Appealing special or unusual circumstances

There may be circumstances that affect your and/or your family’s ability to pay for college which may not be reflected in the information collected on your application for aid.

The FAFSA and California Dream Act Application (CADAA) are both "snapshots" of your financial situation, income, and resources at a point in time in the past. Earnings and tax information reported for you (and if dependent, your parent) come from two year old federal tax and wage information. 

If your or your family’s financial situation has changed significantly from what is reflected on your federal income tax return (for example, a job loss, significant decrease in income, losses due to a natural disaster, significant and or recurring medical expenses not covered by insurance, etc.), or if there has been a change to your relationship with your parents, you may be eligible to have your financial aid eligibility reviewed by filing an appeal.

There are three types of appeals:

Student Aid Index (SAI) Appeal  - Allows you to demonstrate any significant changes to your or your family's circumstances since submitting your financial aid application. SAI appeals are meant to ensure that the information on your financial aid application best represents your ability to contribute to your education. SAI appeals are generally based on changes to income or assets. If your SAI appeal is approved, this may increase your eligibility for additional grant aid and/or loan opportunities.

Cost of Attendance Appeal – Allows you to demonstrate that you have significantly higher education-related expenses than those on SDSU’s standard Cost of Attendance. All expenses must have been incurred during the academic year, and you must submit documentation that you actually paid them. If your appeal is approved, a Cost of Attendance Adjustment Request may open up more loan and/or scholarship opportunities.

Dependency Override Appeal - Allows a student to appeal their dependency status on their financial aid application. If your appeal is approved, a Dependency Override Appeal could update your financial aid eligibility based on your individual income and assets. Please note that appeals of this nature require unusual circumstances (for example, adverse home situations or family circumstances that threaten the student's health and safety).

All appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and submission of an appeal request does not guarantee approval. You must provide acceptable documentation of the special or unusual circumstances that you are appealing. 

How to Appeal Special or Unusual Circumstances

Contact the Cal Coast Student Financial Center to be counseled on submitting an appeal and to have a "Task" added in my.SDSU that will enable you to upload the form.  

Note: processing time is up to 6 weeks during peak periods. 

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

A student is considered homeless if they lack fixed, regular, and adequate housing.

To be considered an unaccompanied homeless youth on the FAFSA form, an individual must be a youth who is (1) unaccompanied and homeless or (2) unaccompanied, self-supporting, and at risk of being homeless. Outlined below are some initial terms that support a homeless youth determination, as defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (McKinney-Vento) (42 U.S.C. 11434a).

• Unaccompanied—when a student is not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian
• Homeless—lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing
• At risk of being homeless—when a student’s housing may cease to be fixed, regular, and adequate, for example, a student who is being evicted or has been asked to leave their current residence and has been unable to find fixed, regular, and adequate housing
• Self-supporting—when a student pays for his or her own living expenses, which includes paying for fixed, regular, and adequate housing

Students who are unaccompanied and homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless qualify for a homeless youth determination. The Financial Aid Office will notify students via their my.SDSU "Tasks" tile about the required information.

Students are required to submit supporting documentation. The supporting documentation will vary based on the student’s circumstances. Students must complete and return the supporting documentation to the Financial Aid Office. Documents will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and all information will be kept confidential. Submitting an Unaccompanied Homeless documents does not guarantee the applicant will be deemed an independent student.

Upon receipt of Unaccompanied Homeless documents, the Financial Aid Office will review the student’s circumstance. Additional documentation may be requested. Students who meet the definition of being unaccompanied and homeless will be deemed an independent student for the aid year.