Financial Aid - Special Circumstances

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Ok, what are your thoughts?

I work full-time as an administrative assistant and pretty much, I have been supporting myself, my husband and my daughter with my paycheck (which isn't a lot)

My husband has not been employed at all this year and of course, for financial aid, they go off of LAST YEARS tax returns.

So, I have filled out a Special Circumstances form and I am praying they will look at that and give me the financial aid for the Spring Semester since I will have over the 6 credit hours required.

Has anyone had experience with this? He didn't collect unemployment (because he quit - wasn't laid off), so we don't have that documentation, but I did get a letter from his last employer and I wrote a letter and I'll include my lastest paystub as well as last years tax returns.

Do you think they will give me the financial aid or am I wasting my time thinking they will?

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Specializes in SICU/CVICU.
Ok, what are your thoughts?

I work full-time as an administrative assistant and pretty much, I have been supporting myself, my husband and my daughter with my paycheck (which isn't a lot)

My husband has not been employed at all this year and of course, for financial aid, they go off of LAST YEARS tax returns.

So, I have filled out a Special Circumstances form and I am praying they will look at that and give me the financial aid for the Spring Semester since I will have over the 6 credit hours required.

Has anyone had experience with this? He didn't collect unemployment (because he quit - wasn't laid off), so we don't have that documentation, but I did get a letter from his last employer and I wrote a letter and I'll include my lastest paystub as well as last years tax returns.

Do you think they will give me the financial aid or am I wasting my time thinking they will?

I have never dealt the the special circumstances thing, but are you saying that you wouldn't get financial aid otherwise? I am not sure if you are talking about grants or loans (or a combination of the two), but I do not see why you wouldn't get financial aid even without special circumstances.

When it comes to applying for financial aid, the sooner you apply, the more money you get. If you are waiting until the last minute you probably won't get much of anything. Even if you are going off the last years tax returns where you were both employed you should still get a pretty significant amount of money. You might not get as much in grants, but since you are over 23 and have children you would get more than someone younger. I really don't think it is an issue of whether they will give you money or not, they should cover all of your expenses for school. I have known people that were a little older and made pretty decent money and still got more than enough money to pay for their tution, books, and some living expenses.

Like I said, I have never dealt with the special circumstances thing, but I think it will work out. I'm having financial aid issues too. Good luck!

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.

I have done a special circumstances for financial aid (FA). I had quit my job in August to start school in September. The aid package was really small. I contact FA office and had to write a letter as to why I needed more money. I also had to figure out how much money I would lose for the remaining year b/c of lost wages. I tallied it up...fax it out, and my FA went up. From $7,000 to like $15,000.

I really didn't have to fight with anyone... I think it went smoothly from what I remember. It was like 5 years ago. They might be more tight with it now.

I hope yours goes well. If they reject it...ask them why and re-plead your case.

Good Luck!!

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