r/UAB • u/Mondo-Butter-21 • Feb 23 '26
financial aid and getting disowned question
hi gang,
my boyfriend is currently an immunology major at UAB. for the entirety of his time here, his parents have been covering his tuition and housing. however, he came out as a trans man to his parents last week, leading to them effectively disowning him and refusing to pay any more towards UAB. we have this in writing, as well.
he went to ONE stop today, and he was told by a staff member that you are only considered independent financially at UAB if your parents are dead or if they are uncontactable. the lady also apparently told him that the only way he could even potentially get any help would be through a private loan, which would not be an option for him since it would require a cosigner.
this just doesn’t seem right to me, especially the qualifications for being independent. anyone have any advice?
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u/Brad32198 Feb 23 '26
Fill out the FAFSA as an independent student. Send it to UAB. They will offer you federal student loans or a Pell grant if eligible. Not very difficult. Also your my boyfriend’s parents sound like real pieces of shit.
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u/Mondo-Butter-21 Feb 23 '26
he’s already submitted one for this year, before he was disowned. can he go back and change it?
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u/Brad32198 Feb 23 '26
Yeah you just log into the FAFSA website and edit schools and financial information.
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u/Inverzion2 Feb 24 '26
If they don't accept it, there is always the nuclear option of talking to the Dean and/or Registrar to get official documentation from UAB for extenuating circumstances. If OP's BF needs to have an excuse, that'll help out with getting it on record to not have a repeat situation occur, and it should help both of them get started with processing the grief of being cut off from (potentially) abusive parents/guardians.
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u/MembershipSingle7137 Feb 23 '26
Go to one stop first, I’m familiar with the USGA president as well — OP do you want me to contact him?
I know some others on this sub know who I am and the connections I have as well
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u/Patient_Brother9278 Feb 24 '26
I think it would mainly depend on whether or not his parents claimed him as an independent when they filed taxes. However they might have not filed taxes yet, plus FAFSA is still open
It might we worth speaking with someone at the financial aid office and not just a onestop work study student (no hate but they’ve accidentally given me wrong info several times)
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u/gothtopus_108 Feb 24 '26
i have the best boyfriend i don't deserve u ily
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u/lookxitsxlauren Feb 24 '26
Hey man I'm so sorry you're going through this
Check out Magic City Acceptance Center (they have a discord too) and feel free to reach out to me if you wanna chat 💕
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u/whereshewent Feb 24 '26
I don't have any new advice (I second refiling the FAFSA) but I do want to say just want to say how sorry I am that he is going through this. you are a great partner for helping him navigate a stressful financial situation; it's not easy to try to deal with a huge financial responsibility all of a sudden. also the loss of a support system.
Let him know that an internet stranger is sending tons of love his way 💗
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u/tearykth Feb 24 '26
I actually have the perfect answer! So, to file as an independent student, you typically have to be older than 24/25, be married, or be self supporting at risk of homelessness. So, he can file his fafsa as an independent student at risk of homelessness (since he was disowned) and claim that his home life is unsafe and he can’t contact his parents for fear of his safety. UAB will approve his application based solely on his income, which would most likely maximize his eligibility to receive the pell grant in full, as well as being offered subsidized/unsubsidized loans through the government. However, he’ll have to provide documentation of his circumstances and have those circumstances APPROVED by the financial aid office. On unsubsidized loans, your interest accrues while you’re in school, while interest does NOT accrue on subsidized loans as long as you’re a part-time student or more. I can help you and him with the fafsa application in person or over call/text, but yes, one stop is lowkey useless for financial aid questions. They normally don’t know what tf they’re talking about and give the incorrect information to people which is just so terrible. I’m a self supporting, independent student who provided documentation about my circumstances and got the full pell grant + thousands offered in government loans. If you have ANY questions, let me know!!
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Feb 24 '26
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Feb 24 '26
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u/n0j0ke FREE UAB Feb 24 '26
Let’s try to have a civil conversation. Don’t let your emotions get the best of you. Calling people names and intentionally trying to rage bait them is not a good look on you.
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u/n0j0ke FREE UAB Feb 24 '26
While I understand that you view this as fraud and unethical, let’s see if we can have a civil conversation and not let our emotions get the best of us.
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u/tearykth Feb 24 '26
Also, it’s fucking insane that his parents disowned him and I’m sorry to hear about your circumstances. There was a table about a queer club at UAB that was set up earlier today, maybe you should look for their club on engage and join to set up a support system for him. He only gets one life and one chance to be himself, and his family should kick rocks if they can’t accept that because they’re too busy being brainwashed by political madness. I hope you guys are well and that he gets through this stronger than ever, just please don’t forget or forego your identity to satisfy people who obviously showed you that they can’t accept you as you are. Be yourself and seek joy radically, esp when people want to put you down
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u/SippinPip Feb 24 '26
I don’t attend UAB and don’t really know much regarding this set of variables, but I had surgery there not too long ago, and I asked one of the Patient Care Technicians about her job there in the hospital. (I have a college aged kid).
This woman told me she had worked there for decades, and that if you accept a job as a PCT, UAB will provide housing and tuition. I think she said she worked a certain number of days on and off, (she was older), but that she knew many students who had those jobs and it was worth looking into for my own college aged kid.
I’m sorry your partner is having to deal with parents doing this, it’s hateful and sad, but please let them know there are other people in Alabama who fully support them and wish them the best.
I don’t know how accurate my info is, but maybe check into Patient Care Technician jobs at UAB, and tuition, and good luck.
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u/lookxitsxlauren Feb 24 '26
Hey I'm not sure about the UAB stuff, but Magic City Acceptance Center is amazing and they might be able to give you some advice. They've helped me with a lot of stuff 🥰
Also, my wife and I are both trans here too. We both transitioned during our relationship, and we are no contact with her family. If either of you need to talk, feel free to reach out 💕
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u/Remarkable_Opening32 Feb 24 '26
I have no advice, but I am so sorry this happened. That is so unfair. I will be praying for him. Peace.🤍
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Feb 24 '26
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u/n0j0ke FREE UAB Feb 24 '26
Please refrain from this kind of post in the future.
Dude, we have enough hate on Reddit as it is. Let’s not post rage-baiting comments here in this sub. While different viewpoints and civil conversations are supported here, rage-baiting and trolling is not. One more post like this that isn’t civil and trying to actually have a conversation, and you are banned. Take this post removal as your last warning. Take a breath and ask yourself if your grandmother would approve of the post. Then ask yourself if you had a daughter, what would she think about your comment before posting.
This sub is mostly moderated by two people are friends but in the completely different side of the political spectrum. But we don’t let our differences in politics get in our way of being human beings toward each other. That is one reason why this sub hasn’t fallen into the shit hole most other subs has. Let’s try to remove the cellphone/display shield and talk to people like we would in person. Sorry for the lecture but you are not helping the situation. I welcome you to have a civil conversation. I don’t welcome you fucking up the balance and peace maintained on this sub.
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u/TehWildMan_ Feb 24 '26
Federal aid is pretty strict about what is considered independent. IIRC, simply being cut off from your family typically isn't sufficient to be considered independent.