If your family’s financial status has changed since you filed your FAFSA or if you had an expense that was not considered as part of the FAFSA, you may be able to file a special circumstance appeal. Appeals will be reviewed within 21 business days of receipt.
Cost of attendance (COA) change
Certain types of expenses can increase your COA. If you had any of the following expenses not accounted for when you filed your FAFSA, you may be able to have your COA increased:
- Vehicle repair or mileage expenses
- Computer purchase
- Dependent care allowance
- Professional licensure exams (graduate students only)
- Other reasonable education-related expenses
Be aware that an increase in your COA won’t necessarily allow for an increase in the amount of financial aid you’re awarded. For example, if you’ve already been awarded the annual maximum in Federal Direct Loan funding, you won’t be eligible for an increase in this funding due to federal annual loan limits. However, you may be able to get a private loan or a Federal Direct Parent/Grad PLUS loan up to your new COA.
Other situations
If you feel you have a special circumstance that isn’t covered by the EFC or COA change, contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships for assistance.
Student Aid Index (SAI) Change
If your family will be contributing less to your education than expected when you filed your FAFSA, you may be able to reduce your Student Aid Index (SAI). The following items may be taken into consideration:
- An involuntary decrease in income
- Loss of one-time or nonrecurring income
- You (or your parent, if you’re a dependent student) were separated, divorced, or widowed since filing the FAFSA
If you already have an index score between zero and -1,500, you should not submit an appeal for reconsideration. It will not result in you receiving additional aid.”
Special circumstance appeal forms
Please contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships at iufw.finaid@iu.edu with questions or to request these forms in an accessible format.
2024-2025 aid year (fall 2024 – summer 2025)
2025-2026 aid year (fall 2025 – summer 2026)
If you don’t meet the federal criteria for independent status on your FAFSA but feel you have unusual circumstances that would qualify you, you can request a dependency override. If you were approved for an override during a previous aid year, request a renewal instead. Submitted requests will be reviewed within 15 business days of receipt.
Unusual circumstances that may qualify you include an abusive family environment or being abandoned by your parents.
The following do not count as circumstances that will qualify you for a dependency override:
- Your parents refuse to contribute to your education
- Your parents are unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA or for verification
- Your parents don’t claim you as a dependent for income tax purposes
- You demonstrate total self-sufficiency
Dependency override forms
Please contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships at iufw.finaid@iu.edu with questions or to request these forms in an accessible format.
2024-2025 aid year (fall 2024 – summer 2025)
2025-2026 aid year (fall 2025 – summer 2026)
All IU Fort Wayne students are required to make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in an eligible degree or certificate program to be eligible for financial aid. Federal regulations require that your entire Indiana University academic record be reviewed for SAP, including semesters in which you did not apply for or receive financial aid. Please visit our SAP website for more information. Submitted requests will be reviewed within 15 business days of receipt.
By going to the qualtrics form below you can submit an SAP Appeal Form.
SAP Appeal form
Federal regulation allows students who have parents that refuse to complete the FAFSA and refuse to provide support to the student to receive an unsubsidized Direct loan. These students will remain a dependent student for financial aid purposes. Submitted requests will be reviewed within 15 business days of receipt.
Please contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at iufw.finaid@iu.edu with questions or to request this form.
