{"id":3022,"date":"2020-05-09T18:45:19","date_gmt":"2020-05-09T23:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/?page_id=3022"},"modified":"2025-12-01T12:51:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T18:51:24","slug":"special-circumstances","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/special-circumstances\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Circumstances"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;padding-top:0px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:30px;margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top: 0px;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#eae9e9;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\" style=\"transform:translate3d(0,0,0);\"><h2>Special Circumstances Appeal<\/h2>\n<p>If your family has experienced a reduction in income since you completed the FAFSA, we may be able to help.<\/p>\n<p>The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) allows financial aid administrators authority to exercise discretion when a student has special or unusual circumstances. This authority is known as professional judgment and may allow us to adjust your FAFSA information to better reflect your current financial circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, it&#8217;s not always an easy process.\u00a0 But, we&#8217;ll help you through it.<\/p>\n<\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">#accordion-3022-1 .fusion-panel:hover, #accordion-3022-1 .fusion-panel.hover{ background-color: #f9f9f9 } #accordion-3022-1 .fusion-panel { border-color:#cccccc; border-width:1px; background-color:#ffffff; }.fusion-accordian  #accordion-3022-1 .panel-title a .fa-fusion-box{ color: #ffffff;}.fusion-accordian  #accordion-3022-1 .panel-title a .fa-fusion-box:before{ font-size: 13px; width: 13px;}.fusion-accordian  #accordion-3022-1 .panel-title a{font-size:18px;}.fusion-accordian  #accordion-3022-1 .fa-fusion-box { background-color: #333333;border-color: #333333;}.fusion-accordian  #accordion-3022-1 .panel-title a:hover, #accordion-3022-1 .fusion-toggle-boxed-mode:hover .panel-title a { color: #3a3a3a;}.fusion-accordian  #accordion-3022-1 .panel-title .active .fa-fusion-box,.fusion-accordian  #accordion-3022-1 .panel-title a:hover .fa-fusion-box { background-color: #3a3a3a!important;border-color: #3a3a3a!important;}<\/style><div class=\"accordian fusion-accordian\"><div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion-3022-1\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"fusion-panel panel-default fusion-toggle-no-divider fusion-toggle-boxed-mode\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-heading\"><h4 class=\"panel-title toggle\"><a aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-selected=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e798c08693c888756\" role=\"tab\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-parent=\"#accordion-3022-1\" data-target=\"#e798c08693c888756\" href=\"#e798c08693c888756\"><span class=\"fusion-toggle-icon-wrapper\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><i class=\"fa-fusion-box\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"fusion-toggle-heading\">Have you completed the 2026-27 FAFSA?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div><div id=\"e798c08693c888756\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse \"><div class=\"panel-body toggle-content fusion-clearfix\">\n<p>You will need to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) if you haven&#8217;t already done so. You may complete your FAFSA online at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.studentaid.gov\">studentaid.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-panel panel-default fusion-toggle-no-divider fusion-toggle-boxed-mode\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-heading\"><h4 class=\"panel-title toggle\"><a aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-selected=\"false\" aria-controls=\"428920a6200c1ce77\" role=\"tab\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-parent=\"#accordion-3022-1\" data-target=\"#428920a6200c1ce77\" href=\"#428920a6200c1ce77\"><span class=\"fusion-toggle-icon-wrapper\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><i class=\"fa-fusion-box\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"fusion-toggle-heading\">What documentation do I need to provide?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div><div id=\"428920a6200c1ce77\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse \"><div class=\"panel-body toggle-content fusion-clearfix\">\n<p><b>An appeal for Professional Judgment based on special circumstances should include:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a COMPLETE\u00a0Special Circumstances\u00a0Appeal\u00a0(Goldlink);<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SIGNED copies of student and parent (if applicable) 2024 Federal tax return(s);<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">student and parent (if applicable) 2024 W2 forms; and<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">any other documentation required to complete Verification.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Examples of additional requested documentation:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unemployment Benefit Statement<\/li>\n<li>Last Pay Stub<\/li>\n<li>Social Security Benefit Statement<\/li>\n<li>Severance Benefits<\/li>\n<li>Workman\u2019s Compensation Received<\/li>\n<li>Paid Receipts, Cancelled Checks<\/li>\n<li>Other documentation to substantiate the request<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-panel panel-default fusion-toggle-no-divider fusion-toggle-boxed-mode\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-heading\"><h4 class=\"panel-title toggle\"><a aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-selected=\"false\" aria-controls=\"771292e4ff78a3b80\" role=\"tab\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-parent=\"#accordion-3022-1\" data-target=\"#771292e4ff78a3b80\" href=\"#771292e4ff78a3b80\"><span class=\"fusion-toggle-icon-wrapper\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><i class=\"fa-fusion-box\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"fusion-toggle-heading\">How do I submit special circumstances request?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div><div id=\"771292e4ff78a3b80\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse \"><div class=\"panel-body toggle-content fusion-clearfix\">\n<p>First, it&#8217;s best to contact the Financial Aid Office at 816-271-4362 and discuss your situation with a counselor. We need to make sure you are not already eligible for maximum awards and also let you know the documentation that will be required for your specific circumstance.<\/p>\n<p>After that, you will need to do the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Log in to Goldlink.<\/li>\n<li>Locate the Financial Aid card.<\/li>\n<li>Select Financial Aid Forms.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select and complete the Special Circumstance Request Form for 2026-27<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Upload required documents<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>If you are a dependent student, a parent&#8217;s signature is required.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After you complete your part of the form, your parent will be sent an email. Your parent should select the link in the email message and establish their own account. Once complete, they will be able to electronically sign the form and upload documents.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-panel panel-default fusion-toggle-no-divider fusion-toggle-boxed-mode\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-heading\"><h4 class=\"panel-title toggle\"><a aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-selected=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ec4560f0e6aaf2cdb\" role=\"tab\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-parent=\"#accordion-3022-1\" data-target=\"#ec4560f0e6aaf2cdb\" href=\"#ec4560f0e6aaf2cdb\"><span class=\"fusion-toggle-icon-wrapper\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><i class=\"fa-fusion-box\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"fusion-toggle-heading\">Additional Information<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div><div id=\"ec4560f0e6aaf2cdb\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse \"><div class=\"panel-body toggle-content fusion-clearfix\">\n<p>Approval of an appeal by a financial aid administrator at another college or university does not mean that a similar determination will automatically be made by 大象传媒 Western. However, the other school\u2019s decision may be a factor in the determination.<\/p>\n<p>Professional Judgment determinations are always made by the 大象传媒 Western Office of Financial Aid on an individual, case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3022"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3022"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3022\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4262,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3022\/revisions\/4262"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3022"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3022"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3022"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}