Special Circumstances

Professional Judgment Appeals

There are some instances that you may find that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is not a true reflection of your family’s current circumstance. Bridgewater College will review a change to your family’s situation or special expenses not considered on the FAFSA.

Bridgewater College must receive copy of FAFSA before review can be started. If unable to file a FAFSA, please include why in your appeal. If your FAFSA was chosen for the verification process, verification must be completed before your appeal can be reviewed.

Note:
Appeals in the Current School Year – once a current FAFSA has been submitted, a review can be done during the current academic year.
Appeals in the Next School Year – once the student is admitted to Bridgewater College and their FAFSA for the enrolled academic year is available, submitted and imported into Bridgewater College’s database.

You must provide proper written documentation of your appeal (see below for specifics). The documentation will be used to evaluate your changes and determine if an adjustment can be made to a field reported on the FAFSA to present a more realistic picture of your family’s ability to contribute to the cost of education.

Each request is considered on a case-by-case basis. Adjustments of financial aid awards are subject to the availability of funds. You may be asked for further documentation.

If approved, the Financial Aid office will make the necessary changes on the FAFSA to be submitted to the Department of Education, the student will be emailed, and awards updated.
If denied, the student will be notified by email.

Special Financial Circumstances Appeal

Special Circumstances Appeal Information .pdf

Situation	Documentation Required
Dependent Care Elder Care expense (Parents of Dependent Students) Child care expenses (of Independent Students)	Signed letter from student and/or parent explaining situation Paid invoice from provider or letter on letterhead
Student’s parent died after FAFSA was filed	Signed letter from student and/or surviving parent explaining situation Copy of Death Certificate Copy of parent’s tax returns, all schedules and W2’s Documentation of surviving parent if receiving survivor’s benefits
Medical/Disability expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance	Signed letter from student and/or parent explaining situation Itemized list & copies of bills, cancelled checks/credit card payments reflecting payments toward those bills
Student’s parents separated or divorced after FAFSA was filed	Signed letter from student and/or parent explaining situation Parents’ Federal Tax Return, all schedules and W2’s Copy of divorce decree or letter from a lawyer indicating the date of separation or filing for divorce
Significant Income Reduction Employment Retirement Child Support Alimony	Signed letter from student and/or parent explaining situation Parents’ Federal Tax Return and W2’s Documentation from employer, copy of unemployment benefits, copy of last pay stub from previous employer (if applicable) Signed letter from source regarding child support and/or alimony payments Copy of any benefits received as part of retirement-severance package
Other special circumstances	Signed letter, Parents’ Federal Tax return and W2’s, and documentation explaining: Maintenance of two households for employment purposes One-time income and itemized explanation of expenses paid from that income Support of extended family

If you have other circumstances not addressed above, please send a signed letter, Parents’ Federal Tax return and W2’s, as well as any documentation supporting your situation. Mail, fax, or scan the necessary documents to the Office of Financial Aid.

Fax: 540-828-5671
Scan/Email: finaid@bridgewater.edu
Mail:
Office of Financial Aid
Bridgewater College
402 E. College St., 27
Bridgewater, VA 22812

Unusual Circumstance (Independence) Appeal

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) stipulates certain requirements that you must meet to qualify for financial aid as an independent student. If you do not meet specified criteria, you must be evaluated as a dependent student, meaning your parents must provide their information. In rare instances, a student may have extenuating circumstances that are not identified when completing the FAFSA. This request process allows the student to document special circumstances that MAY permit a dependency override.

What circumstances DO NOT justify a dependency override?

Parents refuse to contribute to student’s education;
Parents are unwilling to provide information on FAFSA or for verification;
Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for tax purposes;
Student does not live with or communicate with their parents;
Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency;
Student does not “get along” with parent.

What makes a student Independent?

Your student dependency status is based on your responses to specific questions on the FAFSA. For financial aid purposes, regulations define an independent student as one who meets at least one of the following conditions.

FAFSA Independent Questions	Required Documentation
Were you born before January 1, 2003?	Your submitted FAFSA confirms your birthdate
As of today, are you married? (Also answer “Yes” if you are seperated but not divorced.)	Copy of marriage certificate
Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training?	Documentation to support you are serving on active duty
Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?	Copy of your DD214 (military separation form)
Do you now have or will you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027?	Child’s birth certificate (and) Letter explaining that your children receive more than half of their financial support from you
Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2027?	Letter explaining that your dependents receive half of their support from you
At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?	Copy of parents’ death certificate Court documentation
Does someone other than your parent or stepparent have legal guardianship of you as determined by a court in your state of legal residence? This does not include custody agreements.	Court determination that student was in legal guardianship or an emancipated minor before the age of 18
At any time on or after July 1, 2025, did a High school or school district homeless liaison Director or designee of a HUD-funded shelter The director or designee of a Federal TRIO program or a Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate program (GEAR UP) grant. Determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?	Letter from • High school or school district homeless liaison • Director or designee of a HUD-funded shelter • Director or designee of a Federal TRIO program or GEAR UP program.

A student who does not meet any of the above conditions is classified as a Dependent student.

Mail/fax/scan the necessary documents in regards to your situation listed above to the Office of Financial Aid.

Fax: 540-828-5671
Scan/Email: finaid@bridgewater.edu
Mail:
Office of Financial Aid
Bridgewater College
402 E. College St., 27
Bridgewater, VA 22812

What circumstances MAY justify a dependency override?

Unusual Circumstances

Parental alcohol abuse
Parental substance abuse
Parental mental incapacity
Abusive home situation which is dangerous to student’s physical or mental well-being
Death of a parent in a single family household
Other special circumstances

Required Documentation

1. Completed 2026-2027 FAFSA (FAFSA.gov)
2. Student’s Personal letter including

explanation of special circumstances
current relationship status with parents
last date you lived with and communicated with parents and current living arrangements
how you provide own necessities (shelter, food, transportation, medical care)

3. Professional letter (signed) on letterhead or notarized explaining the special circumstances. Letter should include a phone number and address where the individual can be contacted if we have any questions. Acceptable examples of professionals:

Counselor, teacher, medical authority, attorney, government agency (police or court official), social worker or clergy

4. Reference letter (signed) from someone whom has personal knowledge of the situation. Letter should include a phone number and address where the individual can be contacted if we have any questions. Reference examples:

Friend, grandparents, other family members

Additional documentation that may be helpful includes:

Court documentation
Police report

Please note that an independent determination by another institution is not binding to Bridgewater College. The decision made by the BC financial aid administration is final and cannot be appealed.

Regulations require that the determination of special circumstance(s) be made each award year. A determination of independence in one year does not mean automatic independent status in a subsequent award year. Documentation must be provided each award year.

Mail/fax/scan the necessary documents in regards to your situation listed above to the Office of Financial Aid.

Fax: 540-828-5671
Scan/Email: finaid@bridgewater.edu
Mail:
Office of Financial Aid
Bridgewater College
402 E. College St., 27
Bridgewater, VA 22812

Documentation of Homeless & Unaccompanied Youth

The FAFSA states that to qualify as a homeless or unaccompanied youth the student must submit documentation which demonstrates that you are either homeless or unaccompanied and at risk of being homeless, or any combination thereof. Please submit the documentation for the scenario which best describes your situation.

To qualify as a Homeless or Unaccompanied Youth you must be either:

Unaccompanied and homeless or,
Unaccompanied, self-supporting, and at risk of being homeless,

FAFSA Definitions of Unaccompanied and Homeless:

Unaccompanied: not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian, (this means parents or guardians are unable to provide fixed, regular, and adequate housing).
Homeless: lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing
Self-supporting: pays all living expenses, including fixed, regular, and adequate housing
At risk of being homeless: student’s housing may cease to be fixed, regular, and adequate.

At any time on or after July 1, 2025, were you declared homeless or unaccompanied and at risk of being homeless by:

Declared Homeless by:	Send Requested Documents to BC Financial Aid Office:
A McKinney-Vento school district liaison (Every school district in the U.S. is required to have a liaison.)	McKinney-Vento letter designating homeless or risk of homelessness status.
The director or designee of a HUD funded emergency or transitional shelter, street outreach program, homeless youth drop-in center, or other program serving individuals who are experiencing homelessness.	Documentation from program which declared you homeless or at risk.
The director or designee of a Federal TRIO program or a Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program (GEAR UP) grant.	Documentation from Trio or GEAR UP programs.
A Financial Aid Professional at another College or University.	Documentation of previous decision, and documents provided to College or University.
I do not have any documentation, but still believe I am homeless, at risk of being homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless.	Write a personal letter explaining your situation. *This may require additional documentation; the Financial Aid Office will reach out with further instructions after receiving the letter.
I do not qualify under any of the above scenarios.	Please correct the FAFSA to no longer reflect that you are homeless or at risk of being homeless, and provide parent’s financial information for the FAFSA and re-submit the FAFSA with parent e-signature.

Regulations require that the determination of homeless and unaccompanied youth be made each award year. A determination in one year does not mean automatic independent status in a subsequent award year. Documentation must be provided each award year. All decisions are at the discretion of the Financial Aid Office.

*The financial aid office will use the email provided on the FAFSA to contact you with additional questions or information.

Mail/fax/scan the necessary documents in regards to your situation listed above to the Office of Financial Aid.

Fax: 540-828-5671
Scan/Email: finaid@bridgewater.edu
Mail:
Office of Financial Aid
Bridgewater College
402 E. College St., 27
Bridgewater, VA 22812

Our financial aid office will review a change to your family situation or special expenses not considered on the FAFSA. You must provide proper written documentation of your appeal. The documentation will be used to evaluate your changes and determine if an adjustment can be made in order to present a more realistic picture of your family’s ability to contribute to the cost of education. Each request is considered on a case-by-case basis. Adjustments of financial aid awards are subject to the availability of funds. You may be asked for further documentation.

Special Appeals Form

Student Name(Required)

First Last

Student ID

Student Email(Required)

Are you the student?(Required)

Yes, I am submitting this on my own behalf

No, I am submitting on behalf of the student

Submitter's Name(Required)

First Last

Relationship to the student(Required)

Submitter's Email(Required)

Reason for request(Required)

Provide a written explanation of your situation(Required)

Upload supporting document(s)(Required)

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 2 MB.

Questions? Reach out

Financial Aid Office
Phone: 540-828-5377
finaid@bridgewater.edu

Financial Aid

Professional Judgment Appeals

Special Appeals Form

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