The Department of Education allows financial aid professionals to alter a student’s FAFSA due to special or unusual circumstances, which allows students to be re-evaluated for financial aid based on a more accurate or current financial situation.
Special circumstances can include a change in family size, a decrease in income, or unusually high medical bills paid by the family.
Unusual circumstances constitute a potential change to a student’s dependency status as defined by their FAFSA form based on a unique situation, such as being homeless or at risk of being homeless.