From: SFS Mail <sfsmail@pobox.upenn.edu>
Date: On Monday, October 13th, 2025Thank you for contacting our Student Registration and Financial Services office, to make your inquiry. We understand that every family has a unique set of circumstances. With regard to your question, if the non-custodial parent refuses or is unable to participate in the financial aid process or you have no contact with them, you have several alternatives available to you in order to satisfy this requirement.
In lieu of the Non-Custodial CSS Profile, you can submit a detailed letter, explaining your special set of circumstances. Please be explicit as possible in this letter, so that we may fully grasp the situation, as it relates to the non-custodial parent. This letter will need to be authenticated, or signed off on, by select members of your community, i.e., a school guidance counselor, family therapist, clergy person, or attorney. There is no actual waiver form provided by our office. We can also accept the CollegeBoard NCP waiver form in addition to the above requirements.
You could also have a letter or letters, written on your behalf, by one of the aforementioned individuals. Any supporting legal documentation you have would also serve to help authenticate your claim. Once this information is submitted to our office, it will be added to the student’s file, and be reviewed by one of our Advisors. Advisors are responsible for creating the Financial Aid Award Decisions. Lastly, If additional information is required, after review, then our office will contact you, accordingly. However, you will still need to complete and submit the CSS Profile form, to the best of your ability, using your custodial parent’s information. You can either fax (215) 573-5428 or upload the information directly to our office via Online document submission form (see below).
Online Document Submission Form
I hope you have found this information to be helpful. If you should have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our Student Registration and Financial Services office at (215) 898-1988 and one of our Student Service Center Counselors will be more than happy to assist you. Thank you for allowing me to be of service to you and enjoy your day!
Best,
University of Pennsylvania | Franklin Building, 1st Floor