Need to Appeal Your Financial Aid?
The FAFSA application requires students and parents to provide income from two year's prior not taking into consideration circumstaces that could impact the ability to pay.
Here at PPCC we understand that circumstances may change from year to year, our advisors can meet with students one-on-one to review their circumstance to determine any eligibility changes.
Professional Judgement
Impact in Income
Households can experience a change in finances that do not reflect the financial information used to complete the FAFSA. When this occurs, it is possible for the financial aid office to re-evaluate a student's eligibility based on current circumstances.
Circumstances can consist of, but not limited to:
- Loss of employment for at least 6 consecutive weeks.
- Loss of self-employment for at least 6 consecutive weeks.
- Reduction of Income/Loss of Benefits for at least 6 consecutive weeks.
- Divorce/Separation AFTER completion of the FAFSA.
- Death of a parent/spouse AFTER completion of the FAFSA.
- Unusual medical/dental expenses, paid out of pocket.
- Education expenses for a parent in college.
- Dependent Care Expenses
Learn more about the Professional Judgement process: https://youtu.be/FedfGShDVFs.
You will need to follow-up with a financial aid advisor at PPCC to discuss your special circumstance.
Unable to Provide Parent Information
To be considered for federal student aid, under federal law, you are required to provide parental information on the FAFSA unless you meet one of the criteria for being an "independent student". This is true, even if you do not live with your parents, your parent is not paying any of your college expenses, or your parent does not claim you as a dependent on their taxes.
Your special circumstance may be:
- You are unable to provide parental information.
- You are homeless or at risk of being homeless.
- You are seeking unsubsidized loan only.
Other special circumstances may include:
- An abusive family environment.
- Incarceration of institutionalization of both parents.
- Parents cannot be located.
Situations that are not considered a special circumstance include:
- Parent unwilling to provide information to complete the FAFSA or verification.
- Parent refusal to contribute to student’s education.
- Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
- Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.
If you are unable to provide parental information, complete the application using only student income.
You will need to follow-up with a financial aid advisor at PPCC to discuss your special circumstance.