Special Circumstances Appeal
The Financial Aid Administrator my take into consideration circumstances due to loss or reduction in income reported on the student's FAFSA application but the projected estimated income will be significantly less than that reported. If the Estimated Family Contributon (EFC) as determined by the FAFSA is from 0 to 4618 it is likely the student has already been award his or her maximum eligible aid, so there is no need to file a Special Circumstances Aopeal.
The special circumstances for consideraton of appeal are:
1. A dependent student's parent(s), an independent student, or the spouse of the student who earned money as reported on the FAFSA application has lost his or her job for at least 10 weeks during the current calendar year.
2. A dependent student's parent(s), an independent student, or the spouse of the student who earned money as reported on teh FAFSA application has been unable to earn money in his or her usual way for at least 10 weeks during the current calendar year. This must be the result of either a disabilty or natural disaster that happened in the previous and current calendar years.
3. A dependent student's parent(s), an independent student, or the spouse of the student who received unemployment compensation or some other benefit has completely lost that benefit for at least 10 weeks during the current calendar year. The untaxed income may be from a public or private agency, a company, or a person because of a court order and may include Social Security, child support, workman's compensation, retirement, disability, and public assistance - town, city, or state.
4. A dependent student's parents or an independent student and his spouse have divorced or separated after filing the FAFSA. If this is not a legal separation, proof of separate domiciles must be provided.
5. A dependent student's parent(s) or an independent student's spouse has died after filing the FAFSA.
Requirements for submitting a Special Circumstances Appeal are:
1. A current FAFSA application must be on file at the school's FA Office.
2. Complete and submit the specific (dependent or independent) Special Circumstances Appeal form available at www.ccsu.edu/finaid in the Forms file.
3. Provide signed copies of a dependent student's parents', an independent student's and spouse's Federal Income Tax Returns, all schedules,and W2 statements.
4. Provide all documents verifying the special circumstance selected. These may include a letter or document from employer indicating termination date and severance pay, pay stub showing year--to-date earnings, unemployment statements, disability claim and benefit forms and statements, copies of separation papers or divorce decree, and a certified copy of the death certificate(s).
5. The Special Circumstance appeal will be considered only after the receipt of all necessary documentation.
Responsibilities of the FA Administrator are:
1. The FA Administrator will review the completed Special Circumstance Appeal, and if necessary make contact with the student to requiest further documentaiton.
2. The FA Adminsitrator will personally contact the student and send by E.mail notication whether the appeal was approved or denied.
3. The FA Adminsitrator will initiate changes to the student's FAFSA file and financial aid award if the appeal was approved.
4. The student may appeal the FA Adminsitrator's decison to the FA Director or designee.
