Special and Unusual Circumstances
We recognize that the FAFSA or WASFA may not always accurately reflect your financial situation and/or dependency status.
Many families experience changes in financial circumstances during the academic year which is not taken into account because the FAFSA and WASFA uses the prior prior year’s information. Financial Aid Administrators have the ability to review your situation and make adjustments to a student’s and/or parent’s financial information on the FAFSA or WASFA. Each request is considered on a case-by-case basis. Adjustments of financial aid awards are subject to the availability of funds.
Although considerations for specific situations are limited, we may be able to give additional consideration for certain situations as described below.
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Special Circumstances refer to the financial situations that justify an aid administrator adjusting data elements in the Cost of Attendance or in the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculation.
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Unusual Circumstances refer to the conditions that justify an aid administrator making an adjustment to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation, more commonly referred to as a dependency override.
A student may have both a special circumstance and an unusual circumstance. Financial aid administrators may make adjustments that are appropriate to each student’s situation with appropriate documentation.
Special Circumstance Appeal
Special Circumstance Appeals may be considered after you receive your initial Everett Community College Financial Aid Offer Letter (award letter) for the current aid year. After reviewing your special circumstance documentation, your aid package may remain the same, be increased, or reduced according to the financial information that has been submitted. Submitting a special circumstance request does not guarantee an adjustment will be made to your aid package.
Decisions are final and will be communicated directly to the student. For more information, contact the Financial Aid Office to see if your situation can be considered. If approved, any additional funding awarded is only available for the academic school year for which the special circumstance is approved. Special circumstances must be reviewed annually. Please do not submit documents unless instructed by our office.
Examples of Special Circumstances Considered
- Loss or reduction of income (layoff, illness, forced reduction of hours, temporary employment, etc.)
- Catastrophic medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance
- Death, divorce, or separation of parents or spouse after the FAFSA or WASFA was filed
- Non-recurring payments receiving during the FAFSA or WASFA tax year that will not be repeated
- Loss of benefits, such as unemployment, disability, social security, veterans, child support, or alimony
- Parent retires mid-year
- Private elementary and secondary tuition for siblings, not including the EvCC financial aid applicant
- Daycare expenses for independent students
Examples of Special Circumstances NOT Considered
- Purchasing material items such as a car, home appliances, vacations, second homes, etc.
- Reduction of assets. Changes in assets will be reflected on the following year's FAFSA or WASFA.
- Credit issues, line of credit changes, previous student loan debt, etc.
- Medical bills paid by health insurance or that will be reimbursed by health care coverage.
- Siblings or parents who are also attending college. Siblings are already taken into account on the FAFSA and WASFA. Students cannot list their parents in the number in college.
In order for your special circumstance request to be reviewed, we must receive a written request from the student (EvCC has partnered with Swift Forms to provide free letter templates fo special and unusual circumstance appeals) in addtion to the required documentation that is listed below. The review process will not begin until all documentation has been received. Please continue to monitor your ctcLink student account and your email to determine if we need any additional documentation from you. Once all documentation is received, it may take 8 weeks to complete the review process.
Documentation Required by Circumstance:
Did you Experience?
Required Documentation
Books & Supply Expenses | I paid more for my required supplies than what is allocated in the Cost of Attendance at EvCC |
-Signed letter from student explaining situation and requesting a Cost of Attedance Adjustment -Copies of paid receipts |
Travel Expenses | I am required to travel for class or an internship and my expenses exceed what is allocated in the Cost of Attendance at EvCC |
-Signed letter from student explaining situation -Information on trips required - make & model of vehicle, starting location, ending destination, number of trips per week |
Day Care Expenses | I have child care expenses that must be paid so that I can attend class at EvCC |
-Signed letter from student explaining situation -Copies of prior month payments or a letter from the licensed provider confirming what is paid each month (must be on daycare provider's letterhead) |
Student Cost of Living | My monthly expenses exceed what is allocated for living expenses in the Cost of Attendance at EvCC (rent, food, utilities) |
-Signed letter from student explaining situation -Copies of documentation supporting monthly expenses |
Loss of Income or Benefits | My family has experienced a loss of income from jobs or benefits that are no longer available |
-Signed letter from student and parent explaining situation -Income Adjustment Petition -Singed copy of parent's tax returns, schedules, and W-2 forms -Documentation regarding loss of benefits - i.e. Letter from Unemployment commission, Letter from Prior Employer, Letter from agency discontinuing benefits |
Separation/ Divorce | I or my parents have separated or divorced since I filed the FAFSA or WASFA |
-Signed letter from student and parent explaining situation -Projected Year Income -Singed copy of student or parent's tax returns, schedules, and W-2 forms -Copy of separation agreement |
Excess Medical Expenses | My family is paying excessive medical expenses out of pocket that are not covered by insurance |
-Signed letter from student and parent explaining situation -Copies of statements/bills and payment confirmations toward those bills not covered by insurance. Do not submit medical records. |
Parent Retirement | My parent(s) have retired since I filed the FAFSA or WASFA |
-Signed letter from student and parent explaining situation -Projected Year Income -Signed copy of parent's tax returns, schedules, and W-2 forms -Copy of separation letter -Copy of statements of retirement benefits |
Loss of Parent or Spouse | I have had a parent or spouse pass away since I filed the FAFSA or WASFA |
-Signed letter from student and surviving parent/guardian explaining situation -Copy of Death Certificate -Signed copy of student/surviving parent's tax returns, schedules, and W-2 forms |
If you feel you have a special circumstance, contact the Financial Aid Office for further guidance. Everett Community College has partnered with Swift Forms to provide free special or unusual appeal letter templates to submit to the Financial Aid Office.. The deadline to submit a complete request for Special Circumstance consideration is May 1st of the current aid year.
Unusual Circumstances
Unusual circumstances may be considered for a dependency override within 60 days after you file your FAFSA or WASFA, and before receiving your initial Financial Aid Offer Letter for the current aid year. After reviewing your unusual circumstance documentation, your aid package may remain the same, be increased, or reduced according to the information that has been submitted. A dependency override does not guarantee an adjustment will be made to your aid package.
Decisions are final and will be communicated directly to the student. Please do not submit documents unless instructed by our office.
Examples of Unusual Circumstances Considered
- Victims of human trafficking
- Refugee or asylee status
- Parental abandonment or incarceration
- Abusive family environment
- Parents are incapacitated
- Both parents became deceased after filing the FAFSA or WASFA
- Unaccompanied youth who is homeless or is self-supporting and at risk of being homeless
Examples of Unusual Circumstances NOT Considered
- Parents do not claim you as a dependent on their tax return
- Parents are not helping you pay for college
- No longer living with parents (unless due to one of the unusual circumstances listed in the section above)
If you believe you have an unusual circumstance that impacts your dependency status, please contact the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible after submitting your FAFSA or WASFA. Everett Community College has partnered with Swift Forms to provide free special or unusual appeal letter templates to submit to the Financial Aid Office. The deadline to submit a complete request for Unusual Circumstance consideration is May 1st of the current aid year.