Change of Financial Situation Appeal
If a student, their parent, or their spouse (if married), experiences a change in their finances, the financial aid may be recalculated through a process called Change of Financial Situation Appeal.
Please note:
Students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 0 or below on the FAFSA will not benefit from submitting a Change of Financial Situation appeal form. The SAI is listed on your student aid report available via the FAFSA website: https://studentaid.gov.
Dependent Students
Allowable Circumstances
The following are allowable financial changes that we are permitted to consider for dependent students (must report parental information on the FAFSA):
- Parent or dependent student loss of job/reduction in income
- Parent or dependent student reduction in income due to a disability
- Parent or dependent student loss of benefits or untaxed income (i.e., child support, disability benefits, etc.)
- Divorce or separation of parents AFTER completion of the FAFSA
- Death of a parent AFTER completion of the FAFSA
- Parent or dependent student medical/dental expenses not paid by insurance and not claimed as a deduction on Income Taxes (expenses should be at least 20% of Adjusted Gross Income)
- Parent or dependent student rollover incorrectly listed as untaxed income on Income Taxes
Parent Appeal Process
Dependent students whose parents have experienced one of the allowable circumstances listed above may submit the appropriate Change of Financial Situation form. Review the form carefully before submitting.
Parents applying for aid year 2025-2026: (Two forms)
Student Appeal Process
Dependent students who themselves have experienced one of the allowable circumstances listed above may submit the appropriate Change of Financial Situation form. Review the form carefully before submitting.
Students applying for aid year 2025-2026: (Two forms)
Independent Students
Allowable Circumstances
Please note: The below Change of Financial Situation Appeals are only pertinent to UNDERGRADUATE Independent Students.
The following are allowable financial changes that we are permitted to consider for independent students:
- Independent student or spouse’s loss of job/reduction in income
- Independent student or spouse’s reduction in income due to a disability
- Independent student or spouse’s loss of benefits or untaxed income (i.e., child support, disability benefits, etc.)
- Independent student and spouse’s divorce or separation AFTER completion of the FAFSA
- Death of independent student’s spouse AFTER completion of the FAFSA
- Independent student or spouse’s medical/dental expenses not paid by insurance and not claimed as a deduction on Income Taxes (expenses should be at least 20% of Adjusted Gross Income)
- Independent student or spouse’s rollover incorrectly listed as untaxed income on Income Taxes
Student/Spouse Appeal Process
Independent, undergraduate students who have experienced one of allowable circumstances listed above may submit the appropriate Change of Financial Situation form. Review the form carefully before submitting.
Student/Spouse applying for aid year 2025-2026: (Two forms)
Next Steps
To submit a Change of Financial Situation Appeal, please contact a Financial Aid Counselor. The Financial Aid Counselor will provide instructions to upload documents to the UIC Student Portal: https://my.uic.edu.
After submitting documentation, SFAS will review and make any necessary corrections to the FAFSA. The Change of Financial Situation process generally takes two to three weeks. SFAS will send a request by email if we need additional documentation.