Special Consideration
Brown Hall, Suite 206
105 West O Street
Russellville, AR 72801
Phone: (479) 968-0399
Email: fa.review@atu.edu
2023-24 special consideration
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is based on prior-prior-year
tax information (tax information from two years prior). The U.S. Department of Education
regulates the process of collecting prior-prior year income and uses a formula based
on the FAFSA information provided to determine a student’s Expected Family Contribution
(EFC). The EFC is used to determine the amount of federal aid (grants, loans, work-study)
a student may be eligible to receive.
However, we recognize that the FAFSA information may not always accurately portray your current financial situation. If your financial situation has changed due to circumstances beyond your control, you may request a special consideration review of your financial aid eligibility based on those circumstances.
For example, during the 2021-2022 aid year, this process may allow the use of your 2020 federal taxes or July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021 income instead of the 2019 federal tax information.
Examples of circumstances that may be considered for review include the following:
- Loss/reduction of income,
- Loss of benefits (social security, disability),
- Divorce or separation (parents or student – 6 week minimum),
- Reduction or end of child support payments received, and/or
- Death of a parent or spouse.
Examples of conditions that will NOT be considered for review include (not an all-inclusive list):
- One-time payment received, such as, but not limited to,
- lottery/gambling losses or winnings,
- inheritance,
- withdrawals from pension, or
- sale of property.
- Bankruptcy, and/or
- Tuition paid for private (elementary/secondary) school or daycare.
A FAFSA is required before requesting special consideration. Be advised that the first step of a special consideration review is a student will be required to complete the verification process. This process will require additional documents, such as a verification form, a signed tax return or tax transcript, W-2s, and/or 1099s based on the tax year reported on the FAFSA. Additional documents may also be requested during the process. The special consideration review will not continue until the verification is complete.
The special consideration process:
Once all the requested documents are received, we will determine if the circumstances
qualify for a review and if the change(s) will impact the student’s EFC. A request
for special consideration does not guarantee approval nor does it always result in
increased aid eligibility for a student. If the changes do not provide additional
federal aid for the student, the process will not proceed. If there is a positive
impact on federal aid, the new information will be submitted to FAFSA. The student
will receive an updated award letter sent to their ATU email notifying them of the
changes. This process usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to complete once all the documents
have been received by the ATU Financial Aid Office.
How do I submit the special consideration request?
Before submitting a special consideration request, the student must submit a FAFSA for that aid year and complete all missing financial aid requirements on OneTech. The student must also email fa.review@atu.edu with information regarding their situation to see if they may be eligible to submit a request. Please be sure to include the Tech ID (T#) on all correspondence to our office.
2023-2024 REQUEST FOR AID REVIEW
Once approved by aid office; submit all documents through the secure link below. Log
in with Onetech id & password.
upload special consideration documentation
what may I have to submit?
In addition to the form above, click the reason for the request and a list of additional requirements will appear. Keep in mind, these are just examples of documents a student could be required to submit. Each situation is based on the individual circumstances and may require additional or more specific documentation than listed below.
- 2022, signed, federal tax return (student, spouse, and parents, if applicable).
- 2022 W2(s), 1099(s), and all federal schedules (student, spouse, and parents, if applicable).
- Paystubs received between July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023.
- Student statement if no federal tax return was filed for year in review (for dependent students only). In certain cases, a notarized statement, or proof from IRS of non-filing may be required.
Some examples include loss of employment, social security, disability, or child support received.
- Examples of documentation required are:
- source of income,
- amount of income received,
- dates income received, and
- proof income will cease.
Must be separated or divorced at least 6 weeks before applying for review.
- Notarized or legal statement documenting date of separation.
- Divorce decree.
- Death Certificate or Obituary for deceased.
- Students already receiving the full Pell-grant are not eligible for special consideration, because they are already receiving aid based on the lowest EFC.
- Students who no longer have eligibility for federal aid because they meet or exceed allowable program maximums.
- Graduate students are not eligible because the only aid they are qualified to receive is an unsubsidized loan. Lowering their EFC wouldn't make them eligible for any additional need based aid.
- Students who are in violation of Tech's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy are not eligible for special consideration, because they are not eligible for federal aid.