Sec. 13b.08.14.15. Special Financial Circumstances Appeals

A. A student may appeal if the student’s financial circumstances change, after the filing of the student’s application, as a result of one of the following:

(1) The student’s parent or spouse dies;

(2) The student or the student’s parents divorce or separate;

(3) The student, student’s parent (if dependent), or student’s spouse (if independent) as defined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) becomes involuntarily unemployed for at least 10 consecutive weeks in the current year; or

(4) The student or the student’s parent loses, as a result of the student reaching the age of majority, benefits from Social Security, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or child support.

B. The student’s appeal shall be supported by appropriate documentation sufficient to substantiate the student’s claim including, but not limited to, a copy of a:

(1) Death certificate;

(2) Divorce decree or separation agreement;

(3) Notice of job termination or layoff;

(4) Federal tax transcript or W-2; or

(5) Termination notice of unemployment benefits.

C. If the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) sustains a student’s appeal, OSFA shall provide the following relief:

(1) If the appeal was based on the death of the student’s parent or spouse, OSFA shall adjust the student’s FASFA income information to exclude the income of the deceased;

(2) If the appeal was based on the student or the student’s parents’ divorce or separation, OSFA shall adjust the student’s FASFA income information to exclude the income of the affected parent or spouse;

(3) If the appeal was based on the student, student’s parent (if dependent), or student’s spouse (if independent) becoming involuntarily unemployed for at least 10 consecutive weeks in the current year, OSFA shall calculate the student’s family contribution and total family income using an estimated income for the current calendar year; and

(4) If the appeal was based on the student or the student’s parent losing, as a result of the student reaching the age of majority, benefits from Social Security, TANF, or child support, OSFA shall calculate the student’s family contribution and total family income using an estimated income for the current calendar year.