Financial Aid? - Left USMA During BEAST

[xyzxyz]

Hi everyone! Yes I know my username aged poorly

I left USMA during Beast. I have a DD214 stating a few weeks of active duty service. I’ve never thought much of it and how it could affect financial aid. In my eyes, leaving during Beast (whether technically active or not) isn’t exactly basis for any sort of “benefit” and so I just moved on from USMA and filed my 22-23 FAFSA as “dependent” status.

Some posts are resurfacing regarding SA students and that even extremely minimal time qualifies them to file as “independent” for financial aid purposes.

Have I been filing my FAFSA wrong?

I am honestly just confused, so minimal negativity and maximal assistance would be appreciated! Thank you in advance

 

[Herman_Snerd]

Hi everyone! Yes I know my username aged poorly

I left USMA during Beast. I have a DD214 stating a few weeks of active duty service. I’ve never thought much of it and how it could affect financial aid. In my eyes, leaving during Beast (whether technically active or not) isn’t exactly basis for any sort of “benefit” and so I just moved on from USMA and filed my 22-23 FAFSA as “dependent” status.

Some posts are resurfacing regarding SA students and that even extremely minimal time qualifies them to file as “independent” for financial aid purposes.

Have I been filing my FAFSA wrong?

I am honestly just confused, so minimal negativity and maximal assistance would be appreciated! Thank you in advance

It sounds like you want to understand what veteran benefits you’re entitled to after participating but not finishing a portion of a six week training course as a new cadet at USMA that was described in writing as active duty on your exit paperwork. My teenage daughters would call that “SUS". I’d call it slimy but that would be an insult to slime.

But to answer your questions about university benefits you can check with each university and the Army to confirm if you are entitled to any benefits reserved for those with active duty experience.

The other component of your note is whether you are declared a dependent or not claimed as a dependent by anyone else on your taxes and whether you can fill out the FAFSA as an emancipated or as an adult separate from your parent income. This has nothing to do with the military. You should research emancipated minor court options if you are under 18, or research options to prove you are living as a dependent to the IRS. If you are confirmed as not a dependent then your benefits would be valued without your parental income influence on a FAFSA and could be larger. But are you off their insurance, attending a university, living independently for a year or more making a min salary of several thousand dollars, and paying your own bills? Did you parents claim you as a dependent in the taxes they just filed or soon will file? Can't have it both ways - Discuss with a tax professional.

I’ll share a comparative analogy. One of my grandfathers graduated from the merchant marine academy, and served in WWII as a civilian contractor. He was on the bridge of US warships in the Mediterranean throughout the war even past V.E. day, guiding them with his expertise in and out of ports. He was right in the middle of the soup at times, leading soldiers as his vessels sustained torpedo strikes, machine gun fire and bombs from planes, small arms fire, etc. suffered casualties during combat. But he NEVER referred to himself as a veteran – he just said “no” when people asked if he had served. And being a veteran after WWII was a high honor – people who 4H’d committed suicide because they could not serve. He at the end of his life received an unsolicited honorable discharge and rank from the then US president recognizing his and a few other people’s service to our country in combat in WWII- albeit more than 50 years later. He had a military burial as did his spouse. That's his karma for a humble life and service - what will yours be for taking benefits reserved for those who serve on a technicality? Let's set up an app that warns me if you're within 50 feet of me - I'll move to avoid the lightning, flood, hail storm or stampede of baby zebra that may be coming.

Every once in a while someone puts up a post that punks the board with something outrageous – maybe I’ll be the fool who takes the bait and actually answers this- not my first time. Is this a Ya got me moment, or as Ben Affleck said in Good Will Hunting "You're suspect!". I don't know.

Thank you, for, your, service? Stolen valor? IDK.

Very respectfully,
@herman Nerd

 

[Anonymous121]

It sounds like you want to understand what veteran benefits you’re entitled to after participating but not finishing a portion of a six week training course as a new cadet at USMA that was described in writing as active duty on your exit paperwork. My teenage daughters would call that “SUS". I’d call it slimy but that would be an insult to slime.

But to answer your questions about university benefits you can check with each university and the Army to confirm if you are entitled to any benefits reserved for those with active duty experience.

The other component of your note is whether you are declared a dependent or not claimed as a dependent by anyone else on your taxes and whether you can fill out the FAFSA as an emancipated or as an adult separate from your parent income. This has nothing to do with the military. You should research emancipated minor court options if you are under 18, or research options to prove you are living as a dependent to the IRS. If you are confirmed as not a dependent then your benefits would be valued without your parental income influence on a FAFSA and could be larger. But are you off their insurance, attending a university, living independently for a year or more making a min salary of several thousand dollars, and paying your own bills? Did you parents claim you as a dependent in the taxes they just filed or soon will file? Can't have it both ways - Discuss with a tax professional.

I’ll share a comparative analogy. One of my grandfathers graduated from the merchant marine academy, and served in WWII as a civilian contractor. He was on the bridge of US warships in the Mediterranean throughout the war even past V.E. day, guiding them with his expertise in and out of ports. He was right in the middle of the soup at times, leading soldiers as his vessels sustained torpedo strikes, machine gun fire and bombs from planes, small arms fire, etc. suffered casualties during combat. But he NEVER referred to himself as a veteran – he just said “no” when people asked if he had served. And being a veteran after WWII was a high honor – people who 4H’d committed suicide because they could not serve. He at the end of his life received an unsolicited honorable discharge and rank from the then US president recognizing his and a few other people’s service to our country in combat in WWII- albeit more than 50 years later. He had a military burial as did his spouse. That's his karma for a humble life and service - what will yours be for taking benefits reserved for those who serve on a technicality? Let's set up an app that warns me if you're within 50 feet of me - I'll move to avoid the lightning, flood, hail storm or stampede of baby zebra that may be coming.

Every once in a while someone puts up a post that punks the board with something outrageous – maybe I’ll be the fool who takes the bait and actually answers this- not my first time. Is this a Ya got me moment, or as Ben Affleck said in Good Will Hunting "You're suspect!". I don't know.

Thank you, for, your, service? Stolen valor? IDK.

Very respectfully,
@herman Nerd

Typically, anything that was active duty for training, does not qualify a person as a veteran and thus, if still being claimed by parents for tax purposes, is not considered independent.

 

[DrMom]

Active duty for training —not qualifying for veterans benefits. Also you were not a financial independent for long enough to apply for this at other colleges for Pell Grant and other opportunities. If you did not provide your financial and housing support for more than 6 months in a year, then you are a dependent.

You tried it. It did not work for you. Move on with a clean heart but don’t anticipate any benefits for your few weeks at Wesr Point.

 

[OldRetSWO]

Hold on folks, I re-read what the OP said and I did not see any questions about any specific benefits. He seems to just be asking about the FAFSA. I agree that there may be more behind his question but I think that maybe we should just address his actual question.

 

[hokiesfan]

Confirm your specific circumstances with your school"s financial aid office or the national fafsa help desk, but you may be considered a 'veteran' for the purposes of filing the fafsa. I know of someone that left basic (enlisted) after a couple of days and IIRC that meant they were able to file as an independent. Not a veterans benefit per se, just a recognition that beginning military training is a change of filing status and you don't change back to dependent status when you leave. From the fafsa help page:

You’re a veteran if you

• have engaged in active duty (including basic training) in the U.S. armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard), or are a National Guard or Reserve 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.

 

[LTBob87]

As I read this, he is just concerned about the dependent status claim on his FAFSA. Since he did not provide support for himself over 6 months, or more than the support provided by his parents, he can still be claimed as a dependent by his parents. Then it is up to his family on if they claim him or not that will be the answer to his question on the FAFSA. He clearly states he sees no basis for benefits related to his military time.

Good luck with your college career.

 

[xyzxyz]

Thank you to those who addressed my true concern of filing status! On every form/application imaginable, I answer “no” when asked if I have served active duty in the military. My minimal time at USMA in no way qualifies for benefits, and even if it did, I surely wouldn’t want them. My situation in no way parallels the status of those who have served active duty, attended an SA, etc. And I am completely aware of this. Hence, again, why my inquiry was about filing as independent or dependent. I was an emancipated minor in the US Gov’s eyes because I arrived at the academy as a minor. This combined with a military discharge led me to wonder if I had a change in status to report on my FAFSA. I understand how this could be interpreted incorrectly by the minimal context given, but please don’t read too much into it! My intentions aren’t malicious, and I surely wouldn’t wish to take benefits away from those deserving. Just want to make sure that I’m not lying to the organization that regulates financial aid! Thanks again all, and I greatly appreciate the feedback.

 

[nomad556]

Thank you to those who addressed my true concern of filing status! On every form/application imaginable, I answer “no” when asked if I have served active duty in the military. My minimal time at USMA in no way qualifies for benefits, and even if it did, I surely wouldn’t want them. My situation in no way parallels the status of those who have served active duty, attended an SA, etc. And I am completely aware of this. Hence, again, why my inquiry was about filing as independent or dependent. I was an emancipated minor in the US Gov’s eyes because I arrived at the academy as a minor. This combined with a military discharge led me to wonder if I had a change in status to report on my FAFSA. I understand how this could be interpreted incorrectly by the minimal context given, but please don’t read too much into it! My intentions aren’t malicious, and I surely wouldn’t wish to take benefits away from those deserving. Just want to make sure that I’m not lying to the organization that regulates financial aid! Thanks again all, and I greatly appreciate the feedback.

Don't sweat it, and don't make excuses. People overreacted. You did nothing wrong.

 

[FeedingFrenzy]

Thank you to those who addressed my true concern of filing status! On every form/application imaginable, I answer “no” when asked if I have served active duty in the military. My minimal time at USMA in no way qualifies for benefits, and even if it did, I surely wouldn’t want them. My situation in no way parallels the status of those who have served active duty, attended an SA, etc. And I am completely aware of this. Hence, again, why my inquiry was about filing as independent or dependent. I was an emancipated minor in the US Gov’s eyes because I arrived at the academy as a minor. This combined with a military discharge led me to wonder if I had a change in status to report on my FAFSA. I understand how this could be interpreted incorrectly by the minimal context given, but please don’t read too much into it! My intentions aren’t malicious, and I surely wouldn’t wish to take benefits away from those deserving. Just want to make sure that I’m not lying to the organization that regulates financial aid! Thanks again all, and I greatly appreciate the feedback.

You can file as an "independent" at the school and on your FAFSA in the year that you turn age 24 (if not already emancipated). Filing as an independent on FAFSA can open you up to more financial aid, like Pell grants etc (must still meet Pell grant income thresholds), because the school and FAFSA then factors only your income into the aid equation and not your parent's income (this drives the Expected Family Contribution-- EFC-- number down in most cases). In this scenario, your parents shouldn't be claiming you as a dependent on their taxes because that would require them to complete the FAFSA with you, and report their income as well (this would then drive the EFC up). If filing as an independent, the school's financial aid office might also make you complete a school-specific form that states you are an "independent," and whereby they might request that you and your parents get the notary public to sign the form agreeing to the same.

I don't know how this all ties into your military experience at USMA. I do know that students can and do move from a status of being dependent, to a status of being independent, and sometimes move BACK to a status of being dependent (or the other way around). Think of students who were independent and then decide to move back home to live with parents for example; or conversely the dependent student who gets married while in college and now is suddenly independent. So your situation can change from year to year for lots of various reasons. At any rate, best of luck to you and in all your future endeavors!