Life Happens
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a tool used to estimate a family's ability to pay for their student's education. However, we are well aware that sometimes situations change and last year's tax information may not always provide an accurate picture of the family's financial situation. We also know that our student population is diverse and they have many different needs. To this end, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships has a number of procedures in which a student can reflect their family's special circumstance or outline their additional financial requirements. While we encourage those who fit into these categories to file an appeal, we ask that only complete and thoroughly documented appeals are submitted. If you should have any questions regarding this information, please contact us.
Special Circumstance Appeals
The federal government allows Washington State University to employ professional judgment to reevaluate a student's financial aid when students document special or extenuating circumstances. The following circumstances are considered valid reasons for reevaluating a student's financial aid eligibility (please click on a title below to expand the description).
The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Washington State University considers a change in income to be a valid reason for re-evaluating a student's financial aid eligibility. If income reported on the FAFSA is higher than what will be received during the academic year due to a loss or change in employment, divorce or separation, unusually high income originally reported on the FAFSA (like an inheritance), garnishment of wages due to bankruptcy, a death in the family, or disability of an income producing family member - our office can recalculate a student's expected family contribution (EFC) once the appropriate form and documentation has been submitted. The EFC is the index number, calculated by the FAFSA which our office uses to determine how a financial aid award may be adjusted. If the EFC is reduced to such a level that more aid is warranted, the financial aid award will be adjusted.
Please note that these forms outlined below are not appropriate for circumstances such as a loss of overtime pay, bonuses, or consumer debt. These forms are for the 2009-2010 Academic year. Please refer to the forms page for the 2008-2009 forms.
Forms
Change of Income for Independent Student
Change of Income for Dependent Student
Change of Income for Parent of Dependent Student
The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Washington State University considers excessive medical and dental expenses to be a valid reason for re-evaluating a student's financial aid eligibility. In the event a student is packaged to cost for their education with financial aid, a medical/ dental appeal can be submitted to increase a student's budget so that more aid may be awarded to help with these expenses. The government assumes that a certain percentage of the student/family's budget will be spent on medical and dental expenses. If the sum of the out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses are above and beyond the figure the government sets for the family and /or student, we can reevaluate the student's expected family contribution (EFC). These forms are for the 2009-2010 Academic year. The third page of the form has a chart and explanation of the governments assumed dollar amount the family will spend on medical/dental expenses. Please refer to that page to see if writing the appeal would be beneficial. Please refer to the forms page for the 2008-2009 forms.
Forms
Medical/Dental Expenses for Student
Medical/Dental Expenses for Parent
Expense Itemization Form (xls format)
The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Washington State University considers having a parent in college to be a valid reason for re-evaluating a dependent student's financial aid eligibility. While the FAFSA covers many expenses a family might have, the cost of a parent attending college is not included. In the event that a parent has excessive educational expenses, we can recalculate the student's expected family contribution (EFC) once the appropriate form and documentation have been submitted. We can only consider expenses that the parent is paying themselves; if an employer is covering the cost of the education, we are unable to make adjustments. These forms are for the 2009-2010 Academic year. Please refer to the forms page for the 2008-2009 forms.
The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Washington State University considers a family having private school educational expenses a valid reason for re-evaluating a student's financial aid eligibility. In the event that a family has excessive educational expenses, we can recalculate the student's expected family contribution (EFC) once the appropriate form and documentation has been submitted. These forms are for the 2009-2010 Academic year. The third page of the form has a chart and explanation of the governments assumed dollar amount the family will spend on miscellaneous expenses. Please refer to that page to see if writing the appeal would be beneficial. Please refer to the forms page for the 2008-2009 forms.
The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Washington State University considers a family having educational loan expenses a valid reason for re-evaluating a student's financial aid award. In the event that a family has excessive educational loan expenses, we can recalculate the student's expected family contribution (EFC) once the appropriate form and documentation has been submitted. Loan payments that are made on behalf of a third party cannot be considered. Also, the loans must be educational; credit card debt and/or equity loans taken out to pay for educational expenses cannot be considered. These forms are for the 2009-2010 Academic year. Please refer to the forms page for the 2008-2009 forms.
The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Washington State University considers a family having unusually high dependent care expenses a valid reason for re-evaluating a student's financial aid eligibility. The government assumes that a certain percentage of a family's budget will be spent on miscellaneous expenses like dependent care. In the event that a family has excessive expenses, we can recalculate the student's expected family contribution (EFC) once the appropriate form and documentation has been submitted. These forms are for the 2009-2010 Academic year. The third page of the form has a chart and explanation of the governments assumed dollar amount the family will spend on miscellaneous expenses. Please refer to that page to see if writing the appeal would be beneficial.
Independency Appeals
The United States Department of Education has set strict and explicit rules regarding the dependency status of students receiving financial aid. However, it is recognized that the federal definition of independency cannot always give a reliable depiction of the family situation. In extreme circumstances, our office has the capability to make a professional judgment which can relax the independency criteria. Any such appeals must be accompanied by extensive documentation and just cause. Please click the link below for more information.
When you first complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid, you are asked a series of questions to determine your dependency status.
- If you're considered dependent, you must report your parents' income and assets as well as your own on the FAFSA.
- If you're considered independent, you will only need to report your own income and assets (and those of your spouse, if you're married) on the FAFSA.
- Please note that not living with your parents, not being financially supported by your parents, or not being claimed by your parents on their tax returns does not determine your dependency status.
Independency Criteria for 2009-2010
You'll be considered independent if at least one of the following applies to you:
- You were born before January 1st, 1986.
- You're married as of the day you apply (or separated but not divorced).
- You are or will be enrolled in a Master's or Doctorate program (beyond a bachelor's degree) at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.
- You have children who receive more than half their support from you.
- You have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half their support from you and will continue to receive more than half their support from you through July of 2010.
- Both your parents are deceased, or you are or were (until the age of 18) a ward/dependent of the court.
- You're a veteran of the U.S. Armed Services. (A "veteran" includes students who attended a U.S. Service Academy and who were released under a condition other than dishonourable. For more details on who is considered a veteran, see the explanatory notes on the FAFSA).
In unusual cases, the Office of financial aid and Scholarships can determine that a student who doesn't meet the above criteria should be treated as an independent student. Your dependency status may be changed through a professional judgment by our office based upon sufficient documentation of your special circumstances.
You will need to provide supporting statements from at least three adults (one of whom is not a relative or friend) that can corroborate your situation. Additionally, you'll need to provide an extensive narrative of your circumstances under which you believe a dependency appeal is warranted. While we encourage you to file an appeal if your situation warrants, you should be aware that the burden of proof for an independency appeal is set high and typically only extremely well documented appeals will be granted.
Special Award Appeals
The Office of Financial Aid has certain funds reserved for extenuating circumstances. These funds are meant for emergency or one-time only use. They should not be relied upon for continuous financial aid. To apply for these award appeals, you'll need to write a documented letter to our office addressed to the award appeals committee addressing your situation and requesting funding. You can submit this letter by mailing, faxing, or emailing the appeal to the contact information listed on the site.