Have Your Circumstances Changed?

Life happens — and sometimes, financial or personal circumstances change after you’ve submitted your FAFSA. CSU Pueblo’s Student Financial Services team can review your situation and help determine if you qualify for additional aid or an adjustment to your FAFSA status.

If you’ve experienced a significant life change, you may be eligible to have your financial aid eligibility reevaluated. Please contact Student Financial Services at financialaid@csupueblo.edu or call (719) 549-2753 for assistance.

Special Circumstances (Professional Judgement)

The Special Circumstances process — also known as Professional Judgement — allows students or parents who experienced a financial change after submitting the FAFSA to request a review of their aid eligibility. In some cases, this review can result in additional financial assistance.

Circumstances considered for review include:

• Loss of employment or significant income change
• Large medical expenses not covered by insurance
• Separation or divorce
• Death of a parent or spouse
• Loss of child support or alimony

Circumstances that do not qualify include:

• Reduction in investments or savings
• Credit card or vehicle payments
• Parents’ unwillingness to borrow a PLUS Loan

Unusual Circumstances (Dependency Override)

The Unusual Circumstances process — also known as a Dependency Override — may change a student’s FAFSA status from Dependent to Independent in exceptional cases. Learn more about dependency status.

Situations that may qualify for a Dependency Override include:

• Parental abandonment
• Abusive family environment endangering the student’s safety
• Unable to locate or contact parents

Situations that do not qualify include:

• Parents’ refusal to contribute to education costs
• Parents’ unwillingness to complete FAFSA or verification
• Parents not claiming the student for tax purposes
• Student’s financial independence alone

Legal Guardianship

Students who report a legal guardian other than a parent on the FAFSA must provide documentation before aid can be determined.

• Submit a court document showing legal guardianship, or
• Provide a court decision confirming legal guardianship before reaching the age of majority in your state of residence.

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

A student is considered homeless if they lack fixed, regular, and adequate housing. This includes students living in shelters, temporary housing, or spaces not intended for habitation.

• Temporarily staying with others due to lack of housing
• Living in emergency or transitional shelters
• Residing in motels, cars, parks, or other non-residential locations
• Living in dormitories but would otherwise be homeless

Documentation can be provided by recognized third parties such as homeless shelters, TRIO/GEAR UP programs, counselors, social workers, mentors, doctors, or clergy. High-school liaisons may issue a McKinney-Vento letter confirming Unaccompanied Homeless Youth status. Students unable to obtain documentation may meet with the Director or Assistant Director of Financial Aid for review.