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About
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Tuition and Aid
Student Life
24-25 Professional Judgement
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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 2024-2025 FAFSA?
Have you filed a 2024-2025 FAFSA?
Yes
No
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:
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?
Do you have unusual medical, dental, and/or nursing home expenses for which you are currently making payments?
Yes
No
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?
Lower
The Same
Higher
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?
Is there an unpaid balance that must be paid during the academic year?
Yes
No
From what sources will you finance these expenses?
Is the expense long-term due to an ongoing treatment, condition, or illness?
Is the expense long-term due to an ongoing treatment, condition, or illness?
Yes
No
Do you have unusual debts or loans for which you are currently making monthly payments?
Do you have unusual debts or loans for which you are currently making monthly payments?
Yes
No
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?
Lower
The Same
Higher
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?
Is the unusual debt the result of discretionary choices?
Yes
No
Are you or your parent responsible for all or a portion of the debt?
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?
Will any portion of the debt be expunged in bankruptcy, legal settlement, or other legal agreement?
Yes
No
Will your income and/or your parents'/spouse's income be less in the academic year than in 2022?
Will your income and/or your parents'/spouse's income be less in the academic year than in 2022?
Yes
No
If your income will not be less in the academic year than 2022, 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:
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?
Whose income are you wanting evaluated?
My income (including spouse's income)
My parent(s)' income
Are you wanting 2023 or 2024 income considered?
Are you wanting 2023 or 2024 income considered?
2023
2024
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 2024-current:
Please provide other taxable income from January 2024-current:
Please provide child support received from January 2024-current:
Please provide other untaxed income from January 2024-current:
Please provide your TOTAL anticipated income for 2024:
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?
Do you/your parent's contribute financial support to a relative(s) not counted as a member (or members) of your household?
Yes
No
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?
Does the individual(s) reside in the household?
Yes
No
Will the financial support be lower, the same, or higher during the academic year?
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?
Do you/your parents pay for elementary/secondary school tuition costs?
Yes
No
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?
Does the child have special needs that are met by the private school?
Yes
No
Will the tuition costs be lower, the same, or higher during the academic year?
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:
Please explain why the tuition costs will be higher:
From what sources will the tuition costs be paid?
Will any of the tuition costs be reimbursed by another source?
Will any of the tuition costs be reimbursed by another source?
Yes
No
Please explain:
Do you/your parent(s)' pay dependent care expenses?
Do you/your parent(s)' pay dependent care expenses?
Yes
No
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?
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?
Will any of the dependent care costs be reimbursed by another source?
Yes
No
Please explain:
Required Documentation:
Please send all documentation to Mary Denison, mdenison@westminsteru.edu, 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 2022
Income Tax Return for 2023
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).
2022 Income tax return and applicable forms/schedules
2023 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 2023
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 2022 Joint Tax Return and all related schedules
2022 W-2 Forms for Both Filers
Acknowledgement & Digital Signature:
By signing this form:
I agree that t
he 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:
Date Signed:
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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
Submit