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University of Wyoming

Appeals


Occasionally students or parents will feel that the information required on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) does not realistically reflect their circumstances or their ability to provide the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). When this happens, a student may choose to submit an appeal to the UW Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) requesting that his or her situation be reviewed.

Appeals may be one of two types. The first and most common type of appeal requests a reconsideration of the amount of aid that has been offered by providing additional information that will assist the office in determining the student's eligibility for financial aid. This additional information is typically related to:

  • Divorce
  • Retirement
  • Death of a family member
  • Loss of employment or significant reduction in income or benefits
  • Unusually high medical expenses NOT covered by insurance
  • Other unusual expenses or circumstances.

The method for submitting this type of appeal is the Student Financial Aid Appeal Form, which may be obtained from our office, after you have received your first Award Notice. The information submitted will be evaluated to determine if an adjustment can be made to present a more realistic picture of the family's ability to contribute to the cost of education. As always, adjustments to financial aid awards are subject to the availability of funds. Explanation of circumstances should be thorough, and when applicable, supporting documentation should be provided. Depending on the time of year and volume of appeals to be reviewed, a student may usually expect a decision to be made on his/her appeal within 2-4 weeks. Please note that expenses such as high credit card debt, home mortgage or repairs, or high costs of living are NOT appealable items. Also, appealing merely to ask for additional funds will not result in any changes. Appeals should be submitted only if your situation has changed dramatically or is not accurately reflected on the FAFSA. Please note that the deadline for filing an appeal is December 31 of the academic year for which you want the appeal considered. Appeals may be made only after an Award Notice has been received.

The second type of appeal is called a dependency appeal. This appeal is for students who feel that they should be considered independent from their parent(s) for financial aid purposes, even though they do not meet any of the automatic independent criteria as outlined in the FAFSA. Dependency appeals may be submitted under one of the four following categories:

  • You are a financially self-supporting student
  • You have irreconcilable differences with your supporting parent(s). Please note that your parent(s) choosing not to pay for your education is not considered an irreconcilable difference.
  • You are in danger of abuse, either physical or mental from your parent(s) or you have been abandoned by them.
  • Your parents are not US citizens and are unable to travel freely or move money from their country AND you are a resident alien or naturalized citizen of the U.S.

A variety of documentation is required for each type of dependency appeal. A complete set of procedures and requirements is available from this office, check with a counselor for further details. Approval of a dependency appeal does NOT guarantee that status in future years. Dependency appeals must be recertified EVERY YEAR. You should submit a complete dependency appeal with a completed FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA directly to this office. Your appeal may be reviewed by a committee of financial aid administrators. Additional documentation may be required to substantiate your appeal. You will be notified in writing as to the decision made on your appeal. If approved, we will sign the FAFSA authorizing the dependency over-ride and submit it to the Federal Processor on your behalf.

As you can see, there are various situations that might call for an appeal of either your Expected Family Contribution or your dependency status. Our mission is to provide funds to students who truly need financial aid. Often we cannot do that unless we are fully aware of unusual circumstances that may exist. If you have any questions about whether a particular situation might qualify, you should discuss it with a financial aid adviser. All your data and documentation are kept scrupulously confidential.