Is there an appeal process available for special circumstances or changes in family income?

Appeals for special circumstances

A special procedure is in place to accommodate applicants who will have a reduction in family income of at least $1000 between the year for which income is reported on the FAFSA and the following calendar year. Parents or students may request re-evaluation of eligibility using projected year income by completing a Change of Income Form , available from the Financial Aid Office. Applicants must explain the nature of the income change between the two years, and indicate whether the reduction of income is for the student, the student’s spouse, the student’s father, or the student’s mother.

The Change of Income Form requests projected calendar year income from the following sources:

  • Income from earnings, wages, tips, business income, etc.
  • Pension or retirement income (identified as taxed or untaxed)
  • Other taxed income (unemployment compensation, rental income, interest or dividend income, taxable Social Security benefits, early withdrawal of retirement funds, severance pay, etc.)
  • Other untaxed income (Social Security benefits, Welfare benefits/TANF, child support, military or clergy housing allowance, payments to 401(k) or 403(b) pensions, disability income, etc.)

Applicants may be requested to submit a letter of termination from the employer and/or copy of the last payroll check stub, verification of unemployment benefits, a copy of the student’s or parents’ prior year federal income tax return, and verification of any prior year untaxed income.

Students or parents requesting a recalculation of eligibility based on a lost of income should return the Change of Income Form by August 1st. Once this form has been approved, the parent or student will be sent an Agreement to Use Estimated Income contract to sign. This agreement acknowledges your responsibilities and identifies the conditions of the revised award. A revised financial aid offer that reflects the adjustment in the student’s financial aid eligibility will be available to accept on GROWL after the signed agreement has been received.

It is UCR policy to review projected year income cases after the tax return has been filed for the calendar year in which the projected income was used. Parents or students are required to submit a copy of their tax return during the month of March. A hold will be placed on spring aid disbursements until the applicable tax return has been submitted, projected data has been compared to actual data, and any recalculations performed.

The student’s financial aid award may be revised on the basis of actual family income received, and spring aid disbursements adjusted or cancelled. It is important that your estimates be as accurate as possible. Grossly inaccurate estimates will result in a bill for financial aid already disbursed in prior quarters. Therefore, if you would like to change the amount of your original estimate, please indicate the amended amount on the Agreement to Use Estimated Income contract before returning it to the Financial Aid Office.

Further information regarding appeals for special circumstances may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office or by scheduling an appointment to speak with a counselor.