Special Circumstances and Appeals

1. Special Circumstances and Appeals What’s special and what’s not How to file an appeal with a school

2. Professional Judgment (PJ) • Professional judgment is an aid administrator’s authority to change certain data elements on the FAFSA when special circumstances inhibit the family’s ability to contribute financial resources toward college costs.

3. Basic PJ Guidelines • All requests must be substantiated • All requests must be in writing • Requests are submitted to FAO at each college under consideration • Different schools have different requirements and guidelines • Schools are not required to honor PJs performed by other schools • School’s decision is final, cannot be appealed to US Department of Education

4. What’s Not Special • Consumer debt • Debt to income ratio • Family bills • Parent refusal to file the FAFSA • Domestic disputes between child and parent

5. What could be special • Certain dependency issues • Death of custodial parent • Change in parents’ marital status • Income loss due to unemployment • Medical expenses • Child care expenses incurred by student • Paid medical expenses not covered by insurance • One time fluctuation in income (IRA, capital gain) • Private elementary/secondary tuition expenses

6. Independent By Regulation • Age 24 by December 31of award year • Married • Enrolled in a graduate/professional program • Veteran not classified as “dishonorable” • Have children or legal dependents • Orphan, foster care or ward of the court at age 13 or older • Unaccompanied homeless youth • Emancipated and legal guardianship

7. Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Definition • Unaccompanied means the student is not living in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian • Youth means 21 years of age or still enrolled in high school as of the day the FAFSA is completed

8. Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Definition • Lacking fixed, regular and adequate housing • Living in shelter, parks, motels, cars or with other people because there is no where else to go • Fleeing an abusive parent

9. Emancipation and Legal Guardianship • In NYS, children cannot be emancipated prior to their 18th birthday. Therefore, NYS would not have emancipated minors. • Legal guardianship means court appointed custody in the student’s state of legal residence

10. Dependency Issues • Student is not homeless, orphan, in foster care or a ward of the court, but does not live with biological or adoptive parent • Student has resided with relatives for an extended period of time • It is in the student’s best mental and physical interest not to be with parent

11. Dependency Overrides • Student should contact the FAO at the school most likely to attend • All circumstances must be substantiated with documentation and in writing

12. Death of Custodial Parent • Death occurred prior to filing the FAFSA – complete using only the income of the widowed parent • Death occurred after filing the FAFSA- contact the school the student plans to attend and explain the circumstances

13. Documenting Death • Documentation is required • Death certificate • Letter explaining circumstances • Documentation sent to school not FAFSA • Documentation should also be sent to TAP with letter

14. Steps to Filing An Appeal • Contact each school to see if they consider the situation special and what documentation they require. • Send written explanation and documentation to financial aid office at each school.

15. Steps to Filing An Appeal • College will review the request • May request additional information • Decision of school is final and cannot be appealed to U.S. Department of Education • Different schools handle appeals differently. PJ is subjective.

16. Questions

17. Presenters Information LaSonya Griggs Assistant Director of Financial Aid SUNY Upstate Medical University 315-464-8817 griggsl@upstate.edu Sharon Halpin Associate Director of Financial Aid LeMoyne College financialaid@lemoyne.edu halpins@lemoyne.edu