My family’s financial situation is different than the income information I reported on my FAFSA. What can I do?

We recognize that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may not always give a clear picture of your current financial situation. If the FAFSA does not adequately reflect your current situation or your financial circumstances have changed since you submitted the FAFSA, you may request a reevaluation of your financial aid eligibility.

Special Circumstances Consideration

If you or your parents have experienced a significant and prolonged decline in family income, you might be eligible for additional financial aid funds for the current academic year. Financial aid advisors will work with your family to make sure you are receiving the most financial aid you are eligible to receive.

Circumstances that will be considered include the following:

  • Loss of employment
  • Other loss of income
  • Separation or divorce (parents marital status)
  • Death of a parent or spouse
  • High unreimbursed medical and/or dental expenses
  • One-time payment received

Please be advised that once you have initiated a special circumstance request, the student’s FAFSA will be selected for a process called verification. The verification process requires us to collect additional documentation to review your request. If you are considered a dependent student, you and your parent (s) will be asked to submit documentation that may include but is not limited to your and/or your parent’s tax return transcripts or a signed copy of your and/or your parent’s federal tax returns, W-2 forms, and other MCC verification documents. If you are considered an Independent student, you will need to provide your and your spouse’s (if applicable) tax return transcripts or a signed copy of your and your spouse’s federal tax returns, W-2s and other MCC verification documents. Additional documentation may be required before your special circumstance will be reviewed and a determination can be made. If you later decide not to pursue the special circumstance request, MCC is still required to complete the verification process before financial aid funds will be disbursed.

Unusual Circumstances

Refer to conditions that justify financial aid administrators to make an adjustment to a student's dependency status based on a unique situation (e.g. human traffiking, refugee or asylee status, parental abandonment, incarceration), more commonly referred to as a "dependency override".

How to Request a Special Circumstance and Unusual Circumstances Review

Request a PJ (Professional Judgment) Appeal via mcc.verifymyfafsa.com. Submit all requested statements and documents. The review process for these requests is extensive and can take two weeks for your file to be completely reviewed. Be prepared to submit additional documentation.