Special Circumstances 10/9/2019 Special Circumstances Student Financial Services Welcome! Advisors/staff that send students my way are appreciated. Gloria Barker Student Financial Services Advisor

Policy for Special Circumstances 10/9/2019 Policy for Special Circumstances “In an effort to provide the financial means necessary for students to attend the university, the federal government allows the institution to employ professional judgment when students document special, or extenuating, circumstances.” Student Financial Services at Washington State University considers the following circumstances to be valid reasons for re-evaluation of a students’ financial aid eligibility: Loss of Student/Parent Income Student/Family Medical/Dental expenses Increased expenses resulting from parents attending college or family members attending private school Special Circumstance Appeals can be submitted for students or parents that have a unique family situation where the financial information listed on their FAFSA or WASFA does not currently reflect their current financial situation. Any qualifying situation (with its corresponding documentation) can be considered once for adjustment. We will not adjust for the same situation more than once.

Application Covers the Following: 10/9/2019 Application Covers the Following: Change in Income for Parent Change in Income for Dependent Student Change in Income for Independent Student Parent Medical/Dental Expenses Independent Student Medical/Dental Expenses Parent Attending College Parent Federal Loans in Repayment Private School Tuition Expenses The application is on the financial aid website - front page – under Forms The goal when processing these appeals is to reduce EFC. This is an appeal to their current award package.

10/9/2019 This is what the application form looks like online. As the student fills in the required fields, the form will auto-populate more options.

Appeal Submission Requirements 10/9/2019 Appeal Submission Requirements Completed online application Letter of Explanation Supportive documentation (last pay stub or a letter from employer stating the last day of work, legal documentation, unemployment benefits stub, etc.) Note: Application allows for the following two calendar years due to the federal regulation using prior-prior year information on the FAFSA. Student/Parent will receive request for additional information if needed (RI). General Instructions. If they are choosing for example, 2018 for a change in income, they will need to provide their 2018 SIGNED tax return. 2019 – the Estimated Year Income worksheet to be filled out completely with income earned and projected to be earned. Each situation request has different documentation for verifying

Common Reasons for Change of Income 10/9/2019 Common Reasons for Change of Income Loss of Job Reduction in pay/hours Quit job to begin school Death in the Family Family financial situation changes This is not for when (for example) a family wins the lottery, as that is still considered earned income

Requirements: Medical/ Dental Online application Letter of explanation 10/9/2019 Medical/ Dental Requirements: Online application Letter of explanation Schedule A of the tax year they are choosing as their appeal time frame Medical and dental expenses are reduced from the FAFSA Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), so a reduction will only occur when family payments exceed the federal Income Protection Allowance (IPA). The situation must have occurred and been paid to be eligible for review. The Schedule A from the tax return is what is used for this review. We will also do revision requests in this instance to increase budget to allow for additional loan funding.

Requirements: Parent in College Online application 10/9/2019 Parent in College Requirements: Online application Documentation of expenses (tuition, books, and course related supplies). Must have parent’s name on the documentation and the parent must be listed on the FAFSA. Expenses can only be considered for the chosen appeal time frame. Expenses covered or reimbursed by an employer or a training program are not considered. Costs are reduced from the FAFSA’s stated AGI. The situation must have occurred and been paid.

Private School Tuition Expenses 10/9/2019 Private School Tuition Expenses Requirements: Online application Documentation of the tuition and other expenses (ie., copy of tuition statement, cancelled checks, etc.) Proof of personal payment For Elementary and/or Secondary School Expenses. Expenses can be considered for the appeal time frame. Expenses are reduced from the AGI. The situation must have occurred and been paid.

Parent Loans in Repayment 10/9/2019 Parent Loans in Repayment Requirements: Online application Documentation showing type of loan and the student’s name Parent name must be on the FAFSA Documentation of appeal time frame payments The situation must have occurred and been paid.

Special Circumstance Appeals 10/9/2019 Special Circumstance Appeals Special Circumstance Appeals can be submitted for students or parents that have a unique family situation where the financial information listed on their FAFSA or WASFA does not currently reflect their current financial situation. An appeal may be submitted once per academic year. Any qualifying situation (with its corresponding documentation) can be considered once for adjustment. We will not adjust for the same situation more than once.

Questions or comments: specialcircumstances@wsu.edu 10/9/2019 Thank You! Questions or comments: specialcircumstances@wsu.edu

Revision Request Andy Lehr SFS Partner Conference 2019

What is a Revision Request? Submitted because a student has certain unanticipated expenses. An approved revision request increases the cost of attendance which in turn may then be funded by additional loan funding (if eligible).

Valid Requests Computer Costs Grade level Change Graduate Non-Resident Special Fees (Winter Session, WSU Medical Insurance, EMBA/MBA, Summer Session) Books and Supplies Transportation Costs (Commute or repairs) Rent/Mortgage Work Study to Loan Travel

Requirements and Limits Computer Costs- Receipt or Estimate; $2000; One time revision Books and Supplies; Receipt or estimate; Over budget Transportation Costs; (repairs) Receipts or estimates; (commute/repairs); over $717/sem; $1750/semester $3500/year total. Rent/Mortgage; Lease/Proof of mortgage payment or notarized letter; Over $794/month, up to $1000/month Travel; Receipts/letter from Dept. head; Travel, lodging, registration fees; Once annually Work Study; If started, letter from employer with last date of funding earned.

Revision Request

Questions?