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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 new mobile site that allows you to upload documents, sign and submit your appeal from your desktop, tablet or smartphone.

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

2023/2024 SAP Appeal
Fall 2023 - November 30, 2023
Spring 2024 - May 3, 2024
Summer 2024 - August 1, 2024

 

Second Level Appeal

2023/2024 Appeal to the Director Form

Appeal to the Director

2023/2024 Director Appeal
Fall 2023 - December 15, 2023
Spring 2024 - May 17, 2024
Summer 2024 - August 9, 2024

Appeal to the Director Requirements:

  • Complete Appeal to the Director Form
  • 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 counselingdepartment@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.
Only submit if your SAP Appeal was denied and you have additional statements and/or documentation.

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.

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. If you had a Dependency Override approved in the prior year, please fill out the Dependency Override Continuation Form.

2023/2024 Dependency Override Forms (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Summer 2024) 

2023/2024 Paper FAFSA Form

2023/2024 Dependency Override Form

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

2024/2025 Paper FAFSA Form

2024/2025 Dependency Override Form

Homelessness | Unaccompanied Youth

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

Income Special Circumstances

Projected Year Income Request (Changes in Income)

2023/2024 Income Change for Parent-Dependent Students

2023/2024 Income Change for Student-Independent Students

The Financial Aid Office may be able to adjust data items used to calculate your expected family contribution (EFC) 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