When a student's actual circumstances aren't reflected in their FAFSA, four situations call for a special review by the Financial Aid Office. Each has its own form and its own federal basis. None is automatic, and a student starts each one by contacting the Financial Aid Office.
Special Circumstances
Special circumstances are financial changes that justify adjusting the data in a student's SAI calculation. Examples include job loss, an income drop, divorce, the death of a parent or spouse, excessive medical expenses, and a one-time income spike. The student submits the "Professional Judgment Request" form.
Unusual Circumstances
Unusual circumstances are conditions that justify changing a dependent student's status to independent. These include abuse, abandonment, estrangement, human trafficking, parental incarceration, or otherwise being unable to contact parents. The student submits the "Unusual Circumstances Documentation" form. An approved determination carries forward at SF for later award years, so the student doesn't reapply each year.
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
Unaccompanied homeless youth is a separate federal determination under McKinney-Vento. The student must be unaccompanied and either homeless or self-supporting and at risk. A student who already has a qualifying determination, such as a letter from a McKinney-Vento school district liaison, a homeless shelter director, or a TRIO or GEAR UP director, establishes the status without a separate SF determination. When the student doesn't have that documentation, the College Ombudsperson makes the determination. Many students qualify under both this determination and unusual circumstances, and homelessness is usually the easier path to establish. These students may also qualify for a tuition and fee exemption, which is separate from financial aid and is processed by the Office of Admissions.
Parental Refusal
Parental refusal is when parents are available but refuse to provide their information or contribute to the student's education. This does not qualify as unusual circumstances. The only aid available in this situation is a dependent-level Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
How These Reviews Work
These reviews use professional judgment and aren't guaranteed. The Financial Aid Office evaluates each request individually based on the documentation submitted.
A dependency change from getting married or becoming a new parent mid-cycle is a FAFSA update, not a special situation.
To begin any of these reviews, contact the Financial Aid Office for the right form and the documentation it requires. In-person counseling is available.