Montco’s Financial Aid Office understands that students and their families may at times experience unique situations, and we are here to help as much as possible. There are two categories of unique situations: special and unusual circumstances.
Special circumstances are financial situations that result in significant changes in the household income reported on your FAFSA. Examples of special circumstances include, but are not limited to:
- The student, student's spouse (if applicable) or parent(s) receive a loss or reduction
in
employment, wages, assets, or unemployment compensation. - The student’s parents get divorced or separated after filing taxes.
- Medical expenses not covered by insurance.
- Child or dependent care expenses.
- Severe disability of student or another member of student’s household.
- Other changes or adjustments that impact the student’s costs or ability to pay for college.
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:
- Your parents are incarcerated.
- You have left home due to an abusive family environment.
- You do not know where your parents are and are unable to contact them (and you have not been adopted).
- You are older than 21 but not yet 24, are unaccompanied, and are either homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless.
Please note: according to federal guidelines, the following situations are not considered unusual circumstances:
- The unwillingness and/or inability of your parents to financially support you.
- Living on your own and paying your own bills.
- Parents not claiming a student as a dependent on their income taxes.
Click below for more information and to complete an appeal:
