Students who work to support themselves and have no dependents but are under 25 years of age have to wait to declare themselves as independent students to file on the FAFSA. The FAFSA determines how much financial aid you are eligible for.
If you are an independent student, i.e: living on your own, recieve no financial help from your parents, or can otherwise prove you are financially independent, the government should allow you to put yourself as an independent student to be able to get more financial aid. Right now you are still considered a dependent student and they take into account your parents income as well.
This should change. Any person who proves they support themselves and are gainfully employed but are under 25 should be able to declare themselves as independent students.