Where do I report parent's serious illness on FAFSA special circumstances section?

I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. The FAFSA itself doesn't have a specific section for special circumstances like illness - this is actually handled through a process called "Professional Judgment" that happens AFTER you submit the FAFSA. Here's what you need to do: 1. Complete the FAFSA with the required 2023 tax information even though it doesn't reflect your current situation 2. Immediately contact the financial aid office at EACH school your daughter is applying to 3. Ask about their "Special Circumstances" or "Professional Judgment" process 4. Be prepared to provide documentation of your medical condition and change in income 5. Each school will have their own forms and procedures This is incredibly important because your SAI (Student Aid Index) will be calculated based on the tax info, but schools have the authority to adjust it based on your current circumstances.

my sister had same issue last yr when my dad got hurt at work!! we just did regular fafsa then called all the schools after. most of them sent us special forms to fill out. def worth doing cuz my sis got wayyy more aid after they knew about our situation

You are absolutely right to be concerned about this! The FAFSA will calculate your SAI based on that outdated income information, which could significantly impact your daughter's aid package. In addition to what others have mentioned, here are some specific tips from my experience working in a financial aid office: - Submit the FAFSA as early as possible (October) - Prepare a detailed letter explaining your circumstances with timeline and financial impact - Gather medical documentation (diagnosis letter from doctor, treatment plan) - Get documentation of income change (termination letter, disability approval, recent pay stubs) - Ask for the financial aid officer's direct contact information - Follow up persistently but politely every 2-3 weeks The process is called Professional Judgment, and colleges have significant discretion in these cases. Some schools are more generous than others with adjustments.

wait i'm confused... my cousin said there IS a place to put special circumstances in the FAFSA... isn't there a comments section somewhere? or am i thinking of something else?

I went through something similar when my wife got sick during our son's college application process. The most important thing I learned: document EVERYTHING and be persistent. What really worked for us was keeping a phone log of every conversation with financial aid offices. I'd recommend calling each school as soon as you submit the FAFSA to explain your situation. FYI - when I was trying to reach the Federal Student Aid helpline to ask about this same issue, I kept getting disconnected after waiting for hours. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that held my place in line and called me back when an agent was available. Saved me hours of frustration and I was able to speak directly with someone who confirmed I needed to work with each individual school. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ that shows how it works. Definitely worth it when you're dealing with health issues and don't have time to waste on hold.

My daughter just went through this exact situation when I had cancer last year. Here's what I learned: 1) The FAFSA only uses your past tax info. Period. There's no place to explain special circumstances on the form itself. 2) You have to submit supporting documentation to each individual school, and they each have different processes and forms. 3) Get these documents ready now: - Doctor's official diagnosis letter - Statement from your employer about work status/income change - Your most recent pay stubs showing reduced income - Summary of medical bills and costs - Projection of income for the coming year 4) Don't wait until after you get aid offers. Contact schools immediately after FAFSA submission. Some have deadlines for special circumstances appeals.

ok but real talk - the financial aid ppl at the school my brother goes to said that even with special circumstances they can only help so much. like they have limited funds or something? so don't get your hopes up TOO high. still worth trying tho!!!

One important detail no one has mentioned: You should also check whether you qualify for any state-specific aid programs that have special provisions for families experiencing medical hardships. Many states have supplemental grants that aren't tied to the federal FAFSA calculation. Your state's higher education agency website will have this information.

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis and what you're going through. As someone who works as a financial aid advisor, I want to reassure you that this situation is more common than you might think, and schools are generally very understanding about medical hardships. A few additional tips that might help: - When you contact schools, ask specifically about their "Special Circumstances Review" or "Professional Judgment Review" process - Some schools have online portals where you can submit documentation, while others prefer email or mail - If your daughter is applying to multiple schools, create a spreadsheet to track which schools you've contacted, what documentation they need, and deadlines - Consider asking about payment plans or additional institutional aid beyond federal aid adjustments Also, don't forget to update your FAFSA if your tax situation changes significantly for 2024 - you may need to file amendments or provide updated information for the following year's aid. The key is being proactive and persistent while providing clear documentation. Most schools want to help students in genuine hardship situations. Wishing you the best with your treatment and your daughter's college journey.

I'm really sorry to hear about your diagnosis - that's incredibly tough to deal with while trying to navigate college financial aid. You've gotten excellent advice here already, but I wanted to add one thing that helped us when my mom went through something similar. When you're gathering your documentation, also include a brief personal statement (1-2 pages) that explains not just the medical situation, but the specific financial impact. For example, mention if you have ongoing treatment costs, if you've had to use savings for medical expenses, or if there are any other family members who might need to reduce work to help with care. Financial aid officers see a lot of requests, so painting a complete picture of your family's situation can really help them understand the full scope of the hardship. Also, if you have a social worker or patient advocate at your treatment center, they might be able to help you write this statement or provide additional documentation. Hang in there - most schools really do want to help in situations like this, especially when you're proactive about reaching out. Sending positive thoughts for both your treatment and your daughter's college journey!

I'm so sorry you're going through this difficult situation. As someone who recently navigated a similar challenge when my spouse was diagnosed with a serious illness, I want to offer some encouragement and practical advice. Everyone here has given you excellent guidance about the Professional Judgment process, but I wanted to add one thing that really helped us: when you contact each school's financial aid office, ask if they have a specific financial aid counselor who specializes in special circumstances or medical hardships. Some larger schools have staff members who are particularly experienced with these cases and can guide you through their specific process more efficiently. Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you speak with seems to just recite standard policies. Ask to speak with a supervisor or senior counselor if needed. Sometimes the frontline staff aren't fully aware of all the options available for special circumstances reviews. One more tip: if your daughter ends up choosing a school and you need to reapply for aid in subsequent years while you're still dealing with ongoing medical issues, keep all your documentation from this first year organized. It will make the process much smoother for renewal if your situation hasn't significantly improved. Thinking of you during your treatment, and I hope everything works out well for both your health and your daughter's education!

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis - that must be incredibly overwhelming on top of trying to navigate the college financial aid process. You've received fantastic advice here, and I want to add my voice of support that this process, while stressful, really can work in your favor. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also ask each school about their timeline for special circumstances reviews. Some schools process these requests very quickly (within 2-3 weeks), while others might take 6-8 weeks or longer. Knowing this upfront can help you plan and follow up appropriately, and it might even factor into your daughter's final school choice if aid packages are similar. Also, when you're preparing your documentation, consider including a letter from your oncologist that specifically mentions your prognosis for returning to work, if that information is available. Financial aid officers often want to understand whether this is a temporary or long-term change in your family's financial situation, as it can affect how they structure the aid adjustment. Finally, don't hesitate to mention if your daughter is considering taking on additional work-study hours or summer employment to help offset the family financial situation. Schools sometimes view this favorably as it shows the family is actively trying to address the circumstances. Wishing you strength during your treatment and hoping the financial aid process goes smoothly for your daughter!

I'm sending you so much strength during this incredibly difficult time. Dealing with a serious illness while trying to navigate college financial aid is overwhelming, but please know that you're taking all the right steps by asking these questions now. From what I've learned through my own family's experience with financial hardship appeals, the key things that made the biggest difference were: 1. Getting ahead of the process - which you're already doing by asking now 2. Being very specific about dollar amounts in your documentation (lost income, medical expenses, projected costs) 3. Following up regularly but respectfully - I kept a simple calendar reminder to check in every 2 weeks One thing that really helped us was creating a one-page "executive summary" that we attached to all our paperwork. It included the key facts, timeline, and specific dollar impact in bullet points. Financial aid officers review so many cases that having everything clearly summarized at the top seemed to help. Also, if you're comfortable sharing, some schools have emergency aid funds separate from regular financial aid that might bridge any gaps while your Professional Judgment review is being processed. Your daughter is lucky to have a parent who's being so proactive about this. The system isn't perfect, but it does work for families in genuine hardship situations when you know how to navigate it. Focus on your health and let the financial aid offices know they need to step up - that's literally what this process is designed for.

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis - what a challenging situation to navigate while trying to help your daughter with college planning. The advice here has been excellent, and I want to add one more perspective as someone who went through this process recently. One thing that really helped us was reaching out to the financial aid offices even BEFORE submitting the FAFSA to give them a heads up about our situation. Some schools appreciated the early notice and were able to fast-track our special circumstances review once we submitted all the required documentation. Also, don't forget about the CSS Profile if your daughter is applying to private schools that require it - unlike the FAFSA, it does have a section where you can briefly explain special circumstances (section ES). While you'll still need to follow up with detailed documentation, at least you can flag the situation there. One last tip: if you're feeling overwhelmed by managing all the school contacts and paperwork while dealing with your treatment, consider asking a trusted family member or friend to help coordinate the communications with financial aid offices. Many schools are willing to speak with a designated representative if you provide written authorization. Thinking of you during this difficult time, and I hope both your treatment and your daughter's financial aid process go smoothly!

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis - sending you strength during this incredibly difficult time. As someone who recently went through a similar situation when my husband was diagnosed with a serious illness during our son's junior year, I want to share what worked for us and offer some hope. The advice here has been spot-on about the Professional Judgment process, but I wanted to add a few things that made a real difference for our family: 1. **Timing matters**: We found that contacting schools in January-February (right after FAFSA submission) gave us the best results, as financial aid officers had more time before the busy spring deadline season. 2. **Create a "medical hardship packet"**: We put together a standardized folder with all our documentation that we could easily customize for each school. It included our letter, medical records, employment documentation, and a simple financial comparison showing "before illness" vs "current situation." 3. **Ask about institutional aid**: Beyond adjusting federal aid calculations, many schools have their own emergency funds or hardship grants that aren't widely advertised. We received an additional $3,000 grant from one school's "President's Emergency Fund" that we never would have known about if we hadn't asked. 4. **Appeal if initially denied**: One school initially denied our request, but we provided additional documentation about ongoing treatment costs and they reversed their decision on appeal. The process took about 2 months total, but 4 out of 5 schools significantly increased our aid package. Your daughter's education is important, and schools understand that medical emergencies happen to good families. Focus on your treatment and know that this community is rooting for both of you. You've got this!

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis - that must be incredibly scary and overwhelming, especially while trying to help your daughter with college applications. You've received amazing advice here, and I want to add my voice of encouragement that this process really can work in your favor. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to ask schools about their typical timeline for issuing revised aid offers after a Professional Judgment review. Some schools can turn these around in 2-3 weeks, while others might take 6-8 weeks or longer. Understanding this upfront can help you plan better and potentially influence your daughter's enrollment decision timeline if she's accepted to multiple schools. Also, when you're gathering documentation, consider including any correspondence about disability benefits if you've applied or plan to apply. Even if those haven't been approved yet, showing that you've initiated that process can help demonstrate the long-term nature of your financial situation change. Finally, don't hesitate to mention this situation in your daughter's scholarship applications too. Many private scholarships have provisions for students whose families are experiencing medical hardships, and it might open doors to additional aid beyond what the colleges provide. You're being such a strong advocate for your daughter during an incredibly difficult time. Focus on your treatment and recovery - the financial aid system has processes in place specifically for situations like yours, and it sounds like you're handling everything exactly right. Sending positive thoughts for your health journey and your daughter's college plans!