Professional Judgment | Special and Unusual Circumstances

KCKCC understands that every student’s situation is unique. If circumstances have changed since filing the FAFSA or if students cannot provide parental information due to unusual circumstances, they may request a Professional Judgment (PJ) review.

Federal law allows financial aid administrators to adjust certain data on a student’s FAFSA to better reflect their actual situation. While approval is not guaranteed, the Financial Aid Office will carefully review every request.

Special Circumstances

Special circumstances refer to significant changes in a student’s or family’s financial situation after the FAFSA has been filed. These changes may justify an update to the FAFSA information to more accurately reflect a student’s current needs.

Examples of Special Circumstances:

• Loss or reduction of income (e.g., job loss, reduced hours)
• Divorce or separation after FAFSA filing
• Death of a parent or spouse
• Out-of-pocket medical or dental expenses paid and not covered by insurance
• One-time income (e.g., inheritance, retirement withdrawal)
• Tuition paid for K–12 education
• Disability or dependent care expenses
• Providing financial support to extended family

Please note: Not all adjustments result in increased aid.

How to Request a Special Circumstance Review:

1. Submit the FAFSA, if you haven’t already.
2. Write a signed letter explaining the circumstances, including dates and details.
3. Request the Special Circumstance Form from the Financial Aid Office or via  KCKCC email.
4. Complete the Verification process, if selected or required.
5. Provide supporting documentation, such as:
   1. IRS tax return or IRS Data Retrieval Tool info
   2. W-2s or pay stubs
   3. Medical bills, legal documents or termination notices
6. Submit all required forms and documentation to the Student Financial Aid Office.
7. Check KCKCC student email for updates or additional requests.

Unusual Circumstances (Dependency Override)

Unusual circumstances apply when a student is unable to provide parent information due to abuse, abandonment or unsafe family situations. If approved, students may be treated as an independent student, which can significantly impact financial aid eligibility.

Examples of Unusual Circumstances:

• Abandonment or estrangement from both parents
• Human trafficking or refugee/asylee status without parental contact
• Parental incarceration
• Documented abuse or unsafe home environment
• Parents’ location is unknown and cannot be reasonably obtained

Circumstances NOT Considered for a Dependency Override:

• Parents refuse to provide information or support
• Parents don’t claim you on their taxes
• You are self-supporting or don’t live with your parents

How to Request a Dependency Override:

1. Submit the FAFSA, selecting "I am unable to provide parent information."
2. Complete the Provisional Independent Student Review Form (available in Self-Service or from the Financial Aid Office).
3. Submit documentation, including:
   1. A signed letter from you describing your family situation, how you support yourself and current living arrangements.
   2. A letter from a third-party professional (e.g., counselor, doctor, clergy, social worker) who can verify circumstances.
   3. If no third-party is available, provide a statement explaining why and a signed letter from another responsible adult who knows about the situation.
4. Complete the KCKCC Independent Verification Form.
5. If a student was approved as independent at KCKCC in a previous academic year and the situation has not changed, they will be required to submit a written statement to the KCKCC Student Financial Aid Office that the situation has not changed.

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determination

If a student is under 24 and experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless, they may qualify for independent student status.

Students may qualify if they are:

• Not living with a parent or guardian (unaccompanied), and
• Homeless or at risk of homelessness (e.g., couch-surfing, staying in shelters, transitional housing or living temporarily with others)

Acceptable Documentation Includes:

• A letter from a high school or school district homeless liaison
• A statement from a shelter or transitional housing program
• A letter from a TRIO, GEAR UP or similar program official
• Documentation from another college’s financial aid office

How to Request:

1. Indicate “Yes” to the homeless youth question on the FAFSA.
2. Submit the Homeless Youth Determination Form with supporting documentation.
3. If students cannot obtain documentation from a recognized third party, please contact the Financial Aid Office. They may still be able to help based on the specific situation.

Important Notes

• A Professional Judgment does not guarantee increased aid.
• Students must be enrolled and meet all general federal aid eligibility requirements.
• The Financial Aid Office must receive all required documentation before making any decision.
• All PJ decisions are final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.