Des Moines Area Community College

For the 2022-2023 FAFSA, you are considered independent if you can answer 'Yes' to any of the questions below. If you are independent, you do not have to provide parent information on the FAFSA.
You are considered dependent if you answer 'No' to all of the questions below. If you are dependent then you must provide parent information on the FAFSA.

1. Were you born before January 1, 1999?
2. As of today, are you married? (Also answer 'yes' if you are separated but not divorced.)
3. At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, 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?

Answer "No" (you are not a veteran) if you:

• have never engaged in active duty (including basic training) in the U.S. armed forces,
• are currently a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) student or a cadet or midshipman at a service academy,
• are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee activated only for state or training purposes, or
• were engaged in active duty in the U.S. armed forces but released under dishonorable conditions.

*Also answer 'No' if you are currently serving in the U.S. armed forces and will continue to serve through June 30, 2023.

Answer 'Yes' (you are a veteran) if you:

• have engaged in active duty (including basic training) in the U.S. armed forces or are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee who was called to active duty for other than state or training purposes, or were a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies and
• were released under a condition other than dishonorable.

*Also answer 'Yes' if you are not a veteran now but will be one by June 30, 2023.

6. Do you now have- or will you have- children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023?
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, 2023?
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.')
10. At any time on or after July 1, 2021, were you determined to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless, as determined by (a) your high school or district homeless liaison, (b) the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or (c) the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program?

**If you do not have a determination that you are homeless, but you believe you are an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless, answer 'No' to the FAFSA questions concerning being homeless. Then contact your financial aid office to explain your situation. “Homeless” means lacking fixed or regular housing. You may be homeless if you are living in shelters, parks, motels, hotels, cars, or temporarily living with someone else because you have nowhere else to go.