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Special Circumstances

What is a Special Circumstance Reconsideration?

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Financial Aid Office understands that sometimes the FAFSA application does not reflect a change in a family circumstance that has happened since the FAFSA was submitted.  This is considered a special circumstance reconsideration. When students and/or families experience a change in circumstances, such as a loss of income, the Financial Aid Office may be able to adjust income information based on these “special circumstances.”

What qualifies as a Special Circumstance?

The following situations may be reviewed for reconsideration:

  • Job loss/termination, a reduction of hours, retirement
  • Marriage/divorce/separation or death of parent or spouse after filing the FAFSA
  • Loss or reduction of taxable benefits
  • Loss of untaxed income such as worker compensation, child support
  • Some one-time lump sum income
  • Out of pocket medical costs not covered by insurance for the calendar year.  Expenses must be itemized on Schedule A of the 1040 form.

If you have a change in circumstances that would qualify as a special circumstance, you can complete the Special Circumstances Reconsideration Form and submit it to our office with the required documentation for review.  The financial aid office will review the information and determine if the circumstance meets special circumstance criteria.  The change in circumstance may result in an increase in federal aid eligibility, however, it does not in all cases. 

If your financial aid application (FAFSA) is selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education, all requested documents for verification must be submitted and processed by our office before the special circumstance request will be considered.

Special Circumstance Reconsiderations will be processed in the order of receipt.  Due to the number of requests received and depending on the time of year, please allow 3-4 weeks processing time.  If a special circumstance request is based on loss of income from work, etc., these will be considered once taxes are filed for the respective tax year and tax return transcripts are available.