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Click to toggle main menu Financial AidThe Financial Aid Office recognizes that households can experience changes in income and/or finances or other unusual circumstances that are not accurately reflected from two years prior. As a result, the Financial Aid Office has the ability to review you and your family’s unusual circumstance(s) on a case-by-case basis.
SLCC Financial Aid Office must have your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file prior to reviewing your appeal. There are two different appeal processes for unusual circumstances: Professional Judgment and Dependency Override.
Eligibility for financial aid is determined by the FAFSA, which currently uses financial information from two years prior to estimate a household’s current circumstances.
When such unusual situations occur, it is possible to re-evaluate a student’s aid eligibility based on their current circumstances through the Professional Judgment (PJ) process.
All Professional Judgment applications are required to have a detailed letter of explanation and supporting documentation. The Financial Aid Office may request additional documentation, beyond what is requested on the appeal form, to support your unusual circumstance. A Professional Judgment cannot be processed for changes until verification is complete. Please check your aid status on your SLCC Student Self Service Portal.
There must be a significant change to the household finances to be considered for a Professional Judgment.
Circumstances NOT considered:
1. Change to Expected Family Contribution (EFC): If an adjustment to the student’s EFC is approved, that adjustment will be made to the student’s FAFSA. When the student’s corrected FAFSA returns, the student’s Pell grant and/or federal Stafford loans may be reallocated based on these results. Supporting documentation will be placed and maintained in the student’s financial aid file and notated.
Examples of various circumstance that may be considered for an EFC adjustment :
A change to the EFC could, but is not guaranteed to, result in a change of eligibility for need based awards.
2. Change to Cost of Attendance (COA): If an increase to a student’s cost of attendance budget is approved, the student’s budget will be adjusted accordingly. Supporting documentation will be placed and maintained in the student’s financial aid file and notated. **Note: Students who are submitting for a Cost of Attendance adjustment after the posted deadline will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Examples of out-of-pocket costs that may be used to adjust a student's COA:
A change to the COA does not result in a change for eligibility for need-based awards, only increases the room in a student’s budget for aid including PLUS and private loans.
For more information on PJ deadlines and how to apply, refer to our Professional Judgment Form.
The chart below lists the type of supporting documentation required for various categories of Professional Judgment. Failure to submit all applicable required documentation listed will result in a delay and possible denial of your Professional Judgment application.
Reason for professional judgment request
Loss or Change of Employment and/or Income
Statement on letterhead indicating the last date of employment
Proof of unemployment benefits, if applicable
Copy of the last paycheck including any vacation pay, severance, bonuses, or tips received
Copy of applicable tax return transcripts/signed tax returns
Members of the military must submit a copy of the DD214 and a LES showing taxable and untaxed income, if applicable
Documentation of any type of income being received including workman’s compensation, payments from 401(k) or 403(b) plans, the financial contribution made by individuals outside of the household
Student’s marriage certificate
Student’s and spouse’s most recent tax returns
Copy of applicable tax return transcripts/signed tax returns
Death certificate of the deceased individual
Copy of final paycheck
Copy of applicable tax return transcripts/signed tax returns
Documentation of disability diagnosis
Reduction in Child Support
Documentation of paid out- of- pocket medical expenses
Note: An approved Professional Judgment Appeal may not result in a change to the student’s financial aid award package.
Financial aid administrators have the authority to change a student’s status from dependent to independent in cases involving unusual circumstances. For financial aid purposes, a student is considered dependent and should provide parental information on the FAFSA unless the student is:
The U.S. Department of Education has also given guidance regarding situations that do and do not qualify as unusual circumstances that merit a dependency override. In particular, the following circumstances do not merit a dependency override, either alone or in combination:
Note that all of these circumstances are largely discretionary in nature.
Sometimes there are additional circumstances that occur in conjunction with the circumstances listed above that do merit a dependency override. These can include, but are not limited to, the following:
If you have an unusual circumstance and need to begin the appeal process, complete the Verification of Dependency Status & Appeal Form.
It depends. The following are examples of unusual circumstances which illustrate the likelihood of a reevaluation of financial aid eligibility. Please note that each family's situation is unique, and we take many factors into account. Please be aware that these income scenarios do not reflect assets or investments, which could change your eligibility.
Household Income: $30,000
While eligible to appeal, the student is already receiving the maximum amount of financial aid available. An appeal would not result in additional financial aid.
Household Income: $250,000
While eligible to appeal, aid would be limited to loans, possibly switched from unsubsidized to subsidized. Revised income is too high for grant eligibility.
Household Income: $115,000
Student would be encouraged to submit an appeal as their revised income calculation would likely result in additional grant eligibility.