Overview

LGBT students who lose parental financial support after "coming out" may need to establish independent status in order to receive additional financial aid. Each UC campus financial aid office has a student appeal process for adverse extenuating circumstances. Documentation requirements of the estrangement and extenuating circumstances are campus specific, but generally required are letters of support from a third party such as a social worker, clergy member, high school counselor, therapist, etc. Directors of LGBT Resource Centers may provide this documentation. Additionally, the student must demonstrate how she/he has been supporting her/himself since the estrangement. Based upon a review of the appeal and documentation, the aid administrator may exercise "professional judgment" to declare the student independent.

Financial Aid & Independent Status

For purposes of federal financial aid an applicant is not considered independent unless she/he can answer "yes" to any of the following questions on the 2001-2002 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid):
1. Were you born before January 1, 1978? (i.e., student must be 24 years old)
2. Will you be working on a master's or doctorate program?
3. As of today, are you married? (federal definition of marriage, does not include domestic partners) UC does recognize California domestic partners and now provides equitable aid packages
4. Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
5. 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, 2002?
6. Are you an orphan or ward of the court or were you a ward of the court until age 18?
7. Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?

If an applicant answers "no" to all of the above questions, then she/he must provide parental income and asset information along with a parental signature on the FAFSA. Campus financial aid offices may require additional supporting documentation, such as the parental tax return.
This is problematic for queer students estranged from their parents, but is federal law and not under UC control. However, students may appeal at the UC campus level to be declared independent based upon "adverse extenuating circumstances."

The original question brought to UCLGBTIA was about the ability to treat a domestic partner relationship equal to marriage. The problem is one of federal law, so it appears the appeal process is inevitable at this time. A student wishing to be declared independent due to a domestic partnership will need to provide income and asset information for her/his domestic partner for consideration in the student's financial aid calculation. The student will also need to prove that a domicile is shared and that the couple are legally registered domestic partners.