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Appeals & Special Circumstances

Instructions

Documents may be submitted in person, mailed by US mail, or emailed from the student’s Palomar Email account to finaid@palomar.edu. Please include your full name and Palomar ID number when emailing. Documents must be complete in order for us to accept them. We will NOT accept documents by fax.

Appeals

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal

Click here to submit a SAP Appeal using our mobile site that allows you to upload documents, sign and submit your appeal from your desktop, tablet or smartphone. If you prefer a paper copy of the SAP Appeal, please come into our office or submit this request form to have one emailed to you.

SAP Appeal Deadlines - Appeal eligibility will not be retroactive to prior terms.

2024/2025 SAP Appeal Deadlines
Fall 2024 - December 6, 2024
Spring 2025 - May 2, 2025
Summer 2025 - August 1, 2025

 

Second Level Appeal

Click here to submit a SAP Appeal using our mobile site that allows you to upload documents, sign and submit your appeal from your desktop, tablet or smartphone.  If you do not see it on your online portal, please contact us so we can add it to your account.  If you prefer a paper copy of the Second Level Appeal, please come into our office or submit this request form to have one emailed to you.

Second Level Appeal Requirements:

  • Complete Second Level Appeal (either online or request a paper copy)
  • Meet with a counselor to complete an Educational Plan. You may contact the counseling department to schedule an appointment at (760) 891-7511 or email counseling@palomar.edu for assistance.
  • Submit Appeal, Educational Plan & other supporting documents to the Financial Aid Office by the published appeal deadline.

Appeal eligibility will not be retroactive to prior terms.

2024/2025 Second Level Appeal Deadlines
Fall 2024 - December 20, 2024
Spring 2025- May 16, 2025
Summer 2025 - August 8, 2025

Unusual Circumstances

Dependency Override

DOE (Department of Education), allows schools to exercise “Professional Judgment” in determining a student’s dependency status in certain situations where the relationship between you and your parent(s) has been compromised in a serious and ongoing way. If there are unusual circumstances where you cannot provide your parent information on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or the CADAA (CA Dream Act Application), the Financial Aid Office at Palomar College may be able to perform a Dependency Override to make you an independent student for financial aid purposes. Also, if you are considered provisionally Independent after you filled out your FAFSA, we will need a Dependency Override form submitted so we can confirm your status.

The following are examples of circumstances that may considered for a Dependency Override:

  • An abusive family environment
  • Abandonment and/or estrangement by parents
  • Incarceration or institutionalization of both parents
  • Parents cannot be located

The following circumstances would NOT be considered for a Dependency Override:

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

If you would like the Financial Aid Office to review your unusual circumstances to see if a Dependency Override would be appropriate, you can locate the form below.

2024/2025 Dependency Override Forms (Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025) 

2024/2025 Paper FAFSA Form

2024/2025 Dependency Override Form

Unhoused | Unaccompanied Youth

DOE (Department of Education), allows schools to exercise “Professional Judgment” in determining a student’s dependency status as it relates to unhoused and/or unaccompanied youth. If you are a 1) unaccompanied and unhoused, or 2) unaccompanied, self-supporting, and at-risk of being an unhoused youth, please contact the Financial aid office to schedule an appointment to meet with a Financial Aid Advisor for determination of your status at (760) 744-1150 ext 2366

Income Special Circumstances

Projected Year Income Request (Changes in Income)

2024/2025 Income Change for Parent-Dependent Students

2024/2025 Income Change for Student-Independent Students

The Financial Aid Office may be able to adjust data items used to calculate your Student Aid Index (SAI) and your financial need if special circumstances exist that affect your ability to contribute towards the cost of education.

**Your Financial Aid file MUST be complete before you can submit a Special Circumstances Request