I, live with roommates in an apartment in Orange, CA. I do not get any help from my parents whatsoever; I pay all my bills, never even had any savings accounts from my parents or anything like that. I do not have a car (a large part due to theft from two former Zilvian's might I add), as well as more theft, and people selling me a car that broke down on me 3 times in 3 weeks, running me out of money. I figured I needed to get in school.

So I jump in summer, taking one class to get priority pick for fall semester classes. I start up and continue 17.20 units (full time is 12 units or more), thinking FAFSA was the answer to all my problems. So I try to work as much as I can, barely scraping by each month with no money extra, taking the bus at 5AM coming home at almost midnight. It's extremely difficult. Finally the FAFSA people give me the answer, denying me for any financial aid. They claim my parents had made too much money last year, and the EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) was $12,670 for one school year. The total money reported in my parents bank account was no more than $5,000 more than that. If you refer back to the first paragraph, my parents really don't make much at all, and nor would they give me any if I asked for some (because really they don't have any to give!).

Now, to be marked as "Independent" you must either be a vetern, in the military, homeless, foster child, have a kid, or be over the age of 23. This doesn't make sense. I am independent, I don't rely on anyone else for money or support, I support myself. There are various definitions for Independent, and one states "not relying on another or others for aid or support." (5. @ Dictionary.com).

So I'm stuck being listed as "dependent", working just under 40 hours a week (trying to at least), and going to school more than just full time. My question to you all is, if I sue, would I be technically suing the United States Federal Government? I wanted to sue for this $12,670 that supposedly my family is supposed to contribute. I know there are many others in my shoes, and many others that have been screwed over by the FAFSA. And then, I know people that have rich parents, but still get the money because something won't show up on their tax forms and whatnot.

Thoughts on this?
-Wes

Cliff Notes:
-Parents make little money
-FAFSA Denied me any help, even though I live on my own and support myself. No parental help whatsoever.
-I can't be marked as independent because of unusual circumstances
-Want to sue for what they said my family was supposed to "contribute", and what are my chances at winning/opinions on this matter?

[handinpants]

fafsa denie me too, saying that i made too much money last year i didnt make enough to finance a car...

[chucky norris]

i haven applied for it yet
if i do get it i am going to laugh lol

[lflkajfj12123]

Yeah this seems to be a common problem for people in your situations.

You have no choice but to rely on your parents which is pretty much bullshit.

[Slammed Assassin]

i got denied as well. my parents barley make 30k combined a year. too bad so sad :(

[driftsilvias13]

You know whats funny? I have a friend who's parents make A LOT of money and yet he still gets FAFSA $. But me? Independent like yourself and my parents dont make as much as my friends but get denied every time.

[ineedone]

Unless you can prove that you were being denied in an unconstitutional way (not going to happen), there is not much you can do. There are other ways to get student loans though so do not give up on that yet.

But the answer to your question, more likely than not (like 99.9999999%), not only could you not find an attorney to help you but you really have no claim. There is no law that guarantees you will get FASFA. The amount of process that is due to you for a decision on a FASFA loan is just the letter accepting/denying you, at least that is my knowledge of it. There are a few attorneys on these forums though, hopefully one of them will chime in here.

[HalveBlue]

FAFSA isn't an organization, it's a form.

The organization you should be talking to is the Department of Education.

That having been said, what makes you think that if you don't have money to attend school you'll have the money to sue the feds?

Besides, being that the Dept. of Education is a federal agency you do have the right to appeal any decision they made if you feel it was made in error.

That's where I would start.

[DataXUnknown]

Unless you can prove that you were being denied in an unconstitutional way (not going to happen), there is not much you can do. There are other ways to get student loans though so do not give up on that yet.

But the answer to your question, more likely than not (like 99.9999999%), not only could you not find an attorney to help you but you really have no claim. There is no law that guarantees you will get FASFA. The amount of process that is due to you for a decision on a FASFA loan is just the letter accepting/denying you, at least that is my knowledge of it. There are a few attorneys on these forums though, hopefully one of them will chime in here.

Couldn't I claim false/misleading information? Not only are their statements about school "being affordable for everyone" untrue, but also their "EFC" statements. It may say "this is not what your family has to pay" but it does say "this is what your family is expected to pay".

[nathanong87]

well fafsa might not give u money, but u CAN apply for student loans which although isn't the same....is better than nothing i guess. i didn't even apply for fafsa knowing that i'd probably be denied.

[BoostSlideWayz]

fafsa gave me alittle money for school awhile back but eventually the college dropped auto tech out of the system for awhile because they couldnt afford it. we told fafsa in order to get to a school its further away and need more money to get a reliable car. and there still giving me a hard time.. i have no job.. my mom is a single parent on disability so were living off of close to nothing. i cant pay my phone bill.. cant get money for gas to even drive anywhere and i live in a small town with no job opportunities .. so im stuck in the house, and fafsa keeps making us sign more and more paper work saying well be able to get money but after we sign it nothing happens. then about a few weeks later they send us another thing to sign.

[DataXUnknown]

fafsa gave me alittle money for school awhile back but eventually the college dropped auto tech out of the system for awhile because they couldnt afford it. we told fafsa in order to get to a school its further away and need more money to get a reliable car. and there still giving me a hard time.. i have no job.. my mom is a single parent on disability so were living off of close to nothing. i cant pay my phone bill.. cant get money for gas to even drive anywhere and i live in a small town with no job opportunities .. so im stuck in the house, and fafsa keeps making us sign more and more paper work saying well be able to get money but after we sign it nothing happens. then about a few weeks later they send us another thing to sign.

And this is one main reason I asked the Zilva crowd, I knew there were plenty of people in the same boat as me if not worse. I too, need to get a reliable car to get around. Currently I take the bus. I was told I was probably going to get a lot of money out of it (from the Financial Aid office at my school). I spent over 48 hours on the bus just traveling to and from my parents house to get all of the paperwork and information signed. (3 hour bus ride there, and 3 hours back). They sent me the same paperwork 6 times, I filled everything out already and was still denied.

[ineedone]

Couldn't I claim false/misleading information? Not only are their statements about school "being affordable for everyone" untrue, but also their "EFC" statements. It may say "this is not what your family has to pay" but it does say "this is what your family is expected to pay".

Well, you need to have a claim. What is your injury? I do not think you can claim that not receiving a federal subsidy as an injury but I could be wrong. From the cases I have read (dealing with tax subsidies like 501(c)(3) statuses) you are not injured if the government denies you the distinction (as long as the denial does not violate the constitution etc.). Still, the only process you are due is the "adjudication" or the letter explaining your acceptance/denial. The only real plan of action would be to call a FASFA representative, explain your situation, and see if you possibly filled the form out incorrectly. I am assuming that would be the advice you would get if you contacted a attorney (which you should do if you really think you have a claim).

Besides, being that the Dept. of Education is a federal agency you do have the right to appeal any decision they made if you feel it was made in error

Not entirely true. Read up on the APA, depending on the administrative action, and the agency, the amount of process you are due varies. In student loan actions, the process you get is the acceptance/denial letter and that is about it (to my knowledge at least). Anyone with actual legal knowledge on this should chime in and correct me if I am wrong!

[lawrenceyang]

FAFSA isn't an organization, it's a form.

The organization you should be talking to is the Department of Education.

That having been said, what makes you think that if you don't have money to attend school you'll have the money to sue the feds?

Besides, being that the Dept. of Education is a federal agency you do have the right to appeal any decision they made if you feel it was made in error.

That's where I would start.

this. i would talk to the financial aid office wherever you go to school for starters.

[BoostSlideWayz]

And this is one main reason I asked the Zilva crowd, I knew there were plenty of people in the same boat as me if not worse. I too, need to get a reliable car to get around. Currently I take the bus. I was told I was probably going to get a lot of money out of it (from the Financial Aid office at my school). I spent over 48 hours on the bus just traveling to and from my parents house to get all of the paperwork and information signed. (3 hour bus ride there, and 3 hours back). They sent me the same paperwork 6 times, I filled everything out already and was still denied.

that sucks.. yeah theres a small bus that comes around town every once and awhile but if you want it to come up here you have to call the bus company and have them come up witch is a little bit too much and i doesn't drive to where i need to go. college is 45-50 miles away.. and doing that everyday or every other day for me is not possible with my income. i think my friend got into fafsa and he got bank.. he lives close to college ... all he needed to buy was books.. and he got 4 grand !!! after a week or 2 he started lookin like a baller with some expensive cloths and shoes.. but what ever hes a jerk now anyways lol

[VROOOM]

fafsa gave me alittle money for school awhile back but eventually the college dropped auto tech out of the system for awhile because they couldnt afford it. we told fafsa in order to get to a school its further away and need more money to get a reliable car. and there still giving me a hard time.. i have no job.. my mom is a single parent on disability so were living off of close to nothing. i cant pay my phone bill.. cant get money for gas to even drive anywhere and i live in a small town with no job opportunities .. so im stuck in the house, and fafsa keeps making us sign more and more paper work saying well be able to get money but after we sign it nothing happens. then about a few weeks later they send us another thing to sign.

why not sell your 94 Supra or your fully built 240 to pay for school?

[CrimsonRockett]

why not sell your 94 Supra or your fully built 240 to pay for school?

Oh, I thought you knew. Built cars are always more important than a proper education.

Duh.

I was denied FAFSA a few years back too. Suing the government never crossed my mind. You'd lose.

[Matej]

Stopped applying for FAFSA because they always denied me. I know a few people who are way better off and/or are total dummies who have no place in college, yet they received aid. So I gave up.

[VROOOM]

Oh, I thought you knew. Built cars are always more important than a proper education.

Duh.

I was denied FAFSA a few years back too. Suing the government never crossed my mind. You'd lose.

LOL, yeah on Zilvia it seems they are.

[whiterps13]

You pretty much have no legal claim to make. You arent really being discriminated against, theres really nothing you can do. If you cant afford school, you damn well cant afford to sue the government or its subsidiaries. Even if you had the smallest real legal claim, they would draw out and extend the legal process until you ran out of money to pay for your lawyer. That would take about one week from the sounds of it.

Student loans, bro.
Its not fair, but life isnt fair.

[J3123MY]

Damn man, that sucks. What you do is respectable. working full time and being a full time student is fucking crazy hard work.

What school you go to?

I know some baller as FOBS who get full fasfa because their parents are not here or some shit like that.

[chitownguy]

They kept sending me letters that I hadn't sent all that tax information shit like 3 times so I just stopped trying because I figured I wouldn't get anything. Then my brother completed the FAFSA one time and he got like $2k, no problem. I'll probably try again next year and maybe try for some student loans as well.

[sw20>>s14]

if the grants didnt go through, go for the loans for sure...barring you trying to attend medical or law school, the interest free (up until you graduate) loans for the cost of community college or a four year school should be more than manageable if you have a job now working a tad less than full time...

[upsdude]

just say you don't speak english and that you're not here legally-then you'll get the $$

[flip3d]

Lie on it. Put down the parent that makes the least amount of money and say you don't know where the other one is.

[Corbic]

Damn man, that sucks. What you do is respectable. working full time and being a full time student is fucking crazy hard work.


Yeah, but lots of people do it. I plugged 30 hours a week, paid for an apartment and went to school. My current GF is 6 months way from graduating as she has had to work full time and go off and on now for 7 years and I have a friend about to graduate as well, 9 years - but he stuck with it, working and living on his own.

I'm going back now, this time for a masters... yeah, I get to give up all my vacation and lob out $50k...

[BoostSlideWayz]

why not sell your 94 Supra or your fully built 240 to pay for school?

because those two cars are the only thing that keeps me going in life.. if i got rid of any of em id probably get really depressed and kill myself lol.

[VROOOM]

dont complain then. you have the money to go to school, you just dont want to use it. t

hen to say you need the money to buy a reliable car to get you to school. thats a joke.

[SochBAT]

I feel you Data. Last year, I was unemployed like a motherfucker. Absolutely no income what so ever for over a year. My bro flipped my bills reluctantly. Giant IOU on the way there.

Anyways, I got like, 200 per semester from FAFSA AFTER an appeal changing my status to independent. It was tedious, but I had to provide paperwork and a signed affidavit that my father was deceased and was estranged from my mother. EFC was $1000? Its a pain.

Now I moved here to texas, boring texas. I talked to the FA office on campus and they too mentioned that for someone in my shoes, I should be getting more than the cost of school. Wrong. 12 units costs me 1400. FAFSA awarded 500 per semester. I had to take a school loan to attend a fucking CC. Seriously, my mind is boggled by that. Fucking shit to say the least.

Its situations like this that really make school seem like a unattainable goal. Other dickdouchecuntrags get fat checks and blow it on cars and clothing, while the people that really do need that shit get shafted.

[TougeLove]

theres a form you can fill out for those stuck in the middle between parents and not being 24 (which i believe is the age you need to be for full fafsa) or is it 21? if you can prove you're on your own you can get fafsa. ill find out tomorrow.

[xrockoutx]

my FAFSA really covers nothing, the grants and scholarships cover the costs. Get those? Write some essays, declare a major, show you have good grades.

[Spikuh]

Data, one other thing to be mindful of is WHEN you file the FAFSA. Understand that FAFSA only has so much grant money to distribute, so time is of the essence. Once they have put out that money, no more comes through the pipeline until the following year or the politicians give out more money.

It sucks that you didn't get any of the money, but as others have pointed out, you can still go the route of loans. Take federal subsidized loans over the unsubsidized to save a bit of money from not having to pay interest while in school.

I got lucky and managed to work my way through my Bachelor's degree without having to wrack up debt, but Master's is forcing me to take some loans. The one upside is this helps me keep a laser focus on making good grades and getting done quickly.

Goodluck

For our good friend BoostSlideWayz, don't bother going to college, your priorities are all wrong.

[BoostSlideWayz]

dont complain then. you have the money to go to school, you just dont want to use it. t

hen to say you need the money to buy a reliable car to get you to school. thats a joke.

i dont have to explain my whole life.. but at the time when i got these two cars.. i had good money.. i had a good job and things were steady.. but when you loose your job you slowly loose your things and these two car are the only life i have... theres difference between people who can just afford 2 cars like its nothing and who worked hard for it...

[J3123MY]

Yeah, but lots of people do it. I plugged 30 hours a week, paid for an apartment and went to school. My current GF is 6 months way from graduating as she has had to work full time and go off and on now for 7 years and I have a friend about to graduate as well, 9 years - but he stuck with it, working and living on his own.

I'm going back now, this time for a masters... yeah, I get to give up all my vacation and lob out $50k...

Respect. In the end though, sacrificing your vacation and 50k will definitely
be worth it.

[1on1]

I turned 24 this year and currently enrolled at Miramar College as an independent. I qualified for BOG (Board of Governors Waiver) and also FAFSA.

From what i remember, The only way you can be qualified for independent is if you

- live on your own (pay your own bills and all that)
- obviously, don't depend on family

I just skimmed this recently and it says you can talk to your Financial Aide administrator about it

"If you think you have unusual circumstances that would qualify you as an independent, speak with a financial aid administrator at your school."

FAFSA and the Independent Student - Fastweb (http://www.fastweb.com/financial-aid/articles/699-fafsa-and-the-independent-student)

for BOG, I am pretty sure anyone can qualify unless you're ballin. You only pay about $30 or so for your classes, which is really helpful.

Hopefully, you can talk to your FA administrator about your situation.

[DataXUnknown]

why not sell your 94 Supra or your fully built 240 to pay for school?

To be honest, I sort of feel his pain. I had a nicely done S13 I built from the ground up with an SR and suspension mods. I would have never sold it until theft starting coming into the equation. It was the only thing that kept me happy through the dark times, times when I lost people close to me and such, took me away from reality and such. But it's true that you just have to set priorities. Cars will never be a priority until I have a wife and my own home to comfortably live under.

You pretty much have no legal claim to make. You arent really being discriminated against, theres really nothing you can do. If you cant afford school, you damn well cant afford to sue the government or its subsidiaries. Even if you had the smallest real legal claim, they would draw out and extend the legal process until you ran out of money to pay for your lawyer. That would take about one week from the sounds of it.

Student loans, bro.
Its not fair, but life isnt fair.

That is my only other option. And you're right, most of you are right, I probably don't have the funds to last more than a week of the suing process. But I have credit card debt (from a previous 240SX making it "reliable" until finally it completely just took a shit), and I don't wish to take out loans for community college. CC should not be this difficult to go to.

Damn man, that sucks. What you do is respectable. working full time and being a full time student is fucking crazy hard work.

What school you go to?

I know some baller as FOBS who get full fasfa because their parents are not here or some shit like that.

Thanks, I simply attend Santiago Community College located in Orange, CA. I'm trying to get up to 70 units out of the way here so I can jump into Chapman University's Film School. I too, know some "baller ass FOBs" who get the full grant money because of circumstances like that.

They kept sending me letters that I hadn't sent all that tax information shit like 3 times so I just stopped trying because I figured I wouldn't get anything. Then my brother completed the FAFSA one time and he got like $2k, no problem. I'll probably try again next year and maybe try for some student loans as well.

My brother did the same thing, and got about $2k each semester. He did it twice, and now he is over 24 so he can claim independent, in which he gets the full $5500 for the school year.

just say you don't speak english and that you're not here legally-then you'll get the $$

I agree 100% on this sarcastic remark actually.

Lie on it. Put down the parent that makes the least amount of money and say you don't know where the other one is.

Trust me I've tried actually lieing and saying that I had a kid. I'm lucky I didn't get fined $20,000 for doing so. I also tried lieing about what my parents made, until they asked for my parents tax forms which tells you how much they made.

Yeah, but lots of people do it. I plugged 30 hours a week, paid for an apartment and went to school. My current GF is 6 months way from graduating as she has had to work full time and go off and on now for 7 years and I have a friend about to graduate as well, 9 years - but he stuck with it, working and living on his own.

I'm going back now, this time for a masters... yeah, I get to give up all my vacation and lob out $50k...

It seems as if I will be in the same boat as your girlfriend and other friend. I suppose as long as I stick with it I can be done in 7-9 years. Thats great though you are going back for your masters. Sorry to hear about the vacation loss, but if it makes you feel any better I've never been on vacation once in my entire life. The farthest I've ever been from home is Willow Springs International Raceway (2 hour drive from where I live).

theres a form you can fill out for those stuck in the middle between parents and not being 24 (which i believe is the age you need to be for full fafsa) or is it 21? if you can prove you're on your own you can get fafsa. ill find out tomorrow.

It's 24. I'd like to hear more info about this, thank you. My brother mentioned something similar that his friend did, proving she lived on her own. Although I've told the FA office several times I don't live with my parents, I pay my own bills, support myself, etc. I even put the address of my parents separate from my own address.

my FAFSA really covers nothing, the grants and scholarships cover the costs. Get those? Write some essays, declare a major, show you have good grades.

This really only works for the private institutions (e.g. Chapman University, the one I wish to attend). I actually just went to a workshop today and they explained a lot about this. But like I said, I'm really trying to get the most transferable units out of the way here at SCC (Santiago Community College).

Data, one other thing to be mindful of is WHEN you file the FAFSA. Understand that FAFSA only has so much grant money to distribute, so time is of the essence. Once they have put out that money, no more comes through the pipeline until the following year or the politicians give out more money.

It sucks that you didn't get any of the money, but as others have pointed out, you can still go the route of loans. Take federal subsidized loans over the unsubsidized to save a bit of money from not having to pay interest while in school.

I got lucky and managed to work my way through my Bachelor's degree without having to wrack up debt, but Master's is forcing me to take some loans. The one upside is this helps me keep a laser focus on making good grades and getting done quickly.

Goodluck

For our good friend BoostSlideWayz, don't bother going to college, your priorities are all wrong.

True, but about a week ago, my English teacher asked how many students where from the class of 2010 (sure enough everyone raised their hand). Apparently there was $14,000 minimum in grant money just sitting there, for some odd unknown reason for people only class of 2010. They are still giving out checks, there is a second distribution date, November 12th, in which they distribute more checks, meaning they are still widely accepting FAFSA submissions and have more money to give out.

I turned 24 this year and currently enrolled at Miramar College as an independent. I qualified for BOG (Board of Governors Waiver) and also FAFSA.

From what i remember, The only way you can be qualified for independent is if you

- live on your own (pay your own bills and all that)
- obviously, don't depend on family

I just skimmed this recently and it says you can talk to your Financial Aide administrator about it

"If you think you have unusual circumstances that would qualify you as an independent, speak with a financial aid administrator at your school."

FAFSA and the Independent Student - Fastweb (http://www.fastweb.com/financial-aid/articles/699-fafsa-and-the-independent-student)

for BOG, I am pretty sure anyone can qualify unless you're ballin. You only pay about $30 or so for your classes, which is really helpful.

Hopefully, you can talk to your FA administrator about your situation.

Thank you, that is something that was not mentioned in the FAFSA application, nor anything that was talked about with any representatives that I spoke with. You see, I live on my own, and don't depend on anyone else but myself. No family help or anything. You, are 24 so you are eligible to claim independence. I'm trying to claim independence being under 24. I did qualify for BOG, which to be honest I did lie on and they didn't ask for any paperwork whatsoever. But taking a little over 17 units, racks up a large cost in books, and not to mention my $4 a day for my bus pass, all of my bills, the time it takes to go to that many units doesn't allow me to work as much as I need to, the food I need to purchase to bring, etc.

Thank you for all your input, all of this has been very helpful and I'm surprised at how many intellectual people we have on board here on Zilvia

[blueshark123]

I got denied for fafsa all my semesters. Now im working 3 jobs and still full time student if i can do it anyone can if they actually want to make something of themselves

[TougeLove]

take from fafsa.ed.gov

"If you meet certain special circumstances (see special circumstances FAQ for additional information), you may be able to complete the FAFSA with your information only. If you are unable to provide parental information due to one of the circumstances listed below, you may complete and submit the FAFSA with only the information about you and your finances and leave parental information blank:
you have no contact with your parents and do not know where they are (and you have not been adopted by someone else); or
you have left home due to an abusive situation; or
your parents are incarcerated; or
your parent refuses to provide their information on the FAFSA and refuses to provide you with any financial support; or
you are homeless or at risk of being homeless but are unable to answer ‘Yes’ to questions 56, 57 or 58"

your mom refuses to provide info and any financial support right?

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/complete011.htm#completefaq4
:D?

[BongateerZ32]

you get less financial aid and less priority going to a community college. ive been there. classes are cheaper, if you know which forms to fill out (bog fee waiver). u get more money once u transfer. a shit load more. also, film? i dunno if major matters, but say youre atleast a business major or something. see if that helps.

also independent means your parents dont claim you on their taxes, not that youre all on your own. the 1040 says it all. if youre really that poor, youll get money. the irs is pretty black and white.

[Karlitos]

They give preference to the sooner you fill it in. Much of FAFSA awards are given based on grades. There is grants one can qualify for depending on how they did. It got me some extra money but I didnt get other grants that my friends got. Also part of FAFSA should include an acceptence to work-study. Sure you have to work for it anf you'll never see cash but it pays to your school directly. And the last part of FAFSA include theyre offers of student loans. I took some loans through them and since they are over paying i get a check in my bank account. I dont want the debt and so i return it to them immediatly to avoid interest. There is many circumstances similar or different but extreme in a whole nother level. Go to FA offices or FAFSA workshops, they'll help you out.
To the people saying just say your illegal, your parents are or you dont know english, you dont know how it happens. I knew people like that and they worked hard thorugh HS and got rejected. Fafsa wont help you if you dont have a SSN so get your facts straight.
Also lieying is helpful but dont make it too obvious, like having a kid. Like the post above me said fill out the special form and it should go through. There are many resources available to help you.

[lawrenceyang]

Lie on it. Put down the parent that makes the least amount of money and say you don't know where the other one is.

thats how you get fucked and have to pay back grants. would not recommend

[theicecreamdan]

"Being considered an independent student is not merely a matter of being responsible for your own educational expenses. You must meet at least one of the following seven criteria to be declared an independent student for the purposes of the FAFSA:

Be 24 years of age or older by December 31 of the award year;
Be an orphan (both parents deceased), ward of the court, or was a ward of the court until the age of 18;
Be a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States;
Be a graduate or professional student;
Be a married individual;
Have legal dependents other than a spouse;
Be a student for whom a financial aid administrator makes a documented determination of independence by reason of other unusual circumstances."

FAFSA and the Independent Student - Fastweb (http://www.fastweb.com/financial-aid/articles/699-fafsa-and-the-independent-student)