Currently, you must be 24 to be considered independent through the financial aid department of the U.S. Government, but the U.S. Government no longer consideres you a dependent through military benefits after 23. Because of this, families throughout the U.S. are increasing their debt because of student loans.
The U.S. Government should rectify the gap in military benefits and financial aid benefit dependency and reduce the age requirement for financial aid receipients. In addition to this, they should adjust the requirements to become independent through financial aid since most families can't afford to support their students. On top of that, most students support themselves and don't receive benefits, while their parents who are students as well, do.