SMU recognizes that students and families occasionally face unexpected circumstances that may significantly impact the overall cost of attendance or their ability to cover those costs. Financial Aid Services is authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to consider special or unusual circumstances through an appeals process, reviewed on a case-by-case basis, with limits to what and how special or unusual circumstances may be considered.
Appeal Requirements
Students who wish to submit an appeal must first verify the accuracy of current FAFSA data, if required by SMU or the Department of Education, as well as resolve any conflicting information. If there is a need to verify information or resolve conflicts, this must be completed first before any special or unusual circumstances will be considered.
Special Circumstances refer to the financial situations that justify a financial aid administrator adjusting data elements in the Cost of Attendance or in the data used to complete the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile. Some examples of special circumstances that may be considered include:
- Change in employment status, income, or assets
- Change in housing status (e.g., homelessness)
- Medical, dental, or nursing home expenses not covered by insurance
- Child or dependent care expenses
- Death of custodial parent
Acceptable documentation for a special circumstance review includes, but is not limited to, supplementary information, as necessary, about the financial status or personal circumstances of eligible applicants as it relates to the special circumstances.
Alternatively, there are special/unusual circumstances that do not warrant a review. These circumstances include but are not limited to:
- Parents refusing to contribute to student's education;
- Parents unwilling to provide information on the application for verification or on the FAFSA;
- Credit card debt;
- Vacation expenses; or
- Car payments or mortgage payments.
Undergraduate students who already have between a -1500 and 0 Student Aid Index (SAI) as determined by the FAFSA do not qualify for a special circumstance review since they have already received the maximum amount of aid for which they are eligible.
Unusual Circumstances refer to the conditions that justify a financial aid administrator making an adjustment to a student's dependency status based on a unique situation, such as parental abandonment or incarceration. Some examples of unusual circumstances include:
- Human trafficking, as described in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.)
- Legally granted refugee or asylum status
- Parental abandonment or estrangement
- Student or parental incarceration.
Acceptable documentation for an unusual circumstance includes but is not limited to:
- Personal statement explaining your situation with specific details
- A written statement on official letterhead from a third-party acting in their official capacity (e.g. attorney, clergy, police, doctor, etc.) that confirms the circumstances and the person’s relationship to the student
- A written statement from a Homeless Shelter Director or homeless liaison agency
- Court documents
- Child Protective Services/Police Reports
Examples of situations that do not qualify as unusual circumstances include:
- Parents refusing to contribute to student’s education
- Parents unwilling to provide information on the application for verification or on the FAFSA
- Parents not claiming student as dependent for income tax purposes
- Students who demonstrate total self-sufficiency
In some cases, a student may have both a special circumstance and an unusual circumstance; however, it is important to note that a review of a student's special and/or unusual circumstance does not guarantee additional funding.
Each appeal must be submitted to Financial Aid Services as a single, complete packet. Items submitted for review without documentation will not be considered. Additional documentation may be requested by Financial Aid Services at any time during the review process.
If you are unsure if an appeal will be beneficial for you, if you have more questions about the appeal process, or if you believe you have a special or unusual circumstance that qualifies and you are ready to being the process, please contact the SMU Mane Desk at manedesk@smu.edu or (214) 768-5555.