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 SAI 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:

Create a Request for "Financial Aid Petition" in Workday and ensure all required supporting documentation is attached.

• 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.