1. 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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

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

13. Revision Request Andy Lehr
SFS Partner Conference 2019

14. 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).

15. 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

16. 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.

17. Revision Request

18. Questions?