Generally, no. None of the conditions listed below, singly or in combination, qualify as unusual circumstances meriting a dependency override:
Parents refuse to contribute to the student鈥檚 education.
Parents will not provide information for the FAFSA or verification.
Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.

If the above conditions exist, you will be asked to add parental information to your FAFSA. If you cannot add parental information to your FAFSA because your parents refuse to provide it to you, you may be eligible for a direct unsubsidized loan only since the above conditions alone are not 鈥渦nusual circumstances鈥� per federal regulations. However, if you are experiencing the conditions above but also experiencing parent abandonment, abuse, human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, or parental incarceration, you may be eligible for a dependency override and should contact your financial aid advisor.

Vacation expenses, tithing expenses, expenses for home remodeling and renovation, and standard living expenses (e.g. utilities, credit card expenses, children鈥檚 allowances, etc.) Normal income fluctuations also do not generally warrant a professional judgment request. The reduction in income must have been related to special circumstances. The Office of Student Financial Aid must make reasonable decisions that support the intent of the provision. Also, we will not consider for such requests any expenses that are already covered by the Income Protection Allowance which is included in the SAI to account for living expenses.

It depends. Not every student who experiences a reduction in income is eligible for or will benefit from a financial aid adjustment. For example, if your FAFSA already reflects the maximum financial need, the adjustment process may not provide any benefit. Also, keep in mind that the reduction in income also needs to be caused by special circumstances. Many households experience normal income fluctuations which do not constitute special circumstances. Your financial aid advisor will review your case to determine if a financial aid adjustment is appropriate.

It depends. The documentation should be adequate to substantiate a student鈥檚 circumstances and show that the circumstances are special and not normal household circumstances. Examples of acceptable documentation are listed on the request form. Your financial aid advisor may suggest or require additional documentation based on your specific circumstances.

If the Office of Student Financial Aid requested a copy of different TRANSCRIPTS or a verification of non-filing letter, you can request a transcript in the following ways:

Online (Fastest method): Use the https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript online service to download and/or print your transcript immediately: For this service, you need to:
Sign in to your online IRS account. Note that if you do NOT have an account with the IRS you will need to create one. When creating an account they may request additional information to confirm your identity.
*If you recently filed, it could take weeks to access Transcripts. Once logged into your account, select Tax Records and select the appropriate Transcript that is needed.

By Mail: (Recommend getting a transcript online since that鈥檚 the fastest method). If you鈥檙e unable to register, you can get transcript mailed to you instead.
Use the https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript and select 鈥淕et Transcripts by Mail鈥�
It will request SSN or ITIN, your date of birth, your mailing address from your latest tax return (must match exactly as listed on your return), and zip code
You can also request a transcript be mailed to you by calling automated phone transcript service at 800-908-9946

Form 4506-T: Alternatively, complete IRS Form 4506-T and mail or fax it to the appropriate IRS office. The address and fax number are provided on page 2 of Form 4506-T. Once you receive your IRS Tax Return Transcript, submit a copy to the Office of Financial Aid.
Victims of Identity theft must obtain a TAX RETURN DATA BASE VIEW FORM by contacting (800)908-4490.

Your student loan servicer is the company assigned by the U.S. Department of Education to manage your federal student loan(s). They handle billing, answer your questions, and help you choose or adjust your repayment plan. Learn more at .