The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) uses information about your financial situation to calculate your Student Aid Index (SAI). Your SAI is used in the formula to determine your financial aid package. 

However, there may be a special circumstance that reduces your ability to pay for college which is not accurately reflected on your FAFSA. In this case, the Financial Aid Office has a process called professional judgment that allows us to review your special circumstances and, if approved, to recalculate your SAI and re-evaluate your financial aid package. Please note that if you already have an SAI of 0 or lower, there is no need to request a professional judgment because you are already receiving the maximum amount of financial aid available.

Situations that may qualify as a special circumstance include:

• Loss of income from unemployment, furlough, disability, or retirement.
• Unreimbursed medical and dental expenses for an exceptional medical emergency or incident.
  • Note: Unreimbursed means health care expenses not covered by insurance or third party.
• Legal separation or divorce.
• Death of a family member whose income was reported on the FAFSA.
• Termination of child support, alimony, or worker’s compensation.

You must clearly demonstrate a change in finances during the tax year used to complete your FAFSA or during the later tax years not associated with your current FAFSA.

You may be required to submit the following information to the Financial Aid Office if requested:

• Signed copies of federal income tax returns and all applicable schedules for the requested tax year(s).
• W-2’s for the appropriate tax year(s).
• Special Circumstances form and Verification Worksheet.
• Documentation of untaxed income (if applicable).
• Third party documentation to validate the request for a review of FAFSA data.
• Examples of documentation include unemployment payment history, layoff notice, severance letter, legal separation papers or divorce decree, death certificate, explanation of benefits for unreimbursed exceptional medical/dental expenses not covered by insurance.

How to Request:

The review of a Special Circumstance Appeal does not automatically guarantee an SAI adjustment or an increase in financial aid funding. To apply, contact the Financial Aid Office at (906)307-1206 or email FAO@gobeic.edu to request the Special Circumstances Appeal form. This form must be completed and submitted to the Financial Aid Office with all required supporting documentation.

Processing Timeline:

It’s our goal to review student requests and provide an approval or denial as soon as possible, usually within three weeks of receiving the student’s completed Special Circumstance Appeal form and required documentation. Decisions will be sent to your GCC email.

If you are a dependent student according to the FAFSA, your financial aid eligibility is determined by using your and your parents’ income and asset information. Dependent students are required by federal regulations to provide parental information and signatures to be eligible for financial aid.  However, special consideration may be available if you have experienced any of the unusual circumstances listed below.

The phrase “unusual circumstances” means a situation that makes it inappropriate to expect your parents to provide information on your FAFSA. You may qualify for an Unusual Circumstances Appeal if you:

• Left home due to an abusive or threatening environment.
• Are abandoned or estranged from your parents and have not been adopted.
• Have refugee or asylee status and are separated from your parents, or your parents are displaced in a foreign country.
• Are a victim of human trafficking.
• Have parents with a history of alcohol or drug abuse.
• Have parent(s) who are incarcerated, mentally or physically ill, or contact with your parents would pose a risk to you.
• Are otherwise unable to contact or locate your parents and have not been adopted.

The following situations do not qualify as unusual circumstances:

• You are self-supporting.
• You do not live with your parents.
• You do not communicate with your parents.
• You do not qualify for financial aid if your parents income is used.
• Your parents refuse to contribute to your education.
• Your parents refuse to provide their income information to complete your FAFSA.
• Your parents live out of state or in another country.

There is an important distinction between parents who are unable to complete your FAFSA and parents who are unwilling to complete your FAFSA. If your parents are unwilling to complete your FAFSA, please see the Parent Refusal to Disclose.

How to Request:

The Financial Aid Office understands that many students have unique family dynamics.  If you believe you qualify for an Unusual Circumstances Appeal, contact  the Financial Aid Office at (906)307-1206 or email FAO@gogebic.edu request an Unusual Circumstances Appeal form. This form must be completed and submitted to the Financial Aid Office with all required supporting documentation. All information and documentation provided is confidential. Please note that submission of an Unusual Circumstances Appeal request does not guarantee that the request will be approved.

Processing Timeline:

It’s our goal to review student requests and provide an approval or denial as soon as possible, usually within three weeks of receiving the student’s completed Unusual Circumstance Appeal form and required documentation. Decisions will be sent to your GCC email.

If your parent(s) is unwilling to provide their information to complete your FAFSA because they do not want to pay for your college, you can remind your parent(s) that submitting their information on the FAFSA does not obligate them to pay for your college. If your parent(s) is concerned about the privacy of their tax data, you can remind your parent(s) that all financial aid information is confidential and protected under the Family Education and Privacy Act (FERPA).

However, if your parent(s) still refuses to submit their information to complete your FAFSA, there is an exception that allows you to submit the FAFSA without parental information and apply for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Please note that the Direct Unsubsidized Loan is the ONLY federal aid available to you under this exception. To qualify for this exception, you must document the following:

1. Your parent(s) refuses to disclose any financial information for you to complete the FAFSA.

If your parent(s) refuses to sign and date a statement to this effect, you must get documentation from a third party, such as a teacher, counselor, religious leader, or court.

How to Request:  Parental Refusal to Disclose (FAFSA)

If you believe you qualify for the Parent Refusal to Disclose (FAFSA) exception, contact  the Financial Aid Office at (906)307-1206 or FAO@gogebic.edu  to request a Parent Refusal to Disclose (FAFSA) form. This form must be completed and submitted to the Financial Aid Office. All information and documentation provided is confidential.

Processing Timeline:

It’s our goal to review student requests and provide an approval or denial as soon as possible, usually within three weeks of receiving the student’s completed Parent Refusal to Provide Support form and required documentation. Decisions will be sent to your GCC email.