Our office can evaluate your circumstance to determine if it could have an impact on the type or amount of financial aid that is available. Documentation is required for all SCP Appeals and will not be reviewed until all documents are turned in and complete. It is important to remember that there is no guarantee that this will result in a change to your financial aid award.
How to appeal a decision that affects your financial aid
There are several reasons you might want to file an appeal:
- You’re classified as a dependent on your FAFSA but you feel you should be classified as independent.
- Special circumstances have significantly affected your financial situation since you filed your FAFSA.
- You can document expenses greater than your estimated cost of attendance.
- Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal
Deadlines and Time Frames for 2022-2023
- The 2022-23 Special Circumstance Appeal will be available beginning April 2022 and must be submitted by August 1st, 2022 to be considered for the 2022-2023 academic year.
- For Spring enrollment (1st Semester attendance only) or Summer enrollment (1st Semester attendance only), Special Conditions Appeals must be submitted by December 1st, 2022.
- Processing takes approximately 3 weeks from the time the appeal is submitted with all required documents as requested by the Financial Aid office.
- 2022-23 appeals for "unemployment" will not be considered after November 1st, 2022. After this date, they can be considered for the 2023-24 academic year.
- Out of pocket Medical/Dental expenses in 2020 in excess of 10% of your AGI
- One-Time Out of Pocket Extraordinary Expense paid in 2020 (ie: needed home repairs).
Deadlines and Time Frames for 2023-2024
- The 2023-24 Special Circumstance Appeal will be available beginning April 2023 and must be submitted by August 1st, 2023 to be considered for the 2023-2024 academic year.
- For Spring enrollment (1st Semester attendance only) or Summer enrollment (1st Semester attendance only), Special Conditions Appeals must be submitted by December 1st, 2023.
- Processing takes approximately 3 weeks from the time the appeal is submitted with all required documents as requested by the Financial Aid office.
- 2023-24 appeals for "unemployment" will not be considered after November 1st, 2023. After this date, they can be considered for the 2024-25 academic year.
- Out of pocket Medical/Dental expenses in 2021 in excess of 10% of your AGI
- One-Time Out of Pocket Extraordinary Expense paid in 2021 (ie: needed home repairs).
Types of Appeals
If you don’t meet the federal criteria for independent status on your FAFSA but feel you have unusual circumstances that would qualify you, you can request a dependency override. If you were approved for an override during a previous aid year, request a renewal form instead.
Allowable circumstances differ, so an appointment with the financial aid office is required to assess your specific situation.
The following do not count as circumstances that will qualify you for a dependency override. This is not a complete list:
- Your parents refuse to contribute to your education
- Your parents are unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA or for verification
- Your parents don’t claim you as a dependent for income tax purposes
- You demonstrate total self-sufficiency
- Your parent(s) no longer live in the same city, state, or country.
- Your parent(s) are incarcerated.
Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 765-455-9216 or finaidko@iu.edu with questions or to schedule an appointment.
A Special Circumstance for Parents (SCP) or Independent students may be used when a family's financial status is not accurately reflected on the FAFSA. Our office can evaluate your circumstance to determine if it could have an impact on the type or amount of financial aid that is available. Documentation is required for all SCP Appeals and will not be reviewed until all documents are turned in and complete. It is important to remember that there is no guarantee that this will result in a change to your financial aid award.
Appeal Requirements
To complete a Special Circumstance Appeal, you must speak to a financial aid representative in person to determine if you qualify to receive an appeal. In addition, you must complete the following:
- Have the current year's FAFSA completed
- Be included on the FAFSA information.
- Have a circumstance that is not already reflected on the FAFSA
- Provide all required documentation and any additional information requested during the Appeals process.
- Complete the verification process, if applicable. If the student's file was selected for verification and IRS Data Retrieval feature is not used to complete or updated the FAFSA, tax return transcripts and household verification will be required before we are able to process a SCP Appeal
Allowable Circumstances
IU Kokomo Financial Aid will consider adjusting for the following situations:
- Income Loss (ie: involuntary loss of employment)
- Severance Pay
- Out of pocket Medical/Dental expenses in 2021 in excess of 10% of your AGI
- One-Time Out of Pocket Extraordinary Expense paid in 2021 (ie: needed home repairs)
- Unexpected death of parent and/or spouse that earned income documented on the FAFSA
- Change in marital status due to the reason of divorce; legal separations will not be considered
- Marriage Update after completion of current year’s FAFSA
Non-Allowable Circumstances
IU Kokomo Financial Aid will not consider adjusting for the following situations:
- Bankruptcy
- Consumer Debt (ie: credit cards, card payments)
- "Lifestyle" choices (including high mortgage payments or second vehicles)
- Any circumstance experienced by a non-custodial parent (parent not listed on the FAFSA)
- Voluntary income losses (resigning or quitting job)
Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 765-455-9216 or finaidko@iu.edu with questions or to schedule an appointment.
If you have costs in excess of your Cost of Attendance to the university, you are welcome to complete a Budget Review Form. Please know that completion of this form does not guarantee additional financial aid eligibility, awards, or award types.
IU Kokomo Financial Aid will consider adjusting for the following situations:
- Housing: A current signed copy Rental Agreement, Lease Agreement, or Mortgage Statement on Company Letterhead.
- Transportation
- Billing Costs in excess of mandatory tuition and fees
- Book Costs: Student must provide receipt with student’s name showing a minimum out of pocket cost of $700.