Dependency Appeals

Dependency Appeals

The law governing Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs is based on the premise that the family is the first source of the student’s support. The law provides several criteria that indicate whether a student is considered independent of their parents when determining eligibility for financial aid. The criteria are indicated on the FAFSA and can be found at studentaid.gov. 

Financial Aid and Scholarships has the authority, through Section 480(d)(7) of the Higher Education Act, to change a student’s dependency status on a case‐by‐case basis for students with unusual circumstances. 

Federal regulations specifically prohibit schools from processing a dependency override for any of the following reasons:

• Parents refuse to contribute to the student's education.
• Parents are unwilling to provide information on the application or for verification.
• Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
• Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.

Please Note: If you are an unaccompanied youth and homeless, or at risk of homelessness, please submit the UBalt Maryland Foster Care & Homeless Youth Tuition Waiver Application.

The federal government believes that students and their parents have the primary responsibility to pay for education. However, the government recognizes exceptions to this rule. Students may appeal this ruling based on extreme circumstances. According to the government, an independent student is someone who is/was any one of the following general requirements:

• Be 24 years of age or older by December 31 of the award year;
• Be an orphan (both parents deceased), ward of the court, in foster care or was a ward of the court when 13 years or older;
• Be a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States or serving on active duty for other than training purposes;
• Be a graduate or professional student;
• Be a married individual;
• Have legal dependents other than a spouse;
• Be an emancipated minor or in legal guardianship;
• Be a homeless youth

The financial aid administrator, in determining a dependency override, focuses on truly exceptional circumstances and consideration of individual cases. These practices may include making dependency overrides in situations when a student’s parent cannot be located or where an otherwise dependent student has been a victim of domestic violence and is no longer residing with his/her parents.

A dependency override can be made only to change a student’s status from dependent to independent. Financial Aid administrators cannot use professional judgment to consider a student independent solely on the basis of the student’s previous independent status or because the student is “self-supporting.”

The dependency override may not be used to make an otherwise ineligible student eligible for federal aid, or because the parents are unwilling to provide financial data or support. This request reflects the professional judgment of the Office of Financial Aid at the University of Baltimore only. You must reapply each year for consideration at UBalt or for any other institution to which you may attend.

Dependency Appeal Request 

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
2. Submit the complete form with all requirements to our office.
   1. For new students, please complete the Dependency Form with all required documents.
   2. For returning student please complete the Dependency Renewal Form.