Financial Aid Appeals

Examples of Unusual Circumstances Considered

• Victims of human trafficking
• Refugee or asylee status
• Parental abandonment or incarceration
• Abusive Family Environment
• Parent(s) are incapacitated
• Both parent(s) became deceased after filing the FAFSA
• Unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self-supporting and at risk of homelessness

Federal guidelines stipulate the following conditions DO NOT solely qualify as circumstances meriting a dependency override:

• Parent refusal to contribute to the student’s education
• Parent unwillingness to provide information on the FAFSA or to provide required verification documentation
• Parent does not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes
• Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency

Please read the descriptions below to determine which form best fits your situation.

25-26 Unusual Circumstance Appeal Form

Use this form if you have unusual circumstances that prevent you from providing parental information on the FAFSA, and if you wish to be considered for a dependency override. Examples of unusual circumstances include, but are not limited to:

• Abandonment by parent(s)
• An unsafe home environment
• Parents who are incarcerated or their whereabouts are unknown

Each request is carefully reviewed, and documentation is required.

25-26 Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Verification Form

Use this form to verify your status if you are, or were, an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or at risk of homelessness.

• Homeless means lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing (e.g., staying in shelters, motels, cars, or temporarily with others because you had nowhere else to go).
• Unaccompanied means you are not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.
• Youth typically refers to individuals 21 years of age or younger, or who are still enrolled in high school when submitting the FAFSA.

To better understand determining factors that are considered for this update request, please review the following Flowchart:

Download the SchoolHouse Connection Flowchart

FAFSA Submitted Without Parent Information (Parent Refusal) Form

Use this form if you are a dependent student whose parents are unwilling to provide their information on the FAFSA. Common reasons include lack of financial support or a parent’s refusal to complete the parent section.

Submitting this form does not automatically change your dependency status for financial aid purposes; however, it allows our office to review your situation. If approved, you may be eligible for a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan only, without parent information on your FAFSA.

25-26 Dependent Student Change in Marital Status Review & Coversheet

Use this form if you are a dependent student who marries after submitting the current aid year’s FAFSA to request an update to your financial aid status. Approval is not guaranteed; each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis according to federal guidelines. You must be married before the start of the semester for which you are seeking aid.

Renewal Dependency Status (Effective beginning academic year 2023-2024 forward)

Financial Aid Administrators may presume that any student who has obtained an adjustment for unusual circumstances and a final determination of independence will be considered independent for each subsequent award year at the same institution, unless the student informs the institution that their circumstances have changed or the institution has conflicting information about the student’s independence.

If we approved your appeal in a previous year, approval is based on your continuing personal situation as documented in the appeal that was initially approved.

Submitting your Appeal

Please send your appeal and supporting documentation using the Secure Document Upload

What happens next?

We will review the information you submitted. If we need additional information, you will receive an email and/or phone call notifying you of the status. Once we have everything necessary, we will make appropriate adjustments to data on your FAFSA. You will receive an email from the FAFSA processing center when we do this. Please do not make any changes to this data as doing so will cause major delays in processing your aid. Once we receive the adjusted FAFSA results, we will complete your financial aid package. You will receive an email to review and accept your financial aid in WyoRecords.

How Long Will This Take?

The actual review of documents, reprocessing of the FAFSA, and subsequent adjusting of aid can take an average of 10-15 business days. The key to making this a timely process is to watch for status updates, check your email frequently, and respond promptly to requests for additional information.

Questions?

If you have questions, or require additional information or support, please contact our office by email (finaidappeal@uwyo.edu), phone (307-766-2116), or in person (Knight Hall Room 174).

Prior Year Forms

• Unusual/No Parent Support Appeal Form
• Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Verification

Types of COA Appeals

There are four types of appeals if you are seeking an increase to your COA for a single, specific expense. These forms are designed to streamline the process and ensure we receive only the documentation needed for that particular adjustment.

25-26 COA Adjustment Appeal Form

Use this form if you have higher-than-average costs in any of the following COA categories:

• Tuition and Fees (e.g., increased tuition charges due to course changes or credit hours greater than Block Tuition amount)
• Books and Supplies (e.g., required materials not included in standard estimates)
• Housing and Food (e.g., off-campus rent or utility expenses above standard estimates)
• Transportation (e.g., long commutes, excessive fuel costs, etc.)
• Dependent Care (e.g., childcare or elder care costs incurred while enrolled)
• UW Student Health Insurance (e.g., enrollment in the campus health plan if not waived)
• Study Abroad (see 25-26 Study Abroad COA Appeal Request form below)
• Computer/Technology Needs (see 25-26 One-Time Computer Allowance Adjustment Request Form below)

Required documentation for any of the above situations will include receipts, leases, billing statements, provider invoices, and/or actual tuition and fee charges.

Important Note on Evaluation: As part of the appeal review process, we will compare your actual billable tuition and fees to your current COA to determine if adjustments have already been made. If your COA is already higher than your billable charges, your request will still be reviewed based on the documentation provided, but it must demonstrate that your costs exceed existing COA allowances to be considered. Exceptions to this rule include appeals for Dependent Care, Computer Allowance, or Professional Licensure or Certification, all of which may be considered independently of your current COA.

25-26 One-Time Computer Allowance Adjustment Request Form

Use this form to request a one-time increase for the purchase of a personal computer, laptop, or tablet.

• This request is typically allowed once every 3-4 years
• Recommended maximum allowance is up to $1,500

Required documentation for this type of appeal will include an itemized purchase receipt or price quote.

25-26 Professional Licensure or Certification Request for COA

Use this form if you need to obtain a professional license or certification for your degree program or post-graduation employment. Examples might include:

• Teacher licensing exams
• Nursing licensure testing fees
• CPA, bar exam, or other professional certifications

Required documentation for any of the above situations will include registration confirmation, fee schedule or invoice, and/or documentation from your academic department (if applicable).

25-26 Study Abroad COA Adjustment Request

Use this form if you are participating in a study abroad program and expect to incur expenses beyond the standard COA. Examples might include:

• International program fees or tuition differentials
• Housing and meal expenses while abroad
• Flights and required travel insurance
• Visa or health documentation expenses

Required documentation for this type of appeal will include an official program budget from UW Global Engagement.

Submitting your Appeal

Please send your appeal and supporting documentation using the Secure Document Upload

How Long Will This Take?

The actual review of documents, and subsequent adjusting of aid, can take an average of 10-15 business days. The key to making this a timely process is to watch for status updates, check your email frequently, and respond promptly to requests for additional information. Late submissions may delay your aid packaging updates.

Questions?

If you have questions, or require additional information or support, please contact our office by email (finaidappeal@uwyo.edu), phone (307-766-2116), or in person (Knight Hall Room 174).