While your initial financial aid offer is based on the information you provided on your FAFSA, we also know that there are times when that original information may no longer reflect your current situation.  The U.S. Department of Education allows you the opportunity to request updates to your information to better reflect reality in certain situations.  There are two application categories for such types of situations, and a student may qualify under one or both categories.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:

"Special Circumstances" refer to unexpected events or changes in you or your family's financial situation that cause the family to be unable to help the student pay for school as they would have in the past.  These events or changes could have resulted in either a decrease in income or unusual expenses, or both.  The Financial Aid Office might be able to make changes to the data provided on your FAFSA or your cost of attendance (COA) as appropriate.

These "special circumstances" may include but are not limited to:

• Reduction in your or your family's income (loss of employment, reduction in earnings, loss of a parent/spouse, etc.);
• Separation, divorce, or new marriage;
• Family financial tragedy (fire/destruction of home, catastrophic expenses, etc.);
• Change in family size;
• Medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance (incurred during the current enrollment period);
• Tuition expenses at a primary or secondary school;
• Child or dependent care expenses; and
• Many other financial issues.

UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES:

"Unusual Circumstances" refer to certain situations where a student may have their dependency status changed on the FAFSA from dependent to independent.

Your dependency status (dependent versus independent) is important.  In general, if you are a dependent student, you are expected to provide both you and your parent's personal and financial information on your FAFSA.  The FAFSA then assumes that you have the combination of both you and your parent(s) financial resources to fund your education.  Therefore, you may have less need for financial aid and it may lower your financial aid eligibility overall.

If you are an independent student, you are expected to provide only you (and your spouse's, if married) personal and financial information on your FAFSA.  Since the FAFSA is determining your need for financial aid based on your information alone, this may impact your financial aid eligibility.

"Unusual Circumstances" may include but are not limited to:

• Being separated from your parent(s) and their support through no fault of your own, including an abusive or threatening environment;
• Living with/being supported by someone other than your parent(s) due to paternal abandonment/incarceration;
• Being unaccompanied and homeless/not having permanent adequate housing;
• Being in the U. S. on a qualified refugee or asylee visa status and are separated from parents;
• Parents are not U.S. citizens/residents and are not able to provide support;
• Being separated from your parents based upon having been the victim of human trafficking; and
• Many other unusual family circumstances.

"Unusual Circumstances" do NOT include:

• Parental refusal to contribute to your education;
• Parent(s) will not provide information on the FAFSA or Verification (if required);
• Parent(s) do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes; or
• Student demonstrates financial self-sufficiency.

TALK WITH THE EXPERTS!

You may find that you meet one or both categories and, while not always guaranteed, scheduling an appointment to meet with a staff member in the Financial Aid Office to discuss your situation may allow us to increase the amount of financial aid funding available to you.  It will be helpful if you download and complete the Special-Unusual Circumstances - Student Application Form linked below and bring the completed form and any documentation to your appointment.  We look forward to seeing you!

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