An “Unusual Circumstance” or Dependency Appeal allows Ozarks Tech to change your dependency status on the FAFSA if you cannot safely or reasonably provide parent information.
Sometimes, the standard FAFSA questions don’t tell your whole story. While the federal government has strict definitions for who is considered an “independent” student, we recognize that some students face unusual circumstances that make it impossible or unsafe to provide parental information.
At Ozarks Tech, we are committed to reviewing these situations with care and sensitivity.
What qualifies as an Unusual Circumstance?
An “Unusual Circumstance” is a unique situation that allow a student who would normally be required to provide parent information on their FAFSA to be considered “independent” for financial aid purposes. Independent students are not required to provide parent information on their FAFSA.
Common reasons for being Independent
- Homelessness: You are unaccompanied and either homeless, or self-supporting and at risk of being homelessness.
- Foster Care: You were in foster care at any time since you turned 13.
- Orphan Status: Both of your parents are deceased.
- Safety & Abandonment: You have been abandoned by your parents, or it is unsafe
- Incarceration: Your only living parent is currently incarcerated.
What does not qualify
Federal regulations are very specific. Per Department of Education rules, the following reasons do not qualify as unusual circumstances on their own:
- Your parents do not want to help you pay for college.
- Your parents do not claim you as a dependent on their income taxes.
- You live on your own and pay all of your own bills (self-supporting).
- Your parents refuse to provide information on the FAFSA.
How to change your dependency status
- Submit Your FAFSA: Complete the FAFSA as an independent student (indicating you have unusual circumstances).
- Watch your OTC student email account: Someone from Ozarks Tech’s Student Success team will email you, usually within 2 weeks, to discuss your situation.
- Provide Evidence: After speaking with Student Success, you may be asked to complete a short online application and document your situation. Documentation can include letters from social workers, counselors, clergy members, court documents, police reports, or something else. Everything you say or provide is confidential to the extent permitted by law.
- Review: Once all documentation is submitted, the college will review your circumstance and inform you of its decision. Decisions usually take 2 weeks after receiving your request, but can take up to 60 days.