25-26 Special Circumstances Appeal

Financial aid regulations allow Westminster University to use professional judgment to update your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after certain major life changes.

The Special Circumstances Appeal process works to recalculate the FAFSA with your current income data.
For questions regarding Special Circumstances Appeals, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

It is important to understand that not all Special Circumstances Appeals will result in changes to your FAFSA and/or financial aid offer.

Additional fields may populate as answers are selected. All fields are required.

Student Information:

Name:

Student ID:

Westminster Email Address:

Please provide an explanation/overview of your situation:

Have you filed a 2025-2026 FAFSA?

Yes

Westminster must have a valid FAFSA on file to complete a Special Circumstances appeal. Please complete the FAFSA or select a different appeal form.

Appeal Information:

Please select why you are wanting a Special Circumstances Appeal:

Income reduction or one-time payments received that are not recurring

Death of a parent or spouse

Unusual medical, dental, and nursing home expenses

Financial support paid to extended family members

Elementary/secondary school tuition costs

Dependent care expenses

Unusual debts

Divorce/separation

Do you have unusual medical, dental, and/or nursing home expenses for which you are currently making payments?

Yes

If you do not have current unusual medical, dental, and/or nursing home expenses, this is not the right form for you. Please select another option or a different appeal form.

How much did you/your family pay for medical/dental insurance this year? (This does not include employer's contributions)

What were your/your family's medical/dental expenses not paid by insurance?

Will these expenses be lower, the same, or higher during the academic year?

Please explain why your medical expenses will be lower:

Please explain why your medical expenses will be higher:

Is there an unpaid balance that must be paid during the academic year?

Yes

From what sources will you finance these expenses?

Is the expense long-term due to an ongoing treatment, condition, or illness?

Yes

Do you have unusual debts or loans for which you are currently making monthly payments?

Yes

If you do not have current unusual debt, this is not the right form for you. Please select another option or a different appeal form.

Will these unusual debts be lower, the same, or higher during the academic year?

Please explain why your unusual debts will be lower:

Please explain why your unusual debts will be higher:

Is the unusual debt the result of discretionary choices?

Yes

Are you or your parent responsible for all or a portion of the debt?

All

Portion

From what sources will you finance the support?

Will any portion of the debt be expunged in bankruptcy, legal settlement, or other legal agreement?

Yes

Will your income and/or your parents'/spouse's income be less in the academic year than in 2023?

Yes

If your income will not be less in the academic year than 2023, this is not the right form for you. Please select another option or a different appeal form.

Please select the reason for the change in income:

Unemployment or change in employment

Disability of student or student's parent or spouse

One-time income (e.g. inheritance, back-year Social Security paments, IRA or pension distribution or gambling winnings)

None of the above

Whose income are you wanting evaluated?

My income (including spouse's income)

My parent(s)' income

Are you wanting 2023 or 2024 income considered?

2024

2025

To have your 2023 income evaluated, please see required documents below.

If you would like both your income and your parent(s)' income evaluated; please list your income and then your parent(s)' income in the fields below separated by a semi-colon.

Only include your income information for the following fields:

Only include your custodial parent's income information for the following fields:

Only include your surviving parent's income information for the following fields:

Please provide wages, salaries, tips (including severance pay, disability payments and any income from work) from January 2025-current:

Please provide other taxable income from January 2025-current:

Please provide child support received from January 2025-current:

Please provide other untaxed income from January 2025-current:

Please provide your TOTAL anticipated income for 2025:

If none of these options are appropriate, this is not the right form for you. Please select another option or a different appeal form.

Do you/your parent's contribute financial support to a relative(s) not counted as a member (or members) of your household?

Yes

If you/your family doesn't support an extended family member, this is not the right form for you. Please select another option or a different appeal form.

Does the individual(s) reside in the household?

Yes

Will the financial support be lower, the same, or higher during the academic year?

Lower

The Same

Higher

Please explain why the financial support will be lower:

Please explain why the financial support will be higher:

From what sources will you finance this support?

Do you/your parents pay for elementary/secondary school tuition costs?

Yes

If you/your parents do not pay for elementary/secondary school tuition costs, this is not the right form for you. Please select another option or a different appeal form.

Why does the child attend private school?

Does the child have special needs that are met by the private school?

Yes

Will the tuition costs be lower, the same, or higher during the academic year?

Lower

The Same

Higher

Please explain why the tuition costs will be lower:

From what sources will the tuition costs be paid?

Please explain why the tuition costs will be higher:

Will any of the tuition costs be reimbursed by another source?

Yes

Please explain:

Do you/your parent(s)' pay dependent care expenses?

Yes

If you/your parents do not pay for dependent care expenses, this is not the right form for you. Please select another option or a different appeal form.

Please provide the reason for supporting the dependent:

Will the dependent care costs be lower, the same, or higher during the academic year?

Lower

The Same

Higher

Please explain why the dependent costs will be lower:

Please explain why the dependent care costs will be higher:

From what sources will the dependent care be financed?

Will any of the dependent care costs be reimbursed by another source?

Yes

Please explain:

Required Documentation:

Please send all documentation to the financial aid office via File Safe.
Your Special Circumstances Appeal cannot be reviewed until all required documents are submitted.

Signed statement of situation from student and/or parent
Income Tax Return for 2023
Income Tax Return for 2024
Receipts and/or cancelled checks of medical and dental payments
Insurance documentation of covered costs

Signed statement of situation from student and/or parent
Contract, mortgage, or lien (if applicable)
Billing or payment summary from person, company or agency to whom or which money is owe

Signed statement documenting estimated earnings from student

Signed statement documenting estimated earnings from parent

Alimony or child support designated in divorce agreement

Unemployment compensation and job training benefits (if applicable)

Actual disability and social security benefits received (if applicable).

2023 Income tax return and applicable forms/schedules

2024 Income tax return and applicable forms/schedules

Your two most recent paystubs

Your parent(s) two most recent paystubs

Signed statement of situation from student and/or parent
Receipts
Billing statements

Signed statement of situation from student and/or parent
Receipts for elementary or secondary school tuition costs

Income tax return (showing dependents)
Receipts for dependent care payments
Signed, itemized statement of expenses
Cancelled checks (if applicable)

A document detailing the following:

Names of the supported relative(s)
Ages(s)
Relationship to Student
Support Began (mm/ccyy)
Support Ends (mm/ccyy)
Amount you Paid
Amount paid by other sources
Reason for support

A document detailing the following information:

Name(s) of the supported relative(s)
Age(s)
Relationship to Student
Adult Dependent Care Expenses
Total Annual Expenses for 2024

A document detailing the following information:

Name(s) of the supported relative(s)
Age(s)
Relationship to the Student
Total Elementary or Secondary School Tuition Costs

A document detailing the following information

Type and cause of debt, and by whom
Amount of original debt
Date incurred (mm/ccyy)
Balance owed on debt
Date payments began (mm/ccyy)
Monthly payment
Holder of debt
Date payments end (mm/ccyy)

Proof of Separation/Divorce
Original 2023 Joint Tax Return and all related schedules
2023 W-2 Forms for Both Filers

Acknowledgement & Digital Signature:

By signing this form:

I agree that the information contained in this appeal is true and complete to the best of my knowledge.
I understand that submitting this Special Circumstances Appeal form does not guarantee a change in financial aid eligibility.
I understand that all correspondence, including decisions, will be sent to my Westminster College email address.

Student Name:

Date Signed:

If you would like your parent(s) to have access to this information, there must be a valid Student Records Release on file. If you would like to grant your parent(s) access you can complete the form on Self-Service.

Financial Aid Office | 801-832-2500 | financialaidoffice@westminsteru.edu

25-26 Special Circumstances Appeal

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