2020-2021 Appeal for Dependency Appeal Request D/OVRIDE
Under Federal guidelines, most traditional-aged undergraduate students are automatically considered dependent upon parents.
As a result, aid eligibility is determined using parent financial data. However, a student may have extenuating circumstances that
warrant special consideration for independent status.
Non-eligible Criteria for Independence:
• Parents refusing to contribute to your education
• The student is financially self-sufficient and does not live with parent(s)
• Parent(s) no longer claiming the student on their tax return
• Parent(s) unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA or documents for verification
Allowable appeal reasons may include (but not limited to) such situations as the following:
• Physical, emotional parental drug or alcohol abuse or abandonment
• Mental incapacity or other situations beyond your control that prevent you from obtaining your
parents’ financial information
• Student unable to locate parents
Directions to Complete this Appeal:
To be considered for a dependency override, please complete items 1 through 3 and return this appeal to our office with the
required documentation specified below. Incomplete appeals will not be processed. Keep a copy of the appeal and all documents
for your records. Evaluation of your appeal may take up to six weeks. You will receive notice of our decision by e-mail. Please contact
us if you have any questions. Documentation is critical and necessary in making this decision.
1. A student must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at fafsa.ed.gov or the CA Dream Act
Application (CADAA) at dream.csac.ca.gov If the dependency appeal is approved, the Financial Aid office will make updates to
the FAFSA or CADAA which will allow the calculation of the EFC.
2. A signed, detailed letter from the student explaining the extraordinary circumstance(s) detailing the relationship with both
biological or adoptive parents to include why you are unable to provide parental information, last time you lived with, had contact
with, and was supported by parent(s) and how you support yourself since your independence from your family.
3. Signed Third-Party Statement. Two (2) letters of support from independent sources who can attest first-hand to the
extenuating circumstances. At least 1 letter must be from a neutral 3rd party in a professional capacity such as a doctor,
lawyer, social worker, minister, etc. that is familiar with your case. The signed statement should be submitted on letterhead
from the person’s place of employment and include their full address and phone number. You may submit police reports
and/or court documents in place of one of the letters, if applicable.
Check here if you had an approved dependency status change in the previous year at MSJC. Submit an updated letter
explaining your current extraordinary circumstance and/ or any changes.
CERTIFICATION
I/WE HEREBY CERTIFY THAT ALL INFORMATION REPORTED ON THIS FORM AND ANY ATTACHMENTS HERETO ARE TRUE, COMPLETE AND ACCURATE.
FALSE INFORMATION OR MISREPRESENTATION WILL BE CAUSE FOR DENIAL, REDUCTION, WITHDRAWAL, AND/OR REPAYMENT OF FINANCIAL AID.
__________________________ _____________________________________________________
Student’s Signature
Date
For Office Use Only
Approved: Dependency status changed to Independent for 2020-2021. You must appeal each year even if your circumstances do not change.
Pending: More information is needed to review your appeal. Please see comment below.
Denied: You remain dependent. Parental information is needed to complete your application process.
Reason: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FA S
ignature _____________________________________________________________________ Date _________________________
2020-2021
DEPENDENCY APPEAL REQUEST
Please PRINT clearly with black/blue ink
Mt. San Jacinto College Financial Aid Office
Website: https://msjc.edu/financialaid/
Virtual Lobby: https://msjc.edu/hub/
Telephone: (951) 487-3245
click to sign
signature
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