Special

Circumstances

Three students standing near a tree talking.

Special circumstances can include loss of income due to:

· Job termination or reduction in hours
· Divorce or separation after completion of the FAFSA
· Death of a parent or spouse after completion of the FAFSA
· Loss or reduction of untaxed income or benefits
· Reduced earnings due to a natural disaster or disability
· Unusual medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance
· Dependent care expenses

What is a special circumstance?

Students and/or their families are considered to have special circumstances when the FAFSA may not accurately reflect their current financial situation. The FAFSA requests tax information that is two years old. Financial circumstances may change from when the taxes were filed to the present day. In these cases, a request for a special circumstance review may be made. The Office of Student Financial Services will review special circumstances on a case-by-case basis to determine if adjustments can be made to FAFSA data elements to reflect the student and/or their family’s current financial situation.

How to Request a Special Circumstance Review

To request a special circumstances review, the student must first complete the FAFSA for the relevant aid year. After completing the FAFSA, the Special Circumstances Form must be completed and returned to the Office of Student Financial Services with the appropriate documentation. It is recommended that requests be submitted along with all required documentation at least two weeks before the end of the term.

Adjustments to Cost of Attendance

All students are given a cost of attendance (COA) for financial aid purposes. The COA includes direct costs such as tuition and fees and indirect costs such as living expenses (housing and food) and transportation. Financial aid offers cannot exceed the student’s COA. In some situations, the Office of Student Financial Services can adjust the COA so the student may receive additional financial aid. Requests for COA adjustments are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Reasons for adjustments can include:

· Childcare expenses
· Computer
· Increased costs for housing and food
· Additional transportation expenses
· Additional required educational expenses

Adjustments cannot be considered for consumer debt, such as credit card debt or the purchase of a car.

How to Request an Adjustment to the Cost of Attendance

To request an adjustment, the student should submit an explanation and documentation to support the request to the Office of Student Financial Services. It is recommended that requests be submitted along with all required documentation at least two weeks before the end of the term.

Special circumstance reviews and adjustments to the cost of attendance do not guarantee that a student will be eligible for additional financial aid. If changes are made to the student’s financial aid offer, a revised notification will be sent to the student’s LMU email account.

Unusual

Circumstances

A student walking near the clock tower.

Unusual Circumstance Requests

A set of questions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) determines whether a student is classified as dependent or independent. Students who are classified as dependent are required to report parental information. Even though a student may be classified as dependent on the FAFSA, unusual circumstances may prevent the student from including parent information. Financial aid administrators may exercise professional judgment and classify dependent students as independent when certain conditions exist. An independent classification allows a student to be evaluated for financial aid based solely on student data elements provided on the FAFSA.

What is an unusual circumstance?

Unusual Circumstances are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. An unusual circumstance may include parental abandonment, an abusive family environment, or parent incarceration. An unusual circumstance does not include the parents’ refusal to contribute to the student’s education, the parent’s unwillingness to provide information on the FAFSA or for verification, not claiming the student as dependent for income tax purposes, or the student demonstrating total self-sufficiency.

How to Request an Unusual Circumstance

1. Complete the FAFSA and select “yes” to the question, “Do unusual circumstances prevent the student from contacting their parents, or would contacting their parents pose a risk to the student?”

2. Complete part #1 of the Unusual Circumstance Form and return it to the Office of Student Financial Services, along with the required supporting documentation. Documentation is critical to the process. Along with the form, the student must submit the following:

· A personal statement that is signed and dated by the student that addresses the following: a detailed explanation of your current relationship with each of your parents, what led to the relationship status, the date on which you last spoke to your parents, how you are supporting yourself, and information about where you are living now; AND

· Supporting documentation (examples: death certificate, a medical statement indicating parent is institutionalized, legal paperwork of incarceration, protection/restraining order); OR

· If you do not have supporting documentation, submit two signed and dated letters written on official letterhead from two different professionals (such as a counselor, minister, attorney, social worker, etc.) that verify the family circumstances you described in your statement. The letters must address your relationship with both parents.

Once the Office of Student Financial Services receives the Unusual Circumstance Form and required documentation, it will be reviewed. A final determination of dependency status will be made as soon as practicable but no later than 60 days after the student enrolls. The final decision will be emailed to the student’s LMU email account. A financial aid offer will be sent to the student after the determination is made if the student meets all other eligibility requirements. Any student who receives an approved Unusual Circumstance appeal will be classified as independent for each subsequent award year at LMU unless the student informs the Office of Student Financial Services of a change in circumstances or conflicting information regarding dependency is found.

Parent Refuses to Fill Out the FAFSA or Does Not Provide Any Financial Support

The parents’ refusal to complete the FAFSA or to provide financial support does not warrant an Unusual Circumstance. In these cases, a student may be offered only a Direct Unsubsidized Loan at the established annual dependent loan limits. To request an account review for these reasons, a student would need to:

1. Complete the FAFSA and answer "yes" to the question, “Are the student's parents unwilling to provide their information, but the student doesn't have an unusual circumstance that prevents them from contacting or obtaining their parents' information?”

2. Complete Part #2 of the Unusual Circumstances Form and return it and the required documentation to the Office of Student Financial Services.

Once the Office of Student Financial Services receives the Unusual Circumstances Form and required documentation, it will be reviewed. A final determination will be made as soon as practicable but no later than 60 days after the student enrolls. The final decision will be emailed to the student’s LMU email account.

Unaccompanied

Homeless Youth

Students walking on campus.

Unaccompanied youths who are homeless or at risk of homelessness are not required to provide parental information on the FAFSA. Students who do not already have a homeless determination may request one be made by the Office of Student Financial Services. All requests will be viewed on a case-by-case basis. Upon request, students may be required to provide the Office of Student Financial Services with documentation to verify their status.

How to Request a Homeless Determination

1. The student must complete the FAFSA and, on the application, select “yes” on the “Student Other Circumstances” question in the "Personal Circumstances" section of the FAFSA. If a student already has a determination, the student would choose by whom the decision was made. If the student does not have a determination, the student will select “None of the above.” Students who choose “None of the above” indicate that a homeless determination is needed.

2. After completing the FAFSA, if requested, the student must complete the Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Form and return it to The Office of Student Financial Services. If a student cannot obtain documentation, the student should contact the Office of Student Financial Services for further guidance.

Once the Office of Student Financial Services receives the form and required documentation, it will be reviewed. A final determination on homelessness will be made as soon as practicable but no later than 60 days after the student enrolls. The final decision will be emailed to the student’s LMU email account. A financial aid offer will be sent to the student after the determination is made if the student meets all other eligibility requirements. Any student who receives a homeless determination will be considered independent for each subsequent award year at LMU unless the student informs the Office of Student Financial Services of a change in circumstances or conflicting information regarding the homeless determination is found.