FAO - Proof of Independence Form (PIN)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) asks a series of questions to determine if a student is Dependent or Independent for aid purposes. If a student's answer to these questions identifies them as being Independent, the Office of Financial at SUNY Orange must collect proof of independence from the student.

Students whose sole claim to independence is based on one of the items below, will need to provide additional documentation before the financial aid package can be finalized.

In some cases, students are unable to provide the required documentation to prove independence, but are able to provide adequate documentation to be granted a Dependency Override. The determination of which is more appropriate is made by the staff in the financial aid office after review of the documents supplied.

Students unable to provide satisfactory documentation to prove independence, and who cannot qualify for a dependency override, will be expected to correct the answers on the FAFSA and provide parental information as required by the FAFSA instructions.

Academic Year *

2021-2022 (2122)
Academic Year
June/July 2021 (SUMMER),
August 2021 (FALL) or
January 2022 (SPRING) Semesters ONLY

2022-2023 (2223)
Academic Year
June/July 2022 (SUMMER),
August 2022 (FALL) or
January 2023 (SPRING) Semesters ONLY
Form *
Student ID# *

MUST start with A
Name Name * First Last
Email *
Address Address *
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region Postal / Zip Code Country
2021-2022 Academic Year

You answered "YES" to one or more of the following questions on the FAFSA. Please check the condition that best described your situation and provide the appropriate documentation to support your circumstance: *

2021-2022 Academic Year

You answered "YES" to one or more of the following questions on the FAFSA. Please check the condition that best described your situation and provide the appropriate documentation to support your circumstance: Both parents are deceased, you were adopted, you were in foster care, or a ward of the court, at any time since you turned 13. Provide death certificates or court documentation of status. Have children who will receive more than half their support from you between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. Provide 2019 & 2020 tax returns, a copy of the childs birth certificate, and a letter explaining living arrangements, earnings and support information, and the name of person(s) claiming child(ren) if other than self. Are or were in legal guardianship as determined by a court. Please Note: Legal custody does not equal legal guardianship in most cases. Provide court documentation supporting legal guardianship as determined Have dependents (other than your children or spouse) that live with you and receive more than half of their support from you, from July 1, 2020 and through June 30, 2021. Provide 2018 & 2019 signed 1040 tax returns, and a signed letter explaining living arrangements, earnings and support information. Are or were an emancipated minor as ordered/determined by a court in your legal state of residence. Please note that New York State does not grant emancipation status to minors. Provide emancipation court documentation from your state of legal residence. Were determined to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless by a director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Provide written, signed documentation from shelter or agency on organization letterhead. Were determined to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless by your high school homeless liaison. Provide written, signed documentation from school liaison on district letterhead. Were determined to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless by a director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program. Provide written, signed documentation from agency on organization letterhead.
2022-2023 Academic Year

You answered "YES" to one or more of the following questions on the FAFSA. Please check the condition that best described your situation and provide the appropriate documentation to support your circumstance: *

2022-2023 Academic Year

You answered "YES" to one or more of the following questions on the FAFSA. Please check the condition that best described your situation and provide the appropriate documentation to support your circumstance: Both parents are deceased, you were adopted, you were in foster care, or a ward of the court, at any time since you turned 13. Provide death certificates or court documentation of status. Have children who will receive more than half their support from you between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023. Provide 2020 & 2021 tax returns, the child birth certificate, and a letter explaining living arrangements, earnings and support information, and the name of person(s) claiming child(ren) if other than self. Are or were in legal guardianship as determined by a court. Please Note: Legal custody does not equal legal guardianship in most cases. Provide court documentation supporting legal guardianship as determined. Have legal dependents (other than your children or spouse) that live with you and receive more than half of their support from you, from July 1, 2022 and through June 30, 2023. Provide 2020 & 2021 signed 1040 tax returns, and a signed letter explaining living arrangements, earnings and support information. Are or were an emancipated minor as ordered/determined by a court in your legal state of residence. Please note that New York State does not grant emancipation status to minors. Provide emancipation court documentation from your state of legal residence. Were determined to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless by a director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Provide written, signed documentation from shelter or agency on organization letterhead. Were determined to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless by your high school homeless liaison. Provide written, signed documentation from shelter or agency on organization letterhead. Were determined to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless by a director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program. Provide written, signed documentation from agency on organization letterhead.
2023-2024 Academic Year
You answered "YES" to one or more of the following dependency questions on the FAFSA. The Financial Aid Office needs additional information so we can continue processing your application. Please check the condition that best described your situation and provide the appropriate documentation to support your circumstance:

Please reach each question carefully. If you have any questions, please contact our office. *

2023-2024 Academic Year
You answered "YES" to one or more of the following dependency questions on the FAFSA. The Financial Aid Office needs additional information so we can continue processing your application. Please check the condition that best described your situation and provide the appropriate documentation to support your circumstance:

Please reach each question carefully. If you have any questions, please contact our office. As of today, you are married or separated. Provide a copy of your marriage certificate record by a court in the state in which you were married. You are currently serving in the U.S. armed forces or are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee who is on active duty for purposes other than state or training purposes. Provide a copy of your current military orders. If you’re a National Guard or Reserves enlistee who is on active duty for state or training purposes, or if you’re not currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces, then you are not considered on active duty. You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces who was released under a condition other than dishonorable. Provide a copy of your Member-4 copy of your DD-214. You have or will have children, who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. Provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate, a signed letter explaining your current living arrangement and support, the name of the person claiming the children if other than yourself, and signed a copy of your 2021 and 2022 federal 1040 tax return. If pregnant, a signed letter from your doctor, on letterhead, confirming pregnant and an estimated expected due date. If you are living with your parent(s) and they are directly or indirectly providing support (i.e. providing or paying for housing, clothing, food, etc.) then you are not considered independent. You have dependents, other than your child(ren) or spouse, who live with you and who you will provide more than half of their financial support from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. Provide a signed copy of your 2021 and 2022 federal tax return, and a signed letter explaining living arrangements, earnings and support you are providing. Please clarify if this person is receiving any benefits or if they are working. At any time since turning 13, both parents were deceased, you were in foster care, or a dependent/ward of the court. Please provide your parent(s) death certificate and/or court documentation from your home state documenting your status. On the date you completed the FAFSA, you are/were an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence. Please note New York State does not grant legal emancipation status to minors. Provide court documentation from your home state documenting your status as an emancipated minor. At any time on or after July 1, 2022, you were 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. Homelessness means lacking fixed, regular and adequate housing, which includes living in shelters, motels or cars, or temporarily living with other people because you had nowhere else to go. Unaccompanied means you are not living in the physical custody of your parent or guardian. Youth means you are 21 years of age or younger or you are still enrolled in high school as of the day you signed the 2023-2024 FAFSA. Provide supporting documentation or signed letter from a shelter, agency, of high school liaison on organization letterhead. I do not meet any of these criteria and/or cannot provide any of the requested supporting documentation. You will need to correct your FAFSA to include your parent(s) information including their signature.
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Electronic Certification Agreement

By providing your “electronic” signature, student ID #, and by selecting the “Accept" button, you consent that you are signing this form electronically.

You agree your electronic signature is the legal equivalent of your handwritten signature. By selecting "I Accept" using any device, means or action, you consent to the terms and conditions of this form and its intent. You further agree that your signature on this document (hereafter referred to as your "e-signature" or "e-sign") is as valid as if you signed the document in writing.

You also agree that no certification authority or other third party verification is necessary to validate your e-signature, and that the lack of such certification or third party verification will not in any way affect the enforceability of your e-signature or any resulting agreement between you and the SUNY Orange Financial Aid Office.

You are also confirming that you are the student authorized to e-sign this form and this constitutes your agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions as they exist on the date of you e-sign this form.
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WARNING: If you purposely give false or misleading information on the worksheet, you may be fined, be sentenced to jail, or both.

FAO - Proof of Independence Form (PIN)

FAO - Proof of Independence Form (PIN)

Electronic Certification Agreement

WARNING: If you purposely give false or misleading information on the worksheet, you may be fined, be sentenced to jail, or both.