Petition for Independency
A student may be classified as independent and is not required to include parental information when completing the FAFSA application if they qualify under any of the categories listed herewith. When completing the FAFSA applicaton, it may indicate the need for further examinaton by a financail administrator at your school before your independent statuis is confirmed and your financial aid eligibility is determined. Regardless, the FAFSA application must be completed before a Petition for Independency may be considered..
Definition of an Independent Student - An independent student s any individual who
-is 24 years of age or older by December 31 of the award year.
-is an orphan, in foster care, or a ward of the court, or was an orphan, in foster care, or a ward of the court at any time when the indiviidual was 13 years of age or older.
-is, or was immediately prior to attaining age of majority, an emancipated minor or in a legal guardianship as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in the individual's State of legal residence.
-is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States or is currently serving on active duty in the Armed Forces for other than training purposes.
-is a graduate or professional student.
-is a married individual.
-has legal dependents other than a spouse.
-has been verified during the school year in which the FAFSA application is submitted as either an unaccompanied youth who is a homeless child or youth, or as unaccompanied , at risk of homelessness, and self-supporting by a) a local educational agency homeless liaison, b) the dirrector of a program funded under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act or a designee of the director, c) the director of a program funded under subtitle B of title IV relating to emergency shelter grants, or a designee of the director, d) a financial aid administrator, or e) is a student for whom a financial aid administrator makes a documented determination of independence by reason of any other unusual circumstance.
Circumstances that Do Not Warrant a Dependency Status Appeal
Circumstances that do not warrant a student to file a Petition for Independency:
-Parents refuse to contribute to educatonal costs.
-Parents unwilling to provide information on FAFSA application or for verificaton purposes.
-Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
-Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.
Unusual circumstances that may warrant a student to file a Petition for Independency:
-Abusive family environment.
-Abandonment.
-Unusual circumstances that do not preclude a student from answering "yes" to a homeless question, if applicable.
-Irreconciable and unsual circumstances that do not warrant a dependency override by themselves.
Petiton for Independency Policies and Procedures
The following policies apply for filing a Petition for Independency:
-The student must provide a signed and dated letter enumerating the reasons for the appeal.
-The student must complete and sign the Petiton for Independency appeal form available at www.ccsu.edu/finaid in the forms file.
-The student must proivde at least two letters signed and dated from persons who are aware of the student's status including a teacher, a counselor, or a member of the clergy.
-The student must provide any documents pertinent to the student's petition.
-A Petition for Independency must be filed and updated for each subsequent academic year.
The following procedures outline what the financial aid adminsitrator must do:
-Upon receipt of the Petition for Independency and all letters and documents from the student, the FA administrator will review the appeal and use professional judgment to approve or deny it, If it is determined that the FA Administrator requires furrther clarification before making a decision, a conference with the student will be arranged.
-The FA admiistrator will meet personally with the student and notify by E.mail whether the student's appeal was approved or denied.
-The FA admiistrator will initiate any requiired changes to the student's FAFSA applicaiton record and financial aid award.
-If the FA adminsitrator denies the student's Petiton for Independency, the student may request the FA Director or his designee to review the decison.
-The FA adminstrator may override only from dependent to independent, not vica versa.
