Professional Judgments

A Special Circumstance Appeal may benefit students who have experienced a significant change in their financial situation that is not properly reflected on their FAFSA. Special Circumstances adjustments may increase a student's eligibility for need-based financial aid, such as a Pell Grant or Work-Study. Examples of various special circumstances include, but are not limited to:

• Loss of income (e.g., job loss, reduced pay/hours, retirement)
• One-time lump sum exclusion
• Separation or divorce
• Death of spouse, parent or parent's spouse
• Medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance
• Tuition expenses at an elementary or secondary school

A Cost of Attendance (COA) adjustment may be requested by a student experiencing education-related expenses above or outside the standard Cost of Attendance established by Tri-C. Students may request a COA adjustment through the Special Circumstances Appeal process. This allows students to request an increase in COA allowances for educational expenses, which are used to help determine a student's financial aid eligibility. An increase in students' COA typically increases student loan eligibility, if applicable.

Examples of unusually high expenses that may be used to adjust a student's COA include, but are not limited to:

• Books, course materials, equipment and supplies
• Tuition expenses at an elementary or secondary school
• Medical, dental or nursing home expenses not covered by insurance
• Child or dependent care expenses
• Travel related to a course or program requirement (e.g., clinicals)
• Disability-related expenses
• Professional credential, certification or licensure

An Unusual Circumstance Appeal may be requested by a dependent student who is unable to contact their parent(s) or where contact with their parent(s) poses a risk to the student. This is also known as a dependency override. A student who has completed their FAFSA with a provisional independent status must contact the Financial Aid and Scholarships office to determine their eligibility for an unusual circumstance appeal to be awarded federal student aid.

Examples of situations that may result in an unusual circumstance can include, but are not limited to:

• Abusive family relationship
• Parental incarceration where contact would pose a risk to the student
• Parental abandonment or estrangement
• Legally granted refugee or asylum status
• Victim of human trafficking

Students approved for an unusual circumstance appeal will be presumed independent for subsequent award years unless conflicting information is presented to the Financial Aid office.

A dependency override cannot be granted based solely on any of the following reasons:

• The student does not live in their parent's home.
• The student financially supports themself without assistance from their parents.
• Their parents do not claim the student on their federal taxes.
• Their parents cannot afford or refuse to help with college or living expenses.

Students who may not qualify for an unusual circumstance request but cannot provide parental information on their FAFSA can contact the Financial Aid office to discuss options for an unsubsidized loan-only request.

A student who qualifies as an unaccompanied homeless youth can receive a determination of independence without completing an unusual circumstance appeal. Tri-C has implemented processes to aid students who meet the criteria of an unaccompanied homeless youth or an unaccompanied and self-supporting youth at risk of being homeless based on the following definitions:

• Unaccompanied: When a student under 24 is not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian
• Homeless: Lacking fixed, regular and adequate housing
• At-risk of being homeless: When a student's housing may cease to be fixed, regular and adequate — for example, a student who is being evicted and has been unable to find fixed, regular and adequate housing
• Self-supporting: When a student pays for their own living expenses, including fixed, regular and adequate housing

Students who can provide documentation that they have been determined homeless as designated by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act from a homeless liaison, shelter, TRIO or GEAR program may be considered an unaccompanied homeless youth if their circumstances have not changed. Students who cannot provide documentation may be granted a determination of independence on a case-by-case basis. If you are an unaccompanied homeless youth, please contact the Financial Aid and Scholarships office for guidance and view the FAFSA Tips for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth for more information.

Students must contact the Financial Aid and Scholarships office to request a Professional Judgment (PJ) review. A Financial Aid advisor will evaluate their circumstances and help them understand their options.

To continue with the request, you must:

1. Complete Financial Aid Verification: This process includes a review of your FAFSA data for accuracy. You will be required to complete verification forms and may need to provide tax and income documentation for yourself and your contributors. Verification must be completed before any PJ adjustments can be made.
2. Complete the PJ Appeal form: You must indicate the reason for your appeal and provide a detailed personal statement regarding your circumstances.
3. Submit Supporting Documentation: Documents must support your detailed personal statement and circumstances. Appeals submitted without sufficient documentation will not be approved. The Financial Aid office may request additional documentation throughout the appeal process so that we can accurately document your circumstances.

Students may be required to submit sufficient documentation to support their PJ request. The type of acceptable documentation will vary based on the circumstances. However, the chart below provides examples of documents that may be considered for common requests.

How do I request a Professional Judgment (PJ)?

Contact the Financial Aid office to make the request. You can reach us at 216-987-6000, option 2, or via email at financialaid@tri-c.edu.

How do I submit the required forms and documentation?

After you request an appeal, the Financial Aid office will upload the PJ appeal and verification tasks to your "Financial Aid" dashboard in my Tri-C space. These can be submitted electronically via the portal. If you need assistance uploading your documents, please contact the Financial Aid office.

What if I do not have the documents being requested for PJ?

Supporting documentation may be required for all PJ requests. If you are having difficulty obtaining the requested information, please contact the Financial Aid office to discuss possible alternatives.

How long will it take for my PJ request to be reviewed?

Once all requested information has been submitted, the Financial Aid office will determine the outcome of the appeal within 14 days. During peak processing times, requests may take longer to be reviewed but should not take more than 30 days.

How will I be notified of the appeal outcome?

You will receive a notification informing you of the approval or denial of the PJ request at your Tri-C student email. For additional details regarding the outcome, please contact the Financial Aid office.

My PJ request was approved. What happens next?

Please allow one to three days from being notified of the approval for financial aid award revisions or cost of attendance adjustments to be made. If you would like to request additional student loans, please contact the Financial Aid office. Approvals that require a correction to FAFSA data can take an additional five days to complete processing.

My PJ request was denied. Do I have any other options?

Contact your Financial Aid advisor for specifics regarding your denial and any other options that may be available.

Can I cancel my PJ request?

Yes, you can contact the Financial Aid office to cancel the PJ request. However, you must still complete financial aid verification to continue to receive federal student aid. The Financial Aid office will cancel incomplete appeals if there are at least 30 days of inactivity. Students may request to reopen a canceled appeal by contacting the Financial Aid office.