Page 119 - Palo Verde College 2020-2021 Student Handbook / Planner

Financial Aid
8. Sign the certification statement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) stating that • you are not in default on a federal student loan
• and do not owe money on a federal student grant and
• you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes; and
9. Show you are qualified to obtain a college or career school education by
• having a high school diploma or
• a recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate; or
• completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law (or—if state law does not require a homeschooled student to obtain a completion credential— completing a high school education in a homeschool setting that qualifies as an exemption from compulsory attendance requirements under state law); or
10. Enrolling in an eligible career pathway program and meeting one of the “ability-tobenefit” alternatives described below.
• passing an approved ability-to-benefit test* (if you don’t have a diploma or GED, a college can administer a test to determine whether you can benefit from the education offered at that school) or
• Completing six credit hours or equivalent course work toward a degree or certificate (you may not receive aid while earning the six credit hours).
• passing an approved ability-to-benefit test* (if you don’t have a diploma or GED, a college can administer a test to determine whether you can benefit from the education offered at that school) or
• Completing six credit hours or equivalent course work toward a degree or certificate (you may not receive aid while earning the six credit hours).
The FAFSA form asks a series of questions that determine whether you are a dependent or independent student for purposes of applying for federal student aid. If you are a dependent student, you must report parent information, as well as your own information, on your application. If you’re curious, you can find out now whether you’re a dependent student.
The student’s answers to the dependency status questions on the FAFSA determines whether students are considered dependent or independent. A dependent student reports theirs and their parents’ financial information. Independent students report only their own information (if married, the spouse’s financial information is also included).
1. Were you born before Jan. 1, 1997?
2. As of today, are you married? (Also answer “Yes” if you are separated but not divorced.)
3. At the beginning of the 2020–21 school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program (such as an M.A., MBA, M.D., J.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., graduate certificate, etc.)?
4. Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training? (If you are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee, are you on active duty for other than state or training purposes?)
5. Are you a veteran of the U.S. armed forces?
6. Do you now have—or will you have—children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021?
7. Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2021?
8. At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care, or were you a dependent or ward of the court?
9. Has it been determined by a court in your state of legal residence that you are an emancipated minor or that someone other than your parent or stepparent has legal guardianship of you? (You also should answer “Yes” if you are now an adult but were in legal guardianship or were an emancipated minor immediately before you reached the age of being an adult in your state. Answer “No” if the court papers say “custody” rather than “guardianship.”)
Please note that all programs for financial aid are subject to change in Federal and State regulations and a possible shortfall of funds. These types of changes are not within the control of Palo Verde College and will supersede all local policies.
DEPENDENCY STATUS
117