A petition to make a patent application special may be filed without fee in which of the following scenarios?

In the context of U.S. patent law, a petition to make a patent application special can indeed be filed without a fee under specific circumstances. One of the circumstances allowing for fee-exempt status is when the applicant claims to be aged 65 years or older. This provision is intended to support inventors who may face challenges due to age, ensuring that they receive expedited processing of their patent applications.

Age is a pertinent factor in granting these special petition requests, reflecting a recognition of potential vulnerabilities faced by older applicants. The specific age threshold of 65 aligns with policies designed to assist seniors in various contexts, including the examination of patent applications without the associated fees.

In the given scenarios, the scenario where the applicant states they are 65 years old is the correct one that aligns with the rules governing fee exemptions for petitions to expedite patent applications. Other options may present related circumstances but do not meet the established criteria for fee waiver eligibility based on age.