Special Circumstances
What is Special Circumstances?
Special Circumstances refer to the financial situations that justify an aid administrator adjusting data elements in the Student Aid Index (SAI) or the Cost of Attendance (COA). These adjustments are on a case-by-case basis, and they are valid only at the school making the change.
Some examples of special circumstances that may be considered to adjust the SAI are:
- Change of income due to change in marital status or decrease of earned income due to loss of job, reduced hours, job change, retirement, loss of unemployment benefits;
- Change in housing status (e.g., homelessness);
- Tuition expenses at an elementary or secondary school;
- Additional family members enrolled in college;
- Medical, dental or nursing home expenses not covered by insurance;
- Child or dependent care expenses;
- Severe disability of the student or other member of the student’s household; and
- Other changes or adjustments that impact the student’s costs or ability to pay for college.
At WVC, the Financial Aid office has the Revision Request form that student's can use to request a Special Circumstances decision. There are two forms: one to account for changes in a student's financial situation, and another to account for changes in the parent's financial situation (if student is Dependent). If the submitted request is approved, our staff will adjust the information on your financial aid application(FAFSA/WASFA) via a correction. Once we receive the updated file, staff will review your account to see if you've become eligible for any additional aid.
How else can Special Circumstances help me?
Special Circumstances can also allow financial aid administrators may use professional judgment to modify or adjust one or more of the components that compromise the student’s COA. These components include:
- Tuition and fees
- Living expenses
- Books, courses materials, supplies, and equipment
- Transportation
- Miscellaneous expenses
- One time allowance for a personal computer
Because our Cost of Attendance is an generalized estimate that capture most students situations, there will be time where we have under-estimated student costs. If your actual expenses exceed your estimated COA, you may request a revision of your COA for the award year.
At WVC, this can be done via the Revision Request for Additional Expenses form. You must submit appropriate documentation of expenses for consideration. If approved after review, we will update your Cost of Attendance to better reflect your actual expenses, and will review your aid to see if you qualify for additional amounts as a result. A budget revision does not automatically qualify a student for more aid, nor does it affect your student bill.
This document is the Information Sheet ONLY. Please read this before completing your Revision Request form. Note that there are separate forms for Students and Parents.
If you would like to be considered for a reevaluation of your financial aid award because of DECREASED RESOURCES and/or CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES since you completed your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you may submit a Revision Request.
Please keep in mind that financial aid funds are limited and our response may depend on the funds available. In addition, adjustments are subjects to federal and institutional guidelines.
Submit this form if you (the student) or your spouse (if married) have had changes in your finances that aren't reflected in the 26-27 FAFSA/WASFA. Student and parents need to fill out separate forms, please make sure you use the correct one for your circumstances or it will delay processing of your request. Please read the Information & Instruction Sheet prior to filling out your form. If you have any questions, contact our office.
Submit this form if you are a dependent student if your parent and/or their spouse (if married) have had changes in their finances that aren't reflected in the 26-27 FAFSA/WASFA. Student and parents need to fill out separate forms, please make sure you use the correct one for your circumstances or it will delay processing of your request. Please read the Information & Instruction Sheet prior to filling out your form. If you have any questions, contact our office.
This form is for a students Additional Expenses only. In certain circumstances, financial aid may be used to pay for student health insurance, medical/dental expenses, child care, additional books, transportation, or other educationally related costs.
Generally, requests are met with Federal Stafford Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized) or Parent Loan (PLUS). To request aid to pay for unusual expenses that exceed the standard budget allowances, you should use this form.
Additional Considerations
It is important to keep in mind that when the financial administrator uses Professional Judgment (PJ) for adjusting unusual expenses, they must consider the income protection allowance (IPA) which is included in the SAI calculation. This IPA already accounts for some general costs that households will likely have, and reduces the SAI to account for them. Before adjusting for unusual expenses, financial aid administrators need to consider whether it is already covered by the IPA. It is reasonable to assume that approximately 30% of the IPA is for food, 22% for housing, 9% for transportation expenses, 16% for clothing and personal care, 11% medical care, and 12% for other family consumption.