Due to varying circumstances, students and parents often find the information they provided on the FAFSA no longer realistically reflects their ability to provide educational support. Since FAFSA uses tax data from two years prior (prior-prior year), there are a few options when looking at more accurately calculating the Student Aid Index (SAI). Students with special or unusual circumstances may choose to submit a Professional Judgment (PJ) appeal to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships requesting their situation be reviewed.
Unusual Circumstances
This refers to the conditions that justify an aid administrator making an adjustment to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation (e.g., human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, parental abandonment, incarceration). (This is more commonly referred to as a “Dependency Override.”)
Special Circumstances
This refers to the financial situations justify an aid administrator adjusting data elements in the FAFSA calculation. Circumstances includes but are not limited to:
- Loss of employment;
- Unusual family medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance;
- Tuition expenses at an elementary or secondary school for the student & siblings or dependents;
- Extraordinary dependent care expenses;
- Divorce if a dependent student’s parent or of an independent student; or
- Death of a dependent student & parent or an independent student’s spouse.
NOTE:
It is possible a student could have circumstances that are both special and unusual. SCC’s financial aid administrators have the authority to make those determinations by exercising professional judgment (PJ) based on the student’s documented circumstance.
If you believe you are experiencing one or both types of circumstances click on one of the links below for application forms.
Special Circumstance Parent Form (Dependent Student)