Special Circumstance Guidelines

MSU'S Office of Student Financial Aid aims to address all students' financial needs. To the extent allowed we will consider life changes which render the information on your Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) inaccurate (e.g., a recent and significant loss of income). Special circumstances are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, with the judgment of the administration serving as the final decision.

Review the guidelines below before submitting the Special Circumstance application. There are separate applications for Dependent students and Independent students.

Submitting a Special Circumstance application does not guarantee any change of your financial aid award. Because of this, you are responsible for your MSU account balance. Students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $0 may not submit a Special Circumstance application, as no aid increases can be made.

Use the table below to determine your particular circumstance. Action will be taken when the Office of Student Financial Aid receives all requested documentation, supporting summaries, and a complete and signed Special Circumstance Worksheet. To help with processing, please write the students BearPass Number on all submitted documents.

Important Dates

November 1, 2022 - Some circumstances will require you to submit a 2022 tax return if you apply for Special Circumstance consideration after November 1, 2022
April 21, 2023 - The final day to submit the 2022-2023 Special Circumstances application and supporting documents

2022-2023 Circumstance	Guidelines
Loss/Change in Employment	Change must be continuous for 8+ weeks Individual may also qualify as a Dislocated Worker
Student, parent, or spouse received public assistance, is a dislocated worker, or is a displaced homemaker	If these questions were answered incorrectly on the FAFSA, submit this form to correct the FAFSA If the student, parent, or spouse could not answer "Yes" to any of these FAFSA questions when the FAFSA was filed, but now can, submit this form to request a FAFSA update Documentation is required for all circumstances
Parents or student/spouse are now divorced or separated Dependent student's parent is deceased Independent student's spouse is deceased	If the status was incorrectly reported on the FAFSA, submit this form to request a FAFSA correction If the status changed after the FAFSA was filed, submit this form to request a FAFSA update. Not all update requests will be granted Additional documentation is required (see worksheet) Individual may also qualify as a Displaced Homemaker
Unemployment benefits have ended	Will remove 2020 unemployment benefits from EFC calculation Will remove 2021 unemployment benefits from EFC calculation if another special circumstance option is requested All recipients must have received more than $10,200 each in 2020 No minimum to the amount received in 2021
Expenses paid for private or parochial school in 2021	Only expenses paid by family will be considered Requires supplemental Private Tuition Payment Verification
High medical or dental expenses paid in 2021	An appointment with a financial aid counselor is highly recommended before selecting this option Only expenses paid by family will be considered. Charges paid or reimbursed by a third party or insurance will not be considered
Child support received in 2020 has been reduced	Documentation from Court or Child Service Agency is required
Parent attended college during the 2021 calendar year	Parent must be degree-seeking and enrolled at least half-time at an accredited institution Only expenses paid by the parent will be considered. Charges paid or reimbursed by a third party will not be considered
Other circumstances not listed	Select this option if your 2022 income has decreased drastically from 2020 An appointment with a financial aid counselor is highly recommended before selecting this option

2021-2022 Circumstance	Guidelines
Expenses student or parent paid in 2020 for private or parochial school	Expenses are only considered for non-public elementary and secondary educations (K-12) Expenses are only considered for the calendar year, defined as January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020
Medical or dental expenses	Consideration can be made for medical/dental expenses that were paid in 2020 and not reimbursed by insurance or a third party. Not all expenses will qualify.
Child support payments received have ended or been reduced in 2021	For changes to child support payments you or your parents have/will receive in 2021
Unemployment benefits Benefit have terminated OR Received benefits within the last 90 days and are still unemployed	Consideration will be given if you are no longer receiving unemployment benefit. Consideration can be made to remove total amount of unemployment benefits reflected on a federal tax return if you have received benefits within the last 90 days.
Student or Parent on FAFSA divorced or separated	Used to correct parent marital status that was misreported on the FAFSA, or to update parent marital status which changed after the 2021-2022 FAFSA was filed. If a dependent student's parents are divorced or separated but still live together, no adjustment will be made.
Spouse or Parent on FAFSA deceased	For dependent students, if a biological or adoptive parent on the FAFSA is deceased, only the surviving parent's 2019 income and assets may be considered For independent students, if a spouse reported on the FAFSA is deceased, only the student's 2019 income and assets may be considered
Loss/Change in Employment	Must be continuous for eight (8) or more weeks
Other circumstance	Any circumstance not listed that will cause 2020 or 2021 taxed/untaxed income to be significantly less than 2019 income reported on the FAFSA.. Consideration will NOT be given for: Winning/Gambling received Vacation expense Mortgage expense Legal expense Wedding expense Car payments Student loan payments Miscellaneous consumer item expense
Parent attended college	Expenses are only considered for the calendar year, defined as January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 Parent must be degree-seeking at an accredited institution and enrolled at least half-time