1. The Solution Center Special Conditions Appeals
The Financial Aid Office
Professional Judgment
Budget Appeals
Dependency Overrides

2. Objective What you will learn? Professional Judgment (PJ)
Process for a Professional Judgment Decision
Valid/Invalid Reasons for a Professional Judgment Appeal
Verification Process for PJ
Cost of Attendance (COA) Appeals
Types of COA Appeals
COA Appeal Adjustments
Dependency Overrides (DO)
Eligibility Requirements for DO
Valid/Invalid Reasons for DO
Documentation and Processing DO

3. Professional Judgment (PJ) Appeals

4. Professional Judgment
Financial Aid Staff allowed to make limited and specific adjustments
Using PJ staff can adjust data that determines EFC (Expected Family Contribution)
Adjust COA (Cost of Attendance)
Make a dependent student independent

5. Accountability School is held accountable:
For all professional judgment decisions
For fully documenting each decision
School must repay funds student received:
If poor judgment used
If adjustment made for unreasonable request
If not documented properly

6. Special Circumstances
Review of Appeals are based on:
One-time Special Circumstance
Availability of Funds
Timeliness of appeal

7. Reasons For Appeal Valid Reasons: Invalid Reasons:
Decrease in income from employment
Death of a parent or spouse
Divorce or separation after filing the FAFSA
Medical, dental, or nursing home expenses not covered by insurance
Elementary or secondary school tuition
One time income
Recent unemployment of a family member
Other changes to the family’s income or assets
Invalid Reasons:
Vacation expenses (including spring break)
Tithing & alms
Standard living expenses
Utilities
Mortgage Payments
Home Repairs
Credit card expenses
Children’s allowances
Cosmetic or elective purchases

8. Documentation
Higher Education Act and corresponding regulations use the phrase “on the basis of adequate documentation”
Should be enough that an auditor or program review must be able to gain understanding as to WHY a change is warranted as well as HOW the changes were calculated

9. Verification
Federal Guidelines require all students ‘selected for verification’ to complete verification prior to PJ
UMass Lowell Policy is that students requesting PJ are selected for verification upon submission of appeal

10. Divorce / Separation If updated at verification, is not a PJ
If verification has previously been completed, it is now PJ
If the parent has divorced and married someone new, the new spouse’s income & assets would also be included
Question & include spousal maintenance, alimony, child support
See AVG-29

11. Additional Information
Be careful handing out forms
Check EFC. If EFC is 0, Special not needed
See if FAFSA was filled out correctly
Verification can increase EFC
Don’t put a family through the process if it is not going to help the student

12. Cost of Attendance (COA) Appeals

13. COA (Cost of Attendance) Appeal Requests
Three forms for
Computer Expense
Up to $2500
One per academic career
Books & Supplies
Supplies can include scrubs, musical instruments, software, other expenses required by course or program
Other
Includes Dependent Care
Monthly Living Expenses
Transportation Expenses & Other

14. Adjustments to the Aid Package
Check to make sure there is no COA eligibility
Adjustments ONLY provide additional eligibility for loans -OR-
Reallocations from Subsidized to Unsubsidized

15. Dependency Override Appeals

16. Dependency Override Eligibility
Dependency overrides (dependent to independent) may be available for students who document unusual circumstances in their families
Reviews are done on a case by case basis
An appeal form and adequate supporting documentation is required
If the FAA determines an override is appropriate, the FAA MUST write a statement detailing the determination and MUST include the statement and supporting documentation in the student’s file
Requests must be submitted each year

17. Current UML Students with DO
Students with a Dependency Override from the prior academic year:
are contacted by the student’s financial aid counselor and
are sent the form to complete and return

18. DO at Another School
A COGNOS report identifies students who have a Dependency Override processed by another school
Student must submit appeal to UML or provide copies of documentation from other school
A checklist (LDOVR) is assigned as initiated
The counselor contacts the student to explain the situation

19. Reasons for DO Valid Reasons for a Dependency Override:
Physical, mental, emotional abuse by parents
Abandonment by the parents
Parent incarceration
Social service, police or legal intervention
Student refugee or asylum & parental location or status is unknown
Parent incapacitation (ex: coma)
Neglect by parents
Invalid Reasons for a Dependency Override:
Parents refuse to contribute to education
Parents unwilling to provide information on FAFSA
Parents unwilling to provide information for verification
Student married after filing the FAFSA
Parents don’t claim student as dependent for income tax purposes
Student lives on own / demonstrates self-sufficiency (without a qualifying situation)

20. Documentation Documentation is critical
Must include reason for the determination
Must support decision
Should originate from a third party with knowledge of the circumstances
Counselors, teachers, clergy, community groups, government agencies, medical personnel, courts, or prison administrators

21. DO Renewal Process Dependency Override is an annual determination
All students requesting an override MUST be verified
For every academic year, FAA must affirm circumstances still exist
If you are unsure of documentation, or don’t know ASK

22. Additional Information
Do not process a DO for a student who can answer YES to one of the standard dependency questions
Consider whether documentation received substantiates student’s ability to answer YES to one of the standard dependency questions