Special Cases
Some students and their families experience unique circumstances that are not reflected on the FAFSA. In these special cases, the financial aid office can use professional judgment to get a more accurate understanding of the student’s circumstances. Professional judgment refers to the discretion that federal regulations give to financial aid administrators to make adjustments, on a case-by-case basis, to certain elements of a student's FAFSA information because of special or unusual circumstances.
Please understand that we have limits on what we can do, and a formal request for review does not guarantee changes in aid eligibility, but we will look at your individual situation carefully. You are still responsible for any outstanding charges or late fines while under a special circumstances or unusual circumstances review.
Special Circumstances
In general, special circumstances are unforeseen conditions that significantly impact a family's ability to pay for college costs.
- Loss or reduction of parent(s) income
- Loss or reduction of student’s income
- Loss or reduction of parent(s) untaxed income or benefit
- Loss or reduction of student’s untaxed income or benefit
- Separation or divorce of student’s parents
- Death of student’s parent(s)
- Other changes or adjustments that impact the student’s cost of attendance budget
- Vacation expenses
- Standard living expenses
- Tithing expenses
- Child allowances
- Consumer debt
To submit a request, students and/or parents must submit a Change of Circumstance Form, or another appropriate form based on the reason for the review, a signed letter of explanation to the Financial Aid Office stating the circumstances by which they would like to have their FAFSA reviewed, and supporting documentation must also be included. All forms can be requested by completing the contact form on our website. Once all documentation has been received, it will be forwarded to a counselor and/or committee for further review for a decision. If you already receive the maximum Pell Grant, we cannot adjust any data elements to your FAFSA because you have received the maximum eligibility for federal grants.
Reasons for which we cannot review a special circumstance:
- Vacation expenses
- Standard living expenses
- Tithing expenses
- Child allowances
Students should receive the financial aid office’s decision by email within 14 business days after all documentation has been received and a decision is provided by the committee.
Please note that the decisions of the committee are final and are not able to be appealed.
Unusual Circumstances
The U.S. Department of Education determines your student dependency status based on the information you provided in the FAFSA. In certain situations, students may request that their dependency status be reviewed through a formal process.
- Human trafficking
- Legally granted refugee or asylum status
- Parental abandonment or estrangement
- Student or parental incarceration
- Parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education.
- Parents will not provide information for the FAFSA or verification.
- Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
- Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.
Students who are considered under legal guardianship, orphan or ward of the court, unaccompanied homeless youth or self-supporting and at risk of homelessness are also included in unusual circumstances. If you are in one of these categories, review Self Service Carolina first to check your unsatisfied requirements and complete the form requested and submit the appropriate documentation. Students should receive the financial aid office’s decision by email within 14 business days after all documentation has been received. Our office will then make the determination if you need to complete the Dependency Override process. If you need to complete this process, our office will notify you by email.
Students who are approved for one of these categories after the initial request will not have to submit documentation again unless we receive conflicting information.
To submit a request, a student must submit a Dependency Override Collection of Documentation Form with a letter of explanation that details the circumstances for the request, and the Dependency Override Reference Form along with supporting documentation. The Dependency Override Collection of Documentation Form and the Dependency Override Reference Form can be requested by completing the contact form on our website. Once all documentation has been received, it will be forwarded to a committee for further review for a decision.
Students should receive the financial aid office’s decision by email within 14 business days after all documentation has been received and a decision is provided by the committee.
Please note that the decisions of the committee are final and are not able to be appealed. If the committee approves your appeal, then you do not have to go through this process again unless we receive conflicting information or notification of a change in your circumstances.