Special Circumstances
Have your circumstances changed?
Call us at 313-593-5300, email us at umd-ask-ofa@umich.edu, or schedule an appointment with a Financial Aid Advisor to discuss your options. We will advise you on your options and next steps on providing the proper documentation.
Occasionally, unusual circumstances warrant a reconsideration of financial aid eligibility. These could be either changes in your family's situation since you filed the FAFSA, or unusual circumstances not accounted for on the FAFSA. This can include, but is not limited to:
- Loss of income for at least 10 weeks in 2021 or 2022
- Separation or divorce
- Death of a parent (of a dependent student) or spouse (of an independent student)
- Receipt of one-time, non-recurring income in 2020
- Rollover of a qualifying retirement account in 2020
- High medical/dental expenses
Do not request this Appeal if:
- Family income in 2021 and/or 2022 will be higher than in 2020
- You have not yet filed a FAFSA
- Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), as calculated by the FAFSA, is 0
All circumstances must be documented.
A "budget" is the Cost of Attendance which reflects a student's expected educational expenses. A Budget Adjustment Appeal can increase a student's Cost of Attendance to allow for more borrowing, in the case of expenses which are higher than the allotted amounts.
This can include, but is not limited to:
- One-time computer purchase
- Child Care or Elderly Care expenses
- Disability expenses not otherwise covered
- Certain auto repair expenses
- Living arrangement expenses
An adjustment can only be considered for documented expenses incurred within the academic year. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships reserves the right to limit the number of Budget Adjustment Appeals allowed for each student.
- This option is available for students who have unusual circumstances that may qualify you for independent status. Examples of acceptable circumstances include an environment that threatens your health and safety or documented abandonment or estrangement by parents
- If the following conditions apply, this appeal would not apply.
- Orphan/Ward of the Court/Foster Care
- Emancipated Minor/Legal Guardianship
- Unaccompanied Minor or Homeless Youth.
- You are not eligible for this appeal in the following circumstances and would still require Parental information on FAFSA.
- Family is unwilling to contribute to educational expenses
- Student does not reside with parents
- Parents do not claim student as dependent on their taxes