#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff;clear:left;font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif}. Applicants do need to be at least 13 years old to obtain an FSA ID or to submit the FAFSA online. This limitation does not apply to federal student loans or Federal Work-Study. For example, a student enrolled in a 4-year Bachelor’s degree program must be on track to graduate within 6 years or they will lose eligibility for federal student aid. You must meet certain 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, in foster care or was a ward of the court when 13 years or older; The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA application) determines your FAFSA dependency status as either an independent student or a dependent student. All Rights Reserved 444 Brickell Avenue, Suite 820 Miami, FL 33131 Phone: (585) 286-5426, 529 Savings Calculator for Private K-12 Tuition, Revised Pay As You Earn Repayment Calculator, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can receive federal student aid even if you are in your 80s. There are also time limits on eligibility for federal student aid. Copyright Ⓒ 2020 Saving for College, LLC. We're always looking for ways to improve our content and tools. The FAFSA asks a series of 10 questions to determine whether the student is dependent or independent. These include age, marital status and the level of education being pursued. How to file a FAFSA as an independent student. Your feedback matters! When undergraduate students apply for federal financial aid, the government makes default assumptions about their financial status. (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[4]='MMERGE4';ftypes[4]='text';fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[3]='MMERGE3';ftypes[3]='dropdown';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for expert advice and the latest news! You can receive federal student aid even if you are in your 80s. But, children under age 13 can submit a paper version of the FAFSA instead. These include age, marital status and the level of education being pursued. The difference between the two centers on the level of access the student in question has to their parents’ financial resources. This means they must be passing enough classes to graduate within 150% of the normal time-frame. Savingforcollege.com is an unbiased, independent resource for parents and financial professionals, providing them with information and tools to understand the benefits of 529 college savings plans and how to meet the challenge of increasing college costs. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) does not have an age limit. Recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) does not have an age limit. Applicants do need to be at least 13 years old to obtain an FSA ID or to submit the FAFSA online. The Coverdell education savings account has two age limits. Meanwhile, you’re considered a independent student for the 20-21 school year if any of these statements apply to you: Your date of birth is before January 1, 1997 You’re married Some forms of federal student aid, such as the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and TEACH Grant, are limited to students who are pursuing their first Bachelor’s degree. Contributions end when the beneficiary reaches age 18 and the account must be distributed before the beneficiary reaches age 30 plus 30 days. The latest articles and tips to help parents stay on track with saving and paying for college, delivered to your inbox every week.