The Financial Aid Administrator (FAA) may administer reviews to allow an assessment without reference
to the step-parent’s financial information if the student’s situation meets all of the following criteria:
• The step-parent is refusing to support the student;
• The step-parent does not support the student directly or indirectly, and has not done so since the
union.

Note: If the student resides in the parental home and the natural parent has minimal income, the stepparent may be deemed to have indirectly supported the student.

Documentation required:
• A letter from the student detailing the situation and their relationship with their step-parent.
• A letter from the natural parent providing the date of marriage or common law union, a description
of any prenuptial arrangements regarding the support of the children, and an explanation of how
the natural parent has supported the student since the union.
• A signed letter from the step-parent explaining the reason(s) why he or she will not support the
student.
• A copy of the prenuptial agreement/marriage contract, if one exists.
• If prior year taxable income for the natural parent has not been verified (on the OSAP application),
a copy of the natural parent’s CRA Notice of Assessment for the prior year.

Additional documentation if the parent union occurred before the student turned 16 years of age:
• Evidence of formal arrangements/prenuptial agreements that show the step-parent is not directly or
indirectly contributing to the student’s expenses;
o The document must be signed by both parents, and witnessed by at least two individuals
and dated prior to the marriage;
o If signed by witnesses only and not notarized or done in consultation with a lawyer, the
name and address of witnesses and date of witness signatures must be included on the
document;
• A family budget completed by the natural parent indicating their actual monthly gross and net
income, their expenses and the amount of support they provide to the student.