Financial Aid To Do List & Special Circumstances

2023-2024 Federal Verification:  https://laurelridge.verificationgateway.org/

Deadline for submitting these document is 8/30/2024

PJ (Professional Judgement)/Financial Aid Appeal Process

First, complete the Request for Review Form below and return it to the Financial Aid Office in-person or email it to [email protected].

• Request for Review Form 23-24

What Happens Next?

We are pleased to announce we have established a partnership with Inceptia to expedite the financial aid appeal process for Laurel Ridge Community College using PJ Advisor. PJ Advisor from Inceptia is an accessible, intuitive tool that will guide you through the process to request a professional judgment/appeal.

Please note the deadline for submitting an appeal:

• 2023-2024 – June 30, 2024

You may access PJ Advisor at:

• https://inceptia.org/pjadvisor/laurelridge2024

You (or a parent, spouse, or legal guardian) will need to do the following:

• Create a secure user name and password.
• Select your dependency status as reported on the FAFSA.
• Answer the pre-screening questions and select your appeal category.
• Explain your situation in detail, upload supporting documentation, and submit.
• Print, sign*, and upload the signature page.

*Dependent students that provided parental information on the FAFSA are required to have one parent signature on the signature page once all documentation has been submitted.

Upon receipt of all required documents, Inceptia will conduct a preliminary review to ensure the submission is accurate and complete. You will be notified via email if there are any questions or if any additional documentation is required. Once the submission is verified as complete, it will be sent to your school’s financial aid office for final review and determination. Your school will contact you with the results.

Questions

If you have any questions about the appeal process, please contact Inceptia PJ Advisor Customer Service:
Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Central at 888-302-7527 or email [email protected].

About Inceptia

Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), is a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions in verification, financial aid management, financial education, and repayment wellness. Our mission supports schools as they illuminate paths towards educational and financial success for students and families.

Dependency overrides are rare and occur in certain special situations. Dependency overrides often involve an involuntary dissolution of the family or situations in which it would be harmful for the student to have contact with their parents. Examples include incarceration or institutionalization of both parents, abuse and abandonment.

The Financial Aid Office has the authority, through Section 480(d)(7) of the Higher Education Act, to change a student’s status from dependent to independent in cases involving unusual circumstances. Dependent students with unusual circumstances may appeal to the Financial Aid and Veteran Services office for a dependency override. A dependency override would allow the student to be considered an independent student (for financial aid purposes only) and exempt the student from providing parental data on their FAFSA.

Dependency Override Policy

Annually, and on a case-by-case basis, the Financial Aid Office may permit a dependency override for otherwise dependent students with unusual circumstances.

Conditions which qualify for a dependency override include students, under the age of 24, who cannot rely on parental support from either parent because each parent meets one of the following criteria:

• Parent is deceased.
• Parent is incarcerated.
• Unusual parental circumstances (e.g., parent’s whereabouts are unknown, abusive family environment, abandonment by parent, etc.).

Conditions, singly or in combination, that do not qualify for a dependency override include:

• Parent(s) refuse to contribute to the student’s education.
• Parent(s) are unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA or for FAFSA verification.
• Parent(s) do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
• Student does not live with their parent(s).
• Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.

If that is the case, please let us know so we can review the process for an Appeal to Apply for Federal Loans without Parent Information.

Dependency Override Process

To apply for an initial dependency override, students must complete and return the dependency override request forms and supporting documentation to the Financial Aid Office. You must submit a personal statement along with three letters consisting of one from a personal source and two letters from professional third parties, and any supporting documentation. Appeals will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and all information will be kept confidential. The submission of an appeal does not guarantee appeal approval.

Upon receipt of a Dependency Status Appeal Form and supporting documentation, the Financial Aid Office will review the student’s circumstance and documentation. Students with special situations that qualify for a dependency override will be deemed an independent student for the current aid year.

The Financial Aid Office will notify students via their Message Center when the result of their dependency override request has been determined.

Supporting Documentation

Students are required to submit supporting documentation with their appeal. The supporting documentation will vary depending on the student’s unusual circumstances. Students must provide documentation for each parent. For the conditions which qualify for a dependency override, the following items are requested:

Use the dependency override request forms to collect signed statements from a personal source and a third-party professional that document the student’s special situation as they relate to the parent in question. The written statement is required for both parents, one written statement from a third-party professional that documents the student’s special situation as they relate to both parents is acceptable or 2 statements, one for each parent. This person should know and understand the student’s current circumstances. Examples of third-party professionals are:

• Current/former teacher
• Counselor (school or wellness)
• Social worker
• Members of clergy
• Employer
• Law Enforcement Authority or Agency

Third-Party Professional Letters should document the following:

• A signed statement from a third-party professional should be on the letterhead of the business or organization that they represent. If letterhead is not obtainable, the person’s name, title, phone number, business/organization, and address should be included.
• The student’s name as it appears in our records
• The relationship between the professional and the student should be stated

The Financial Aid Office may contact third-party professionals who provide supporting documentation.

Apply for an Initial Dependency Override

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
2. Print and complete the Dep Status Override Appeal-23-24.
3. Provide IRS transcripts for Tax Returns & Wages or Verification of Non-filing
4. Provide a personal statement indicating your relationship with your biological/adopted parent(s).
5. Print and have at least one (1) letter from a personal source and letter(s) from professional third party.
6. Submit all forms and supporting documentation to our office.
7. Allow 1-2 weeks for the dependency override request to be processed.

Renew Your Dependency Override

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
2. Allow 7-10 business days for FAFSA to be received and processed. The Financial Aid will process the renewal automatically.
3. Allow 1-2 weeks for the dependency override request to be processed.