Special Circumstances
At Allan Hancock College, we take the time to personally consider each individual family's financial circumstances using the FAFSA. We make every effort to be as accommodating as possible when determining your financial aid eligibility and award(s).
The FAFSA is a means to determine eligibility for every family; yet we realize that the FAFSA does not account for every family and/or situation. There are cases when families and students have a special circumstance that is not taken into consideration on the FAFSA.
If you feel you and/or your family has a special circumstance, please review the bullets below to see if you fit into any of the special circumstance categories.
If you are no longer eligible for financial aid due to NOT meeting satisfactory academic progress (SAP), you may qualify for an appeal.
If you have extenuating circumstances that affected your ability to maintain any of the Satisfactory Academic Program requirements and would like to be considered for federal financial aid funding, please download, print, complete, and submit the SAP appeal. You will be required to answer the questions below and attached all required documentation to the appeal.
Explain what happened (detailed instructions are included in the SAP Appeal form):
- The reason why you were unable to maintain satisfactory academic progress
- Explain what has changed in your life: any corrective measures that you have taken that will allow you to achieve and maintain satisfactory academic progress
- Use the Progress Report to document how you are performing in your classes currently
- Students who have attempted more than 90 units, must also attach a Student Education Plan signed by your academic program counselor.
- 2023-24 SAP Appeal
If you were considered dependent, but have extenuating circumstance, you may qualify for an appeal.
If you feel you should be considered independent because you meet one of the below criteria, download, print, complete, and submit the below Dependency Override appeal and provide all required explanation and documentation:
- Parent(s) is/are deceased or incarcerated or 100% disabled
- Unusual parental circumstances (e.g., parent’s whereabouts are unknown, documented abusive family environment, abandonment by parent, etc.).
Upon receipt of a Dependency Status Appeal Form and supporting documentation, the Office of Financial Aid will review your circumstances and documentation. Students with unusual circumstances that qualify for a dependency override will be deemed an independent student for the aid year. Special circumstances qualifications are discretionary and granted on a case-by-case basis.
Your 2023-2024 financial aid application reflects income information from the 2021 calendar year. If you or your family’s financial situation has changed from 2021, you may request to have your financial aid eligibility re-evaluated using your 2022 or 2023 tax year, or 2023-24 fiscal year (July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024) income information.
Complete the appropriate Income Appeal form(s) and provide an explanation and documentation as outlined on the Appeal forms. Some reasons for loss of income include:
- Loss/Reduction of Employment or Income
- Unusual Medical and/or Dental Expenses
- Divorce, Separation or Death
- Other, e.g. COVID-19 related
Before completing any of these forms, make sure your 2022-23 financial aid file is complete and you are meeting minimum satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards.