Unusual Circumstance Process

Unusual Circumstance Process

In general, parental information is required on the FAFSA for all dependent students. However, there may be family situations where a dependent student cannot provide parental information due to an Unusual Circumstance. Under HEA Sec. 480(d)(9), the FAFSA Simplification Act incorporated additional unusual circumstances to consider when a student is unable to contact a parent or where contact with parents poses a risk to such student.

Unusual Circumstances may include the following situations: 

• Student’s parent(s) are incarcerated,
• Student left home due to an abusive family environment,
• Student is victim of human trafficking,
• Student has been granted refugee or asylee status,
• Student was abandoned by or estranged from parent(s) and have not been adopted.  

The following circumstances would not be considered an unusual circumstance:

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

If this doesn't describe your situation, please contact a Student Financial Counselor or call 616.732.1130 or 866.774.0004 to discuss your situation in more detail. 

If the above does describe your situation, please submit the following documentation to the Student Financial Services Office for consideration:

• Personal Statement from Student and Supporting Documentation
  • Provide a letter explaining why you should be considered independent. Describe the circumstances of the separation from your parent(s) and the current status of your relationship with them now, when you last had contact with your parent(s) and how you are supporting yourself and where you are currently living. The statement should be sent with support documentation (for example: death certificate, medical statement indicating parent is institutionalized parent, legal paperwork of incarceration, or protection/restraining order). 

OR if the above-mentioned documentation is not available the student can provide the following secondary documentation along with the student’s personal statement and request form (as described above):

• Secondary Support Letter
  • Provide a letter from a relative or friend who is aware of your family’s situation. The letter must state the writer’s first and last name, address, phone number, and relationship to you, along with his/her account of the events that led to your separation from your parent(s), and the nature of your relationship with your parent(s) as he/she understands it to be currently. The letter should be signed (wet or e-signed) and dated by the individual.
• Professional Letter
  • Provide a letter from a professional adult to verify the family circumstances you described in your personal statement and should address your relationship with both parents. The letter must be signed, dated, and on his/her company’s letterhead. Professional adults include, but are not limited to, clergy members, guidance counselors, teachers, doctors, family counselors, mental health professionals, and law enforcement officers.  

In addition to the above, please provide a copy of your Federal tax return, W-2 forms, and/or proof of untaxed income received in the year of income being reported on the FAFSA, and the Institutional Verification Form - This form can be found under the Forms section of the website. After reviewing the request, a Student Services Counselor will reach out to you if additional documentation is needed.

The Department of Education requires Special or Unusual Circumstance to be reviewed by the school within 60 days from date of enrollment or date of submission, whichever is later. However, Davenport typically processes these requests in a much quicker manner. Students will be notified in writing by the Financial Services office of the decision of their request. All documentation submitted to the SFS office will be kept strictly confidential.