Appeals
Dependency Override Appeal
Under Federal Regulations, students under the age of 24 are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using their own and their parent's or parents' financial information. However, if there is an unusual circumstance such as an abusive family environment, abandonment by parents, parental drug abuse or parental incarceration, a dependency override appeal may be considered. Per the Department of Education, the following circumstances do not determine your dependency status:
Parents refuse to contribute to your education
Parents are unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA or for verification
Having sufficient resources to pay for your own expenses
Parents do not claim you as a dependent for tax purposes
If you wish to appeal your dependency status, follow the submission instructions on the form. Dependency override appeal form can be found here.
Personal Circumstance
Personal Circumstance refer to changes in a student’s financial situation or life conditions that may affect their ability to pay for college. These circumstances do not impact a student’s dependency status but may allow for adjustments to the financial information used to determine aid eligibility. Examples include a loss or reduction of income, unexpected medical or dental expenses, changes in employment, or increased costs related to housing or dependent care. Morton College financial aid office reviews these situations on a case-by-case basis to more accurately reflect a student’s current financial need. Personal Circumstance appeal form can be found here.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal
Federal regulations require students to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in three areas – cumulative GPA, hours earned and maximum time frame – to be eligible for financial aid. It is the student’s responsibility to stay informed of Morton College’s Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress and to monitor their own progress. As a courtesy, Morton College will send notification to students who have not met these standards at the end of each semester.
Students who fail to meet Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress are placed on financial aid suspension. You have the right to appeal your termination. Satisfactor Academic Progress appeal form can be found here.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
Special Circumstances Appeal
A family’s prior year income is used to determine eligibility for a student’s financial need on the current FAFSA. However, since there may be circumstances that could drastically change a family’s financial situation, we may use your family’s expected income to determine your Pell grant eligibility calculation in such cases. Income must have decreased by 10% to complete this appeal. Reduction of Income form can be found here.
Unusual Circumstance
Unusual Circumstance is an unusual circumstance occurs when a financial aid administrator exercises professional judgment and overrides the Department of Education’s criteria for dependent students. An override may only be granted on a case-by-case basis for students with unusual and exceptional circumstances. These circumstances must show compelling reasons for a student to be considered independent rather than dependent. Unusual Circumstance appeal form can be found here.