UnusualCircumstances TheFAFSASimplification Act provides a clearer directive for FAAs to assist applicants with unusual circumstances to adjust their dependency status on the FAFSA form to reflect students’ situations more accurately (dependency overrides). Like other professional judgments, institutions must inform students of their ability to request an adjustment for unusual circumstances by publicly posting the option on their website. AnFAAmayconductdependencyoverridescase-by-caseforstudentswithunusualcircumstances.IftheFAA determinesthatanoverrideisappropriate,theymustmaintainthedeterminationwithanysupporting documentation. Dependencyoverrides UnderHEASec.480(d)(9),theFAFSASimplificationActincorporatedadditionalunusualcircumstancesto consider whenastudentcannotcontactaparentorwherecontactwithparentsposesarisktosuchstudent. Unusualcircumstancesdoinclude: ● Human trafficking, as described in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.); ● Legallygrantedrefugeeorasylumstatus; ● Parentalabandonmentorestrangement;or ● Studentorparentalincarceration. Unusualcircumstancesdonotinclude: ● Parentsrefusetocontributetothestudent’seducation. ● ParentswillnotprovideinformationfortheFAFSAorverification. ● Parentsdonotclaimthestudentasadependentforincometaxpurposes. ● Thestudentdemonstratestotalself-sufficiency. Anaidadministratormayoverrideonlyfromdependenttoindependent(though,assuggestedearlier,ifan independentstudentreceivessubstantial support from others, a school may use PJ to adjust the COA or FAFSA data items, such as untaxed income). CALGRANT Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a Cal Grant-eligible institution. The California Student Aid Commission offers state-funded grants to students. Students who would like to be considered for this grant must complete a FAFSA by the deadline published annually in the FAFSA and may also need to submit a GPA Verification to the California Student Aid Commission. For moreinformationabouttheCalGranteligibilityrequirements,visit https://www.csac.ca.gov/students GeneralCalGrantEligibility Requirements All Cal Grant applicants must: ● BeCaliforniaresidents. ● BeU.S.citizensoreligiblenon-citizens. ● AttendaneligibleCalifornia-qualifying post-secondary institution. ● Beenrolledatleasthalf-time. ● Maintainsatisfactoryacademicprogressasdefinedattheschoolofattendance. ● Havefamilyincomeandassetsbelowtheestablishedceilings. ● Notbeindefaultonanystudentloan. ● Notoweanyfederalorstategrantrefund. 103