Our office may be able to update your dependency status if you have a qualifying circumstance and documentation to support it. Examples of acceptable and unacceptable scenarios are listed below:
Examples of Unusual Circumstances considered:
- Victims of human trafficking
- Refugee or aslyee status
- Parental abandonment or incarceration
- Abusive family environment
- Parent(s) is(are) incapacitated
- Either parent became deceased after filing the FAFSA
- Unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self-supporting and at risk of homelessness
Federal guidelines stipulate the following conditions DO NOT solely qualify as circumstances meriting a dependency override:
- Parent refusal to contribute to the student's education
- Parent unwillingness to provide information on the FAFSA or to provide required verification documentation
- Parent does not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes
- Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency
Please read the descriptions of the different appeal forms to determine which best fits your situation.
Use this form if you have unusual circumstances that prevent you from providing parental information on the FAFSA, and if you wish to be considered for a dependency override. Examples of unusual circumstances include, but are not limited to:
- Abandonment by parent(s)
- An unsafe home environment
- Parents who are incarcerated or their whereabouts are unknown
Each request is carefully reviewed, and documentation is required.
Use this form to verify your status if you are, or were, an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or at risk of homelessness.
- Homeless means lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing (e.g., staying in shelters, motels, cars, or temporarily with others because you had nowhere else to go).
- Unaccompanied means you are not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.
- Youth typically refers to individuals 21 years of age or younger, or who are still enrolled in high school when submitting the FAFSA.
To better understand determining factors that are considered for this update request, please download and review the SchoolHouse Connection Flowchart.
Use this form if you are a dependent student whose parents are unwilling to provide their information on the FAFSA. Common reasons include lack of financial support or a parent’s refusal to complete the parent section.
Note: Submitting this form does not automatically change your dependency status for financial aid purposes; however, it allows our office to review your situation. If approved, you may be eligible for a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan only, without parent information on your FAFSA.
Use this form if you are a dependent student who marries after submitting the current aid year’s FAFSA to request an update to your financial aid status. Approval is not guaranteed; each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis according to federal guidelines. You must be married before the start of the semester for which you are seeking aid.
Renewal Dependency Status (Effective beginning academic year 2023-2024 forward)
Financial Aid Administrators may presume that any student who has obtained an adjustment for unusual circumstances and a final determination of independence will be considered independent for each subsequent award year at the same institution, unless the student informs the institution that their circumstances have changed or the institution has conflicting information about the student’s independence.
If we approved your appeal in a previous year, approval is based on your continuing personal situation as documented in the appeal that was initially approved.
Submitting your Appeal
Please send your appeal and supporting documentation using the Secure Document Upload
What happens next?
We will review the information you submitted. If we need additional information, you will receive an email and/or phone call notifying you of the status. Once we have everything necessary, we will make appropriate adjustments to data on your FAFSA. You will receive an email from the FAFSA processing center when we do this. Please do not make any changes to this data as doing so will cause major delays in processing your aid. Once we receive the adjusted FAFSA results, we will complete your financial aid package. You will receive an email to review and accept your financial aid in WyoRecords.
How Long Will This Take?
The actual review of documents, reprocessing of the FAFSA, and subsequent adjusting of aid can take an average of 10-15 business days. The key to making this a timely process is to watch for status updates, check your email frequently, and respond promptly to requests for additional information.
Questions?
If you have questions, or require additional information or support, please contact our office by email (finaidappeal@uwyo.edu), phone (307-766-2116), or in person (Knight Hall, Rm 174).
Prior Year Forms
