{"id":6630,"date":"2023-06-08T17:47:51","date_gmt":"2023-06-09T00:47:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nau.edu\/office-of-scholarships-and-financial-aid\/?page_id=6630"},"modified":"2026-07-30T16:40:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T16:40:16","slug":"petition-dependency-override","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-scholarships-financial-aid\/petition-dependency-override\/","title":{"rendered":"Petition for dependency override"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"nau-block nau-block-left-nav-top-bound\">\n    \t<button id=\"left-nav-toggle-btn\" onclick=\"toggleNav();\">\n\t\tON THIS PAGE \n\t\t<i id=\"chevron-icon\" class=\"fas fa-solid fa-chevron-down\"><\/i>\n\t<\/button>\n\t<div id=\"left-nav-menu-track\">\n\t\t<div id=\"left-nav-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"rfi-above-anchor-tags\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ri-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nau.edu\/admissions\/request-information\/\" id=\"request-info\" class=\"btn bg-true-blue left-nav-menu-bottom-button display-mobile\">Request info&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"left-nav-menu\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"menu-section menu-section-links\"><h6 class=\"hidden-mobile left-nav-list-header\">ON THIS PAGE<\/h6><ul class=\"left-nav-menu-list on-this-page\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-scholarships-financial-aid\/petition-dependency-override\/#dependency\" title=\"Understand dependency status\">Understand dependency status<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-scholarships-financial-aid\/petition-dependency-override\/#submit-petition\" title=\"Submit a petition\">Submit a petition<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-scholarships-financial-aid\/petition-dependency-override\/#financial-aid\" title=\"Financial aid processing\">Financial aid processing<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul><div class=\"ri-container\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nau.edu\/admissions\/request-information\/\" id=\"request-info\" class=\"btn bg-true-blue left-nav-menu-bottom-button display-mobile\">Request info&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"menu-section backcolor\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHOW CAN WE HELP?\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"responsive-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"link-button\" onclick=\"embedLouieChatbot();\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 20px;\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/themes\/nau-marketing-2021\/img\/icon-chat.svg\" alt=\"Live chat:\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChat\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"tel:928-523-4951\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/themes\/nau-marketing-2021\/img\/icon-phone.svg\" alt=\"Telephone:\"> 928-523-4951<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"mailto:financial.aid@nau.edu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/themes\/nau-marketing-2021\/img\/icon-email.svg\" alt=\"Email:\"><span class=\"left-nav-email\"> financial.aid&#8203;@nau.edu <\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<section class=\"nau-block left-nav-section\"><header class=\"entry-header\"><div class=\"breadcrumb\"><ol class=\"breadcrumbs\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\">IN<\/a><span class=\"breadcrumb-chevron\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&gt;<\/span><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-scholarships-financial-aid\">OSFA<\/a><span class=\"breadcrumb-chevron\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&gt;<\/span><\/li><li class=\"current\">Pages<\/li><\/ol><\/div><h1 class=\"entry-title text-left \">Petition for dependency override<\/h1><hr class=\"h1-hr  text-left \" role=\"none\"><\/header><!-- .entry-header --><\/section><!-- <section class=\"nau-block left-nav-section grid-md-12\">\n    <header class=\"entry-header\">\n        <h1 class=\"entry-title text-left \" tabindex=\"0\" id=\"h1-first\">Dummy H1<\/h1>\n        <hr class=\"h1-hr  text-left \" role=\"none\">\n    <\/header>\n<\/section> -->\n\n<section class=\"nau-block left-nav-section grid-md-12\">\n    <div class=\"page-content\">\n        \n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dependency\">Understand your dependency status<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">In order to receive financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For students under the age of 24, parental income is required on the FAFSA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">The Dependency Override&nbsp;Appeal is available for students who have unusual circumstances that may qualify them for independent status, which could have an impact on their financial aid eligibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) may be able to update a student\u2019s dependency status if the student has qualifying special circumstances and documentation to support it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">The following circumstances <strong>do not <\/strong>qualify as &#8220;unusual circumstances.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Parents are refusing to contribute to the student&#8217;s education.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parents are unwilling to provide information on the application or for verification.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parents are not claiming the students as a dependent for income tax purposes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Student is demonstrating total self-sufficiency.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<section  \n    class=\"nau-block nau-block-panels   \" \n    data-layout_mobile=\"groupLayout-Stack gutter_Default panelLayoutPhotoTextVertical  photoAspect-1-1\"\n        data-layout_tablet=\"groupLayout-Tabs gutter_Default panelLayoutPhotoTextVertical  photoAspect-1-1\"\n        data-layout_desktop=\"groupLayout-Tabs gutter_Default panelLayoutPhotoTextVertical  photoAspect-1-1\"\n        data-layout_xl=\"groupLayout-Tabs gutter_Default panelLayoutPhotoTextVertical  photoAspect-1-1\">\n\n    <div class=\"background-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"block-main-content\">\n            \n            \n                            <div class=\"tab-nav\" role=\"tablist\" aria-label=\"Tabs for  articles\">\n                                                \n                        <button data-panel=\"panel--0\"\n                            role=\"tab\"\n                            aria-controls=\"panel--0\"\n                            class=\"active bg-true-blue bg-none\"\n                            tabindex=\"0\">What is an Independent Student?<\/button>\n                                                \n                        <button data-panel=\"panel--1\"\n                            role=\"tab\"\n                            aria-controls=\"panel--1\"\n                            class=\"after-active bg-green bg-none\"\n                            tabindex=\"-1\">What if you&#8217;re not an Independent Student? <\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n            \n            \n            \n            <div class=\"panel-wrapper\">\n                \n                                \n                        <div class=\"panel bg-true-blue  panelTypeText  noHover \"\n                            data-role=\"tabpanel\"\n                            data-panel=\"panel--0\"\n                            id=\"panel--0\">\n\n                            \n                                                                    <div class=\"content\">\n                                            <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n                                                                                                <h3 class=\"h3-tab-index\">How it works<\/h3>\n                                                \n                                                                                                    <div class=\"text\">\n                                                        <p><!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"left\"} --><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">The standard definition of an Independent student is someone who meets the criteria of one or more of the following:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>is 24 years of age or older by December 31 of the award year<\/li>\n<li>is an orphan or ward of the court or was a ward of the court until the individual reached the age of 18<\/li>\n<li>is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States<\/li>\n<li>is a graduate or professional student<\/li>\n<li>is a married individual<\/li>\n<li>has legal dependents other than a spouse<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><\/p>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                \n                                                                                            <\/div>\n                                        <\/div>\n\n                                    \n                                \n                                                        <\/div>\n                    \n                        <div class=\"panel bg-green  panelTypeText  noHover \"\n                            data-role=\"tabpanel\"\n                            data-panel=\"panel--1\"\n                            id=\"panel--1\">\n\n                            \n                                                                    <div class=\"content\">\n                                            <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n                                                                                                <h3 class=\"h3-tab-index\">How it works<\/h3>\n                                                \n                                                                                                    <div class=\"text\">\n                                                        <p><!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"left\"} --><\/p>\n<p><strong>What if a student does not meet the definition of an Independent Student but cannot obtain tax information from their parent due to extenuating circumstances?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">If a student\u2019s parent(s) refuse to provide their tax information on the FAFSA due to extenuating circumstances, the student may submit a Petition for Dependency Override.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"left\"} --><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">The following are examples of extenuating circumstances that may qualify a student for a Dependency Override.\u00a0 Examples include, but are not limited to:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The student is homeless or an unaccompanied youth.<\/li>\n<li>The student or parent has been incarcerated or admitted to an institution.<\/li>\n<li>The student has experienced an abusive family environment.<\/li>\n<li>The parent(s)&#8217; whereabouts are unknown or the parent cannot be located.<\/li>\n<li>The student has been removed from the home due to unsafe living conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><\/p>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                \n                                                                                            <\/div>\n                                        <\/div>\n\n                                    \n                                \n                                                        <\/div>\n                                                <\/div>\n\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"submit-petition\">Instructions for submitting a Petition for Dependency Override<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n<!-- removed margin utility classes pt-0 mb-0 mb-md-70 mb-lg-100 -->\n<section class=\"nau-block headline-image-wysiwyg  color-scheme-blue \">\n    <header class=\"hiw-head-and-hero-wrapper\">\n\n        \n        <picture>\n            <source media=\"(min-width: 1100px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/390\/2023\/10\/0222_mpa_student_20220822-2000x1125.jpg\">\n            <source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/390\/2023\/10\/0222_mpa_student_20220822-1200x900.jpg\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/390\/2023\/10\/0222_mpa_student_20220822-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"A photo a student sitting at a booth and working on a laptop.\">\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/header>\n\n    <div class=\"hiw-innerblockwrapper  \">\n        \n        <!--h3><\/h3-->\n\n        <div class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n            <div class=\"wp-block-column\"><p>Complete the Petition for Dependency Override below or contact us for assistance. The petition must include documents that support the student\u2019s extenuating circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>Documentation may include, but is not limited to:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"block-55de1948-4f56-4efd-a429-b503a9e42ad8\" class=\"block-editor-rich-text__editable block-editor-block-list__block wp-block is-selected rich-text\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"Block: List\" data-block=\"55de1948-4f56-4efd-a429-b503a9e42ad8\" data-type=\"core\/list\" data-title=\"List\">\n<li>court documents<\/li>\n<li>police reports<\/li>\n<li>signed and dated letters from professional organizations or staff members who have knowledge about the student\u2019s extenuating circumstances (schools, churches, counseling services, physicians, etc.)<\/li>\n<li>signed and dated letters from family members who have knowledge about the extenuating circumstances<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Submitting a Petition for Dependency Override does not guarantee approval.\u00a0Our office has a 25-business day processing timeline for all appeals.\u00a0 Students will be notified of their appeal decision by email.<\/p>\n<\/div>                    <\/div>\n\n                \n        <div class=\"wp-block-buttons alignright\">\n                                        <div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-primary-blue\"><a\n                                        href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-scholarships-financial-aid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/390\/2026\/04\/Petition.DependencyOverride.pdf\"\n                                        target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-button__link\">\n                                    Petition for Dependency Override                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                                                        <div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-primary-gold\"><a\n                                        href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-scholarships-financial-aid\/contact\/\"\n                                        target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-button__link\">\n                                    Contact us                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"financial-aid\">Financial aid processing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Students approved for a Dependency Override will be packaged and receive financial awards as an Independent student. Awarding will still be based on the student\u2019s Student Aid Index (SAI). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Students who are approved for a Dependency Override shall be automatically approved for a Dependency Override for all subsequent years until the student becomes Independent by standard definitions. This normally occurs in the early summer each year but be aware that you may see the Petition for Dependency Override on your LOUIE to do list until then.<\/p>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"nau-block nau-block-left-nav-bottom-bound\">\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9263,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ring_central_script_selection":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6630","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-scholarships-financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6630","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-scholarships-financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-scholarships-financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-scholarships-financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-scholarships-financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6630"}],"version-history":[{"count":83,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-scholarships-financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6630\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14271,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-scholarships-financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6630\/revisions\/14271"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-scholarships-financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-scholarships-financial-aid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}