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Some examples include:

• Change in employment status, income, or assets
• Change in housing status, like homelessness
• Medical, dental, or nursing home expenses not covered by insurance
• Child or dependent care expenses
• Death of a custodial parent

A financial aid administrator may adjust data elements in the Cost of Attendance or in the data used to complete the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile.  Adjustments made to the Cost of Attendance may result in increased loan borrowing potential, but will not result in an increase to need-based financial aid.  This may include adding allowances for dependent or elder care expenses, unexpected medical and/or dental expenses not covered by insurance, and/or adjustments for off-campus housing.  Adjustments made to the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile have the potential to result in additional need-based financial aid; however, this is not guaranteed.  Situations that may result in changes being made to the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile are a change in employment or income, divorce or separation of parents, and/or the death of a custodial parent.

• Parents refusing to contribute to your education
• Parents unwilling to provide FAFSA or verification information
• Credit card debt
• Vacation expenses
• Car or mortgage payments

Some examples include:

• Legally granted refugee or asylum status
• Parental abandonment or estrangement
• Student or parental incarceration
• Human trafficking, as described in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.)

A financial aid administrator might adjust your dependency status based on the situation.

• Parents refusing to contribute to your education
• Parents unwilling to provide FAFSA or verification information
• Parents not claiming you as a dependent for income tax purposes
• Demonstrating total self-sufficiency

1. Prep: Consider if your situation qualifies for review — examples of special circumstances and unusual circumstance are listed above.
2. Contact us: Reach out to the SMU Mane Desk at manedesk@smu.edu or 214-768-5555 and summarize your situation.
3. Gather documentation: If you have a situation we are able to consider, you will be sent a Review of Special Circumstances Request Form or a Provisional Independent Status Review Form, depending on the situation. You will need to complete the form, write a personal statement explaining your situation in detail and gather documents that support your appeal. Combine these into one packet and submit it to Financial Aid Services:
   • For undergraduate students, send documentation to ugfinaid@smu.edu
   • For graduate students, send documentation to gradfinaid@smu.edu

We recognize that you and your family may experience unexpected financial situations that impact your ability to cover educational costs. On a case-by-case basis, Financial Aid Services can review special or unusual circumstances through an appeals process that's authorized by the U.S. Department of Education.

• Financial documents
• A written statement on official letterhead from a third party acting in their official capacity (like an attorney, clergy, police, or doctor) that confirms the circumstances and the person’s relationship to you
• A written statement from a homeless shelter director or homeless liaison agency
• Court documents
• Child Protective Services/police reports

No. These situations are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and we cannot guarantee that any adjustments we may be able to make will result in additional financial aid eligibility.