Indiana State University recognizes that situations occur which may affect a student's eligibility for need based financial aid. In these cases, students may be eligible for a special circumstance appeal.
Special Circumstance Appeal
- Loss of Household Income. Termination, resignation, out sourcing, relocating, or retirement impacts household income.
- Decrease in Wages Loss of overtime, change of position, reduced work hours
- Death or Divorce of Spouse or Parent
- Exceptions to Normal Income. Lottery Winnings, Inheritance, IRA/Pension distribution, One time payout of funds
- Unusual Medical/Dental expenses not covered by Insurance
If you believe one of these situations has occurred submit a special circumstance appeal form. In addition, ISU may complete a verification on your file prior to reviewing your Special Circumstance Appeal. A Dependent / Independent Verification Form, IRS Tax Return Transcripts and any required documents as indicated on the Verification Form (such as W2 forms) may be requested. Please check Financial Resources in your portal to determine if these documents are needed. Review the chart below for the income information your appeal can be based on. You may select to base the review on your actual income or on your estimated income.
Appeals typically require 10 – 14 business days for processing. Submission of an appeal does not guarantee approval.
| When Student Is Attending College (School Year) | When a Student can Submit a FAFSA | Option 1 Actual Income Review | Option 2 Estimated Income Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2020 - July 31, 2021 | October 1, 2019 - June 30, 2021 | 2019 | 2020 |
| August 1, 2021 - July 31, 2022 | October 1, 2020 - June 30, 2022 | 2020 | 2021 |
| August 1, 2022 - July 31, 2023 | October 1, 2021 - June 30, 2023 | 2021 | 2022 |
| August 1, 2023 - July 31, 2024 | October 1, 2022 - June 30, 2024 | 2022 | 2023 |
| August 1, 2024 - July 31, 2025 | December 30, 2023 - June 30, 2025 | 2023 | 2024 |
Note: Utilize the Secure File Upload to submit digital copies of your tax documents. Documents may also be faxed, mailed, or brought in during office hours. Contact a financial aid counselor for help completing any form. The student's name and ISU ID number should be clearly written on every document submitted, including student and parent tax returns.
Dependent Examples
Undergraduate Student 2021-2022 Academic Year
Scenario One: Parent lost their job in 2020.
| 2019 Information Required for FAFSA | Special Circumstance Adjusted to 2020 Actual Federal Tax Return Information | |
|---|---|---|
| People living in household | 3 | 3 |
| Parent(s) adjusted gross income (AGI) | $40,300 | $19,512 |
| Student adjusted gross income (AGI) | $3,441 | $0.00 |
| Student Aid Index (SAI) | $1,828 | $0.00 |
| Federal Pell Grant | $4,495 | $6,345 |
Scenario Two: One parent lost their job and the other changed jobs.
| 2019 Information Required for FAFSA | Special Circumstance Adjusted to 2021 Estimated Income | |
|---|---|---|
| People living in household | 4 | 4 |
| Parent(s) adjusted gross income (AGI) | $126,555 | $54,993 |
| Student adjusted gross income (AGI) | $3,825 | $5,280 |
| Student Aid Index (SAI) | $13,729 | $1,412 |
| Federal Pell Grant | $0.00 | $4,895 |
Independent Examples
Undergraduate Student 2021-2022 Academic Year
Scenario One: Student was working full-time in 2019 but only part-time in 2020*
| 2019 Information Required for FAFSA | Special Circumstance Adjusted to 2020 Actual Federal Tax Return Information | |
|---|---|---|
| People living in household | 1 | 1 |
| Student adjusted gross income (AGI) | $27,734 | $16,054 |
| Student Aid Index (SAI) | $6,222 | $1,658 |
| Federal Pell Grant | $0.00 | $4,695 |
Scenario Two: Student became unemployed summer 2021*
| 2019 Information Required for FAFSA | Special Circumstance Adjusted to 2021 Estimated Income | |
|---|---|---|
| People living in household | 2 | 2 |
| Student adjusted gross income (AGI) | $49,351 | $31,483 |
| Student Aid Index (SAI) | $7,593 | $1,214 |
| Federal Pell Grant | $0.00 | $5,095 |
* Graduate/Professional Students are not eligible for Federal Pell Grants. Graduate/Professional Students may borrow up to $20,500 in Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans per year.
Budget Evaluation
Most types of financial aid may not exceed the institution's established cost of attendance. However, students may have educational expenses that exceed the allowable threshold. On a case by case base, ISU can review the student's educational costs to determine whether their cost of attendance budget is accurate. A few of the categories in which increases may be granted are as follows:
- Books and Supplies
- Purchase of Computer or Laptop
- Dependent Care/Childcare expenses
- Miscellaneous Educational expenses
To apply for a budget adjustment, complete the Budget Evaluation Form.