Dependency Status/Unusual Circumstances Review (Dependency Override)
Overview
The U.S. Congress and Department of Education establish the criteria used to determine whether a student is considered dependent or independent for financial aid purposes. This determination is based on your responses to the dependency questions on the FAFSA.
Gateway recognizes that changes in family circumstances can affect a student’s ability to attend and pay for college.
- If you are unable to provide parent information on your FAFSA
- And you do not meet the standard criteria for independent status
- But you have extenuating circumstances
You may be eligible to request a Dependency Override based on unusual circumstances.
When You May Qualify
A Dependency Override may be granted in cases involving significant and documented hardship, such as:
- Abandonment by parents
- A parent (or parents) who are incarcerated
- Leaving home due to an abusive or unsafe family environment
- Not knowing your parents’ whereabouts and being unable to contact them (and you have not been adopted)
Situations That Do Not Qualify
The following circumstances—either alone or combined—do not qualify for a Dependency Override:
- A parent refuses to contribute financially to your education
- A parent is unwilling to provide FAFSA information or verification documents
- A parent does not claim you on their tax return
- You are financially independent or self-supporting
(Financial Aid > Applying for Aid)