Special and Unusual Circumstances

Special Circumstances are financial situations that support a change to the Cost of Attendance or Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculation. Examples of special circumstances include, but are not limited to:

–Changes in employment status or income (layoff, illness, temporary employment, etc.) of student, parents, or spouse

–Death, divorce, or separation of parents or spouse

–Non-recurring payments received during the FAFSA tax year that will not be repeated or change in assets

–Unordinary medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance

–Tuition expenses at an elementary or secondary school

Unusual circumstances are conditions that support a change to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation. Examples of unusual circumstances include, but are not limited to:

–Parental abandonment, estrangement, or parental incarceration

–Abusive family environment

–Refugee/asylee status

Please note that Unusual Circumstances do not include:

–Parents refusal to contribute to student’s education

–Parents refusal to provide information for the FAFSA or verification

–Parents do not claim the student for income tax purposes, or that the student demonstrates total self-sufficiency

Students who find themselves with Special or Unusual circumstances should complete the Special and Unusual Circumstances form and submit appropriate documentation. After all requested documentation is received, a decision will be sent to the student’s Ridgewater email within 10 business days. Submitting a Special or Unusual Circumstance request does not guarantee an adjustment will be made to your aid offer or dependency status. For more information, contact the financial aid office at 800-722-1151 to see if your situation can be considered.