Due to varying circumstances, students and parents sometimes find the information they provided on the FAFSA no longer realistically reflects the family’s ability to contribute. When this happens, the Department of Education gives financial aid administrators the authority to adjust, on a case-by-case basis, certain elements of a student’s FAFSA information to more accurately reflect the current situation.

Students with special or unusual circumstances may choose to submit a Professional Judgment (PJ) appeal to the Office of Student Financial Services requesting their situation be reviewed.

Special Circumstances - refers to the financial situations (loss of a job, divorce, death of a parent or spouse, etc.) that justify an aid administrator adjusting data elements in the FAFSA calculation.

Unusual Circumstances - refers to the conditions that justify an aid administrator making an adjustment to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation (e.g., human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, parental abandonment, incarceration). (This is more commonly referred to as a “Dependency Override.")

NOTE: It is possible a student could have circumstances that are both special and unusual. OCC’s financial aid administrators have the authority to make those determinations by exercising professional judgment (PJ) based on the student's documented circumstance.

Requesting Professional Judgment Review

To request a professional judgment review of a special circumstance (loss of a job, divorce, death of a parent or spouse, etc.) submit the following to Student Financial Services.

· Reduction of Income Special Circumstance Form

· Letter explaining the reason for the decrease in income and any other information you think would be helpful when reviewing the situation.

· Copies of the most recent check stub for every job worked during the current calendar year for anyone listed on the FAFSA. If not available, a signed statement on company letterhead.

To request a professional judgment review of an unusual circumstances (human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, parental abandonment, incarceration) submit the following to Student Financial Services.

· Request for Review of Dependency Status Form

· A letter of appeal explaining in detail the circumstances and history behind your circumstances.

· A detailed letter written on letterhead from one or more professionals, such as a counselor, therapist, minister, attorney or social worker who is familiar with the situation.

· A detailed letter from one or more persons, such as a family friend or relative, who is familiar with the situation.

· Court documentation to verify the situation. When applicable.

Once submitted the request and all documentation will be reviewed, no later than 14 business days, to determine if the request meets the criteria for an adjustment to be made.

· If approved, appropriate changes will be made to the student's FAFSA and submitted to the Department of Education. The Department of Education will then recalculate the Student Aid Index (SAI) and the student's eligibility for need based aid. The student will be notified by email.

· If denied, the student will be notified by email.