Dependent students are required to report parent information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Review the Federal Government's Dependency page if you're not sure if you are dependent or independent for federal aid purposes. If you are unable to provide your parents' information on the FAFSA, refer to the Dependency Overrides section.
- For federal aid purposes, a parent means your legal (biological or adoptive) parent or stepparent, or a person that the state has determined to be your legal parent.
- The following people are never considered your parents on the FAFSA unless they have legally adopted you: Widowed Stepparent, grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, older brothers or sisters, aunts or uncles.
Use the chart below to figure out which parent’s information to include (depending on your family situation). Alternatively, you may use the infographic at the bottom of this page.
| Question |
Next step |
| 1. Are your parents married to each other? |
- If yes and they live together, then report information for both parents on the FAFSA.
- If yes but they do not live together, go to question 3.
- If no, then answer question 2.
|
| 2. Do your parents live together? |
- If yes, then report information for both parents on the FAFSA, even if they were never married, are divorced, or are separated.
- If no, then answer question 3.
|
| 3. Did you live with one parent more than the other over the past 12 months? |
- If yes, then report information on the FAFSA for the parent you lived with more. Also, if this parent remarried, you will need to report information for your stepparent on the FAFSA.
- If no, then report information on the FAFSA for the parent who provided more financial support over the past 12 months or in the last year you received support. Also, if this parent remarried, you will need to report information for your stepparent on the FAFSA.
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If you’re not sure whom to report as a parent, you can visit StudentAid.ed.gov/fafsa/filling-out/parent-info or call the Financial Aid Office at (716) 878-4902
