Conditions for Requesting a Change of Dependency Status The Federal Department of Education, using rules established by Congress, gives the following conditions for determination of dependency status. It is defined in statute rather than regulation under the HIGHER EDUCATION ACT AS AMENDED THROUGH DECEMBER 1994, TITLE IV, PART A, SECTION 480(d)
(d)
INDEPENDENT STUDENT.--The term "independent", when used with respect to a student, means any individual who can answer yes to one of the following statements--
(1) is 24 years of age or older by December 31 of the award year;
(2) is an orphan or ward of the court or was a ward of the court until the individual
reached the age of 18;
(3) is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States
(4) is a graduate or professional student; (graduate and professional have
very specific definitions) (5) is married;
(6) has legal dependents other than a spouse that you support; or
(7) is a student for whom a financial aid administrator makes a documented
determination of independence by reason of other unusual circumstances.
Process for Requesting a Dependency Override If you feel that you have an unusual circumstance that may qualify you to become independent of your parents for financial aid purposes, please submit the following documentation. ( Please Note: income is not an unusual circumstance and a parents unwillingness to pay is not a reason to apply for a dependency override, as stated in DCL GEN-93-11, May 1993)
This documentation must include:
(1)
A Professional Judgment: Change of Dependency Status Form (2) A letter from you describing the circumstance in detail and
(3) A signed statement from two professionals, on letterhead, (counselor, MD, clergy,
caseworker, etc) who know your circumstances or
(4) A copy of Court papers indicating Ward of the Court status until age 18
We may take up to 30 days to review your appeal. After your request is reviewed a decision will be mailed to you in writing. The request for dependency override comes under the regulations dealing with professional judgement (Higher Education Act, sec. 479A(a)) and therefore the decision is final and cannot be appealed.
You must reapply each year if your request is approved.
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