LSAC Fee Waiver Help Forum

[nerdiecherry]

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone could let me know if I would be qualified for the LSAC Fee Waiver. On my income returns, it is stated that I earned about $20,000, though most of that is composed of the $13,000 scholarship I get from school. In reality I only earned about $7,000. I also have about $6,000 in savings, though I plan to use at least half of that money on a legal issue my mom needs to resolve. I have claimed myself independent as my brother is dependent. Would I qualify?

[IvyLeagueRedneck]

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone could let me know if I would be qualified for the LSAC Fee Waiver. On my income returns, it is stated that I earned about $20,000, though most of that is composed of the $13,000 scholarship I get from school. In reality I only earned about $7,000. I also have about $6,000 in savings, though I plan to use at least half of that money on a legal issue my mom needs to resolve. I have claimed myself independent as my brother is dependent. Would I qualify?

I'm no expert but I would think you would have a pretty good shot. In any case, the application is fairly easy and they give an answer pretty quickly.

[Toby Ziegler]

Also something that is important is your cash on hand, or the amount of money you have in your bank accounts. I made the mistake of applying for the fee waiver right after our semester aid came in. I thought that LSAC wouldn't count it because it was strictly for tuition, books, etc.. I was denied. I even appealed it and was still denied on the same grounds. If you want more details PM me.

[arkgawilson]

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone could let me know if I would be qualified for the LSAC Fee Waiver. On my income returns, it is stated that I earned about $20,000, though most of that is composed of the $13,000 scholarship I get from school. In reality I only earned about $7,000. I also have about $6,000 in savings, though I plan to use at least half of that money on a legal issue my mom needs to resolve. I have claimed myself independent as my brother is dependent. Would I qualify?

If you file as independent, but are under 25, they give you a hard time...at least they did me. I had to submit termination of parental rights and guardianship papers from 10+ years ago showing that my parents income didn't really matter as they did not raise me, even though I had been filing as independent since I was 18. I finally got it, though, so good luck.

[nerdiecherry]

Thank you all very much for replying. I am 21 years old and have claimed independent since 2 years ago. My brother is my dependent. Will I still have trouble? What would you all think is the cut off point for both income and savings/checkings account?

[KevinP]

$6,000 in savings? Highly doubtful you'd qualify without appeal. There's a ton of threads where people have been denied for having 1k in the bank. (Although some have appealed and gotten the waiver).

Thank you all very much for replying. I am 21 years old and have claimed independent since 2 years ago. My brother is my dependent. Will I still have trouble? What would you all think is the cut off point for both income and savings/checkings account?

Also, verify that LSAC does in fact consider you independent. See Section B of: http://www.lsac.org/jd/pdfs/usfeewaiverinstructions.pdf

LSAC quote:
If you answer “no” to all Items 16 through 20, you are considered by LSAC to be a financial dependent of your parents even though you may have been granted “independent” status by another institution.

[nerdiecherry]

Part of the 6,000 is a school stipend and some of it, like I said is for some costs that I will incur this summer. I am considered independent as I do have a dependent. Does LSAC make you submit a copy of bank statements? So, hypothetically, can one put an amount less than the one in a savings account, considering that it will be less because of costs incurred in the future?

[Rory19]

Just apply and see what happens. I applied multiple times over a two year period and I was approved when I made more money! I am sure there is a rhyme and reason but none that I could understand in my case. They approved me back when I was graduated, 23 years old and earning ~$32,000 a year at a full time job. That's after denying me when I was a student and earning ~$12,000 a year.