2019-2020 Request for Independent Student Status
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.
For federal student aid programs, Southern Crescent follows the definition of an independent student as set by
the Federal Government. Under the definition, an undergraduate student is considered independent
for 2019-2020 if he or she:
is born before January 1, 1995.
since turning age 13, was in foster care, a ward or dependent of the court and/or an orphan (both parents
deceased).
is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces or currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed
Forces for purposes other than training.
is married or separated.
is working on a master’s or doctorate program 2019-2020.
is providing significant financial support to dependents other than a spouse.
is determined by a court in the state of legal residence as being an emancipated minor or in legal
guardianship.
on or after July 1, 2019, was deemed to be a homeless unaccompanied youth or self-supporting and at
risk of being homeless.
Federal regulations allow financial aid administrators to use professional judgment to change dependency
status to "independent" on a case-by-case basis. The student must demonstrate that there is an unusual
circumstance other than the fact that the student is self-sufficient or that the parents are unwilling to
contribute to the student’s education. If you do not meet any of the above criteria but you believe that you
should be considered independent because of truly exceptional circumstances making it inappropriate to
expect a parental contribution; you may complete this form to petition for a waiver of federal regulations
requiring parental information. Examples of unusual circumstances are situations such as when a student's
parents cannot be located, or where an otherwise dependent student has been a victim of domestic violence
or abuse and is no longer able to reside with his or her parents.
The U.S. Department of Education has identified four conditions that, individually or in combination with
one another do not qualify as "unusual circumstances" and do not merit a dependency override. Those
circumstances are:
Parents refusing to contribute to the student's education;
Parents unwilling to provide information on the application or for verification
Parents not claiming the students as a dependent for income tax purposes
Student demonstrating total self-sufficiency.
Office of Financial Aid
501 Varsity Road 1533 Hwy 19 South
Griffin, GA 30223 Thomaston, GA 30286
770-228-7368 p 706-646-6386 p
770-229-3029 f 706-646-6063 f
