If you cannot provide parent information on your FAFSA and do not meet the standard requirements for independent status, you may qualify for a Dependency Override under certain unusual circumstances.
When You May Qualify
Examples of unusual circumstances include:
- Your parents are incarcerated.
- You have left home due to an abusive family environment.
- You do not know where your parents are and cannot contact them (and you have not been adopted).
Situations That Do Not Qualify
The following reasons, alone or combined, are not grounds for a Dependency Override:
- Parent refuses to contribute to your education.
- Parent is unwilling to provide documentation for FAFSA or verification.
- Parent does not claim you on their tax return.
- You demonstrate total self-support.
How to Request a Dependency Status Review
To request a Dependency Override, you must complete the following:
- Three (3) typed letters of support from non-family members (teacher, pastor, counselor, etc.).
- Typed letter stating why you are requesting the override.
- Required verification documents (tax transcript and verification worksheet).
You may submit the information directly to the Financial Aid Office or via email at As_finaid@kctcs.edu.
Requests are processed as they are received. If approved, corrections will be submitted to the Department of Education. Once everything required to be submitted has been received, this request should take no longer than 10 business days to be processed. The results of the request will be emailed via the student KCTCS email account.
(Financial Aid > Applying for Aid)