FAFSA's parental data requirement blocks many LGBTQ+ students from college aid

FAFSA continues to assume that college applicants have active parental ties, requiring parents' income information for most under-24 undergraduates. This creates a barrier for LGBTQ+ young adults who are homeless or estranged, as illustrated by a 21-year-old transgender student at Portland State University who was forced to apply for a dependency override, submitting letters from a landlord and a therapist. Without parental data, the form remains incomplete and eligibility for federal grants, loans and scholarships is jeopardized.

Service providers report that many queer students abandon the application altogether when confronted with the impossible request. The issue intersects with broader hardships such as housing instability, mental-health struggles and lack of family support, which together threaten college persistence for this demographic.