Special Cases – Professional Judgment
Federal regulations permit financial aid administrators to use their discretion on a case-by-case basis to modify data used to calculate the EFC by performing a Professional Judgment. Administrators may also use their discretion to resolve conflicting information and report cases of fraud. The FAFSA Simplification ACT distinguishes between special circumstances and unusual circumstances as the different categories of professional judgment. If your circumstances meet the criteria in one of the areas described below, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 205-856-8511 or [email protected] to request a review of your special case.
Special Circumstances – Professional Judgment
There are special circumstances that can be considered that may impact the student’s financial aid eligibility such as unemployment due to termination, lay-off, close of business, or medical conditions. In these rare cases, the Financial Aid Department may exercise professional judgment to adjust the student’s Cost of Attendance or the data that determines the student’s Expected Family Contribution.
If a student has special circumstances as described above that may permit a Professional Judgement, they may request a review of their special case.
Unusual Circumstances – Dependency Override
There are unusual circumstances that may impact a student’s financial aid eligibility due to a change in Dependency status. Federal regulations permit the College, at its discretion, to determine if unusual circumstances can be documented which would result in a dependency status change from Dependent to Independent for federal financial aid purposes. Unusual circumstances are parent(s) deceased, parent(s) incarcerated or unusual parental circumstances such as parent’s whereabouts are unknown, abusive family environment, abandonment by parent, etc.
If a student has unusual circumstances that may permit a Professional Judgment for Dependency Override, they may request a review of their special case.
Special Cases – Students Whose Parents Refuse to Support
Dependent students whose parents refuse to support them are not eligible for a Dependency Override, but they may be able to receive a dependent level Direct Unsubsidized Loan only.
If a student has a special case as described above and meets the listed criteria, they may request a review of their special case. Supporting documentation will be requested.
Special Cases – Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
A student may be considered an unaccompanied homeless youth if they can answer “Yes” to one of the following questions.
- Did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or at risk of being homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?
- Did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?
- Did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?
If a student has a special case as described above and meets the listed criteria to be considered an unaccompanied homeless youth, they may request a review of their special case.
