Process for Special Circumstance Appeal (Federal Aid)
You may notify the Office of Financial Aid about the reduction in income and request a review by following these steps:
If you are attending Montco during the 2024-25 academic year (Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025):
- Complete and submit your 2024-25 FAFSA with accurate information from 2022 as instructed on the form (if you have not already done so).
- Submit the 2024-25 Special Circumstances form (along with the required documentation listed) detailing how your current financial situation has changed since 2022.
If you are attending Montco during the 2023-24 academic year (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Summer 2024):
- Complete and submit your 2023-24 FAFSA with accurate income information from 2021 as instructed on the form (if you have not already done so).
- Submit the 2023-24 Special Circumstances form (along with the required documentation listed) detailing how your current financial situation has changed since 2021
Process for Special Circumstance Appeal (PA State Aid)
If you are a Pennsylvania State Grant applicant/recipient, you may also be entitled to receive increased PA State grant funding due to income loss.
You may notify the PHEAA about the reduction in income and request a review by following these steps
- Complete and submit your FAFSA with accurate income information from the year as instructed on the form (if you have not already done so).
- Verify you met PHEAA’s deadline for filing the FAFSA (May 1 for returning students; August 1 for first-time, first-year Montco students) by logging into your AES/PHEAA account. Complete any required steps to finalize your application, if needed.
- Fill out PHEAA's Reduced Income Form found on their website or through your PA State Grant account.
- Send your completed Reduced Income form, along with the required tax documentation
outlined, to PHEAA in one of the following ways:
- Email: granthelp@pheaa.org
- Fax: 717-720-3786
- Mail: P.O. Box 8157, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8157
If you have questions about a possible PA State Grant increase due to income loss, call PHEAA at 1-800-692-7392 (TTY: Dial 711 for hearing impaired).
Additional Information:
Learn more about Special Circumstances with this informative video below. NOTE: We also have other videos to help students and parents with financial aid. Check out our video library.
