Special Circumstances

refer to the financial situations (loss of a job, etc.) that justify an aid administrator adjusting data elements in the COA or in the SAI calculation. CCA will consider exercising professional judgment on a case by case basis for the following categories of special circumstances:

• Separation from employment due to layoff, termination or disability
• Reduction in income (less than income reported on tax return used in current year FAFSA or CADAA)
• Excessive non-reimbursed medical and/or dental expenses (if they exceed the 11% income protection allowance already allowed by the federal EFC calculation)
• Loss or reduction of untaxed income source (disability benefits, welfare benefits, child support)
• Separation or divorce which occurred after applying for financial aid
• Death of a parent or spouse which occurred after applying for financial aid
• Other documented special circumstances

Unusual Circumstances

refer to the conditions that justify an aid administrator making an adjustment to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation, more commonly referred to as a dependency override. CCA will consider exercising professional judgment for the following categories of unusual circumstances:

• Human trafficking, as described in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.)
• Legally granted refugee or asylum status
• Parental abandonment or estrangement
• Student or parental incarceration
• Determination of unaccompanied homeless youth
• Dependency determination for students unable to provide parent data
• Awarding of Direct Unsubsidized loans only for dependent students without parent support
• Other documented unusual circumstances

If you have had a special and/or unusual circumstance you would like our office to consider, please take the following steps:

Complete the appropriate form below and ensure all required supporting documentation is attached.

• 24/25 Parent Petition form (parent special circumstances)
• 24/25 Student Petition form (student special circumstances)
• 24/25 Dependency Petition form (student unusual circumstances)

To be considered for a special or unusual circumstance, all documentation must be submitted to our office.

If selected for FAFSA verification by the U.S. Department of Education, all verification documentation must also be submitted before petitions may be processed.

Please allow 4-6 weeks for processing. For additional information, please refer to the CCA Financial Aid Professional Judgment Policy.