Financial circ*mstances change, and you may have special circ*mstances that affect your and/or your family’s ability to contribute to your education. We are here to help.
Appeals for the 2024-25 school year will be available through the Berkeley Financial Aid Forms portal website from May 15, 2024to February 2, 2025
The priority submission deadline for the Economic Hardship Appeal for the 2024-25 academic year is February 7, 2025.
If attending only the fall semester, the priority submission deadline is October 4, 2024.
The Financial Aid & Scholarships Office cannot make adjustments after the last day of a student’s semester in attendance for the year.
Special Circ*mstances: Economic Hardship Appeals (formerly known as an Expected Family Contribution Appeal)
If you or your parents’ have special circ*mstances that are impacting your ability to contribute, you can consider requesting an Economic Hardship Appeal for reconsideration of your Student Aid Index (SAI) and eligibility for financial aid. We will review your appeal and adjust the information on the aid application, as appropriate, based on your current financial situation.
Special circ*mstances we will generally consider through an Economic Hardship (SAI) Appeal:
- Loss or reduction of income, including but not limited to loss of employment, reduction of pay, death of a parent or spouse, and reduction/loss of child support;
- Change in income due to a divorce or separation;
- One time only income distributions;
- High out of pocket medical and/or dental expenses;
- Costs associated with a natural disaster;
- Costs associated with K-12 private education expenses;
- A dependent, undergraduate sibling’s college expenses ONLY if the family is experiencing an additional financial hardship listed above.
Special circ*mstances we do not consider through an Economic Hardship (SAI) Appeal:
- Changes to assets or inability to liquidate assets;
- Loss of overtime or bonus;
- Bankruptcy, foreclosures or collection costs associated with outstanding debt;
- Consumer debt (credit cards, car payments, loans, etc.);
- Lottery or gambling winnings or losses;
- One-time income used for non-life essential items (e.g.. family vacation);
- Parents (step parents or biological parents) who do not wish to provide support;
- Marital separation where the parents are still living together;
- Sibling’s college expenses if the family is not experiencing an additional financial hardship as outlined above.
Processing Times:
There are several factors that impact how quickly your appeal can be reviewed, including the time of year in which documents are received. Additionally, due to the changes related to FAFSA Simplification and delays in system functionality at the Department of Education, processing times are longer than anticipated. We encourage you to read the instructions on the appeal form; incomplete submissions will create additional delays. In general, it can take 6-8 weeks for appeals to be processed, once everything is submitted.
Economic Hardship Appeal
How to Request an Economic Hardship Appeal
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Follow the instructions below to request an Economic Hardship Appeal
- Navigate to the Berkeley Financial Aid Forms website
- Note: If this is your first time using the Berkeley Financial Aid Forms website, you will need to register.This is a onetime process that matches up your personal information with the aid application we have on file for you. Find out how to get started with the financial aid form instructions to get started.
- After you have logged into the Berkeley Financial Aid Forms website, click on the blue Manage Requests button at the top of the page.
- Choose the option titled: Professional Judgement: Special Circ*mstances- EFC/SAI Appeal. Click on the green + button to add the appeal to items that Need Action.
- You will be asked to provide a brief explanation as to why you are requesting the appeal. You will have an opportunity to go into more detail about your and your family's special circ*mstances later on the appeal form.
- Once you have completed the web-form, you will be asked to upload documentation that supports the appeal.
- When everything is in order, click the Submit button to submit your appeal.
The documentation you submit will vary based on your special circ*mstance. See below:
Special Circ*mstance Impact Required Documentation Reduction or Loss of Employment or Benefits Your parent(s) income for 2023 or 2024 will be less than what was earned in tax year 2022 - Copy of a termination letter of employment or other benefits, including verification of severance pay or other retirement benefits.
- Copy of year-to-date earnings (last paycheck stub in current year or 2023 W-2), unemployment benefits, disability benefits.
- A signed copy of the 2022 federal tax return and W-2 wage statements (if not previously submitted to our office during the verificaiton process.
Signed copy of the 2023 Federal Income Tax return, including all schedules/attachments, if available.
Reduction or Loss of Untaxed Income Child Support, untaxed portions of IRA or pension distributions (rollover), or other untaxed income. - Copy of divorce/separation agreement, verification of a rollover (1099-R), or other documentation indicating the start and end date of benefits.
Change in Marital Status after the aid application was completed Your parents were married; separated; divorced; or widowed. - Separation agreement, divorce decree, or death certificate.
One Time Payment Received You or your parent(s) received a one-time lump sum payment in 2022. - Signed copies of the 2022 and 2023 federal tax return.
- 2022 and 2023 W-2 wage statements.
- Documentation detailing one-time payment amount and source.
Unusual/Necessary Expenses If you or your parents will incur medical/dental expenses, paid private school tuition for dependents, or have a tax lien in 2024. - Statement from the insurance provider stipulating amount of medical expenses not covered by insurance;
- Private school tuition statement detailing out cost and any financial aid received;
- A statement from the IRS and/or State Franchise Tax Board indicating monthly payment amount on back taxes.
Expenses Related to a Sibling's Enrollment in College. Can ONLY be considered in combination with an existing financial hardship circ*mstance listed above. Your sibling is considered a dependent for financial aid purposes, enrolled half-time or more in a degree or certificate program at a post secondary institution as an undergraduate student. - Verification of sibling enrollment;and
- A financial aid offer letter that details the school's estimated cost of attendance and the financial aid awards offered to the sibling.
- Navigate to the Berkeley Financial Aid Forms website
