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 ensure that you have a completed FAFSA on file for the current aid year. You must submit a completed Independent Status Form that is available in the Financial Aid Office on campus. You may request a Dependency Override at any time during the academic year starting on May 1st. Please follow the instructions specifically and provide the proper documentation on the required dependency override form as follows.
You must submit a written appeal that address the following:
- Describe the last time you had contact with each of your parents—when, where, under what conditions 2) Provide the current location of both your parents 3) Explain what unusual circumstance you believe makes you independent for FAFSA purposes 4) Describe how you are currently supported (a) how do you provide support for yourself (b) are others responsible for your support, if so, who (c) when did this current arrangement of support begin.
- In addition to your written appeal, you must provide the following: 5) Letters of support from two responsible adults who are aware of your situation. At least one letter must be on letterhead from a guidance counselor, physician, teacher, social worker, case worker, clergy person or other person directly involved with you in a professional capacity. All letters must be signed, dated and include contact information (phone, email, etc.) for follow-up consultation. 6) Legal documents, lease agreements and/or utilities in your name, court records, police reports, death certificate or other official correspondence that supports your request may be substituted for one of the requirements mentioned in 5) above.
Federal Financial Aid Regulations place the responsibility for meeting educational needs upon the parent; however, in unusual cases, a student may be able to provide sufficient documentation to be considered “Independent”.
(Financial Aid > Applying for Aid)