2024 - 2025 Petition for Dependency Status Review

Student Name*

First NameMiddle NameLast Name

Social Security Number

Birth Date

Phone Number*

Please enter a valid phone number.

Email*

example@example.com

Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState

Zip Code

Financial aid regulations assume that the family has primary responsibility for meeting the educational costs of students. If you are considered a dependent student according to the financial aid definition, your aid eligibility is determined by using parent income and asset information in addition to your information. Dependent students are required by law to provide parental information and signatures to be considered for financial aid.

Four conditions that, individually or in combination with one another, do not qualify as “unusual circumstances” or that do not merit a dependency override. These circumstances are:

1. Parents refusing to contribute to the student’s education;
2. Parents unwilling to provide information on the application or for verification;
3. Parents not claiming the student as a dependent for income tax purposes;
4. Student demonstrating total self-sufficiency.

Occasionally, due to unusual circumstances, students should not be considered as dependent. If you can document why you should be considered independent for some unusual reason, you may petition for a waiver of federal regulations requiring parental information. Please provide reasons why your parents can not contribute toward your education.

Check the reason that best describes your situation:

I have been separated from my parents due to an unsafe home environment.(Attach 3rd party documentation from a court, social service agency, or other similar source.)I have been separated from my parents and I come from a documented background of historical poverty and I live with a relative who is providing support.(Attach 3rd party documentation from a social service agency or respected member of the community.)My economic and personal circumstances are of such a unique or unusual nature that denial of independent student status would create an unjust hardship.(Attach 3rd party documentation from a court, social service agency or similar source.)

Attach a separate sheet explaining in detail the following information:

Identify the location of both your parents.
Describe the last time you had contact with each of your parents - when, where, and the nature of the contact.
Explain what unusual circumstances should make you an independent student.
Describe how you have been self-supporting:
- When did you start meeting your expenses without parental support?
- How have you provided for yourself?