NCC has determined the following FAFSA questions will be subject to additional verification based upon historical error rate and to ensure all conflicting information (CFR 668.16 (b)(3)) is resolved prior to awarding aid. From the FAFSA application surrounding homelessness, emancipated minor, and legal guardianship will required additional documentation to validate. Students will be provided the Dependency Status Verification form to complete in Workday/DocuSign and may be requested to upload any the following documents as verification of this status.
- Legal Guardianship Documentation (Determined by court or legal residence)
- Orphan/Ward of Court Documentation (Determined by court or legal residence)
- High School Counselor Letter
- Homelessness Shelter Letter/Documentation
NCC will continue to verify the question on the FAFSA where students indicate they support children or dependents and list less than $5,000 in income and do not qualify for any means tested benefits (WIC, TANF, free and reduced lunch etc.). Students will be presented with a form in Workday to upload to resolve this conflicting information.
As of the effective date of this policy, NCC has determined we will not request additional document for students answering the question on the FAFSA indicating they were in foster care, ward of the court. In absence of any other conflicting information (CFR 668.16 (b)(3)), this will be waived for all students who still have this requirement outstanding and not requested for the remainder of the 2023-24 award year.
Dependency Override
The Dependency Status Verification form will also be used for students to request a dependent override. NCC will review students for a dependency override if the student cannot answer any of the FAFSA dependency questions as 'yes' and have extenuating circumstances. Instances of 'abuse' of 'abandonment' typically of both parents are the standards we use to evaluate whether to complete such an adjustment.
Student will be required to provide 2 supporting documents - example below
Third-Party Statement supporting the appeal from the following sources:
- Family member not the parent's involved
- Friend who's aware of the situation
- Employer/Professional who's aware of the situation
- High School Counselor
- Clerical/Clergy
- Addiction/Mental Counselor
- Case Worker or Child Welfare Authority
- On a case by case basis, supporting documentation can be waived after review of form or an interview with supporting FAA notes from the student or another third party may be used to complete this process. In this case, a financial aid team member should have a conversation with the student and this documentation will be saved in the student's file.
Students will automatically get the Dependency Status Verification form if they indicate on the FAFSA they will not be providing parent information and have an unusual circumstance. Students may also request this form to provide this information requesting an override and should then submit this completed form to financialaid@northampton.edu.
All dependency override requests will be reviewed and responded to as quickly as possible but no later than 45 days after submission.
