Dependency Override
Students who are over the age of 24, have dependents of their own, are an orphan or ward of the court or are veterans or active duty military service members are considered independent for the purpose of determining their financial aid eligibility. All other students are considered dependent and must include parental information on their FAFSA application. The goal of a dependency override is to make the student independent for financial aid purposes, and remove parental information from the EFC calculation on the FAFSA.
Dependency overrides are rare, and documentation is essential. Among other information, a student will need to provide documentation from an independent third party such as teachers, counselors, doctors, social workers, clergy, police, etc.
Dependency override cannot be used to change the student's marital status on the FAFSA.
Examples of reasons to request a Dependency Override:
- Cases of parental abuse, neglect, abandonment, or incarceration (with appropriate written third-party documentation)
- Parents cannot be located
- Death of the custodial parent and no other biological or adoptive parent can be reached by ordinary means
- Student is a political refugee
- Student has been a ward of the court at any time after the age of 13
Parent refusal to provide information on the FAFSA is not a valid reason for dependency override. However, students whose parents refuse to provide information on the FAFSA may be eligible to receive dependent level unsubsidized loans. If this applies to you, contact your Financial Aid Counselor.
Possible documentation required:
- Signed and dated statement from parents they refuse to complete the FASFA AND state they will not provide financial support (include the date the support stopped).
- Third-party documentation (such as from teacher, counselor, or court) of family situation
- Parents do not claim the student on tax return
- Student lives apart from parent
- Student works and is financially self sufficient
Email your Financial Aid Counselor to determine if a PJ may help you qualify for additional aid. In the subject include “Dependency Override request” and provide detailed explanation of your circumstances related to the Dependency Override. Your assigned counselor will reply and request the necessary documents for the review. An aid administrator’s decision regarding adjustments is final and cannot be appealed to other individuals of the institution or the U.S. Department of Education.