We all need money. We have to eat, pay rent, visit the doctor from time to time and normally there’s something on our car that must be fixed. And each of these fundamentals of life require money. Especially now during this pandemic, because many of us were out of a job for a few months or possibly still out of a job now.

Yet, according to the U.S. government, college students do not need that money. Well, let me rephrase that. College students who are considered a dependent on their parent’s taxes do not need that money, according to the U.S. government.

According to the Tax Foundation, no adult dependents will qualify for the $600 stimulus checks. Let me just say it now—that sucks. When you think about it, it’s almost a cheap way for the government to avoid passing out checks to everyone.

Here’s why I say that: if my parents claim me as a dependent and I am over the age of 16, they will not receive a $600 check for me, according to CBS News.

Has the government never heard of the term “broke college student”? Apparently not. And now we are more broke than ever because of COVID-19.

Let’s take my own personal life as an example. My parents claimed me as a dependent until I moved out. Now that I have been on my own almost a year, I have paid my bills, I support myself and I am the definition of “a broke college student.”

But I did not qualify for the $600 check because last year my parents claimed me as a dependent on their taxes. This is not fair.

The government should have sent out a form explaining that they would be giving out stimulus checks and required to know if the child was still considered a dependent. I am sure this would have helped many college students out.

There are of course downsides to this. Many people would have probably lied to get that extra bit of cash. But, let’s be honest, we all need it now anyways. Many of us were not eligible for the unemployment which meant we went months without being paid. That money would have gone to a good place even if people lied.

Maybe that isn’t the best way to do it. I do not know because I am not in the government. But that small check of $300 given to us from the schools was not enough.

I am grateful for that money. But, if we are college students trying to receive an education to get a job, we deserve money just like our parents.

We are spending our money, taking out loans, applying for scholarships and grants to get the education we want to make an impact in this world.  To be treated as if we do not deserve anything is a rough reality of how valuable the government thinks we are.

It’s time for us college students to finally be seen with the respect we deserve. We are broke, barely making it by and need the checks just as bad as our parents do.