Special Circumstances Reporting
The Department of Education gives financial aid administrators the ability to consider a family’s special circumstances in determining financial aid eligibility.
If there are special circumstances that affect your parents’ or your ability to contribute toward educational expenses, please send a letter to the Luther College Financial Aid Office outlining these circumstances.
It is important to be specific by giving dollar amounts. The Department of Education and the college requires you submit proper documentation for your circumstance.
All appeals are reviewed in accordance with guidance from the Department of Education and college policy.
Changes are awarded based on the availability of funds.
The following provides guidance for documenting some of the most common circumstances that may be considered. Read the instructions carefully to ensure that proper documentation is submitted with your appeal.
Note: PDF files require Acrobat Reader.
Parent Income Reduction
Your parent(s) may experience a projected reduction of income for the coming year due to unemployment, job change or retirement. Documentation must include a letter from the parent detailing the circumstances of the change. In addition, please complete the appropriate Luther College projected income form as outlined below. The proper form is dependent on the timing of the reduction.
To submit details, please download and complete either the Parent Academic Year Projected Income Request Form (PDF) or the Parent Calendar Year Projected Income Request Form (PDF).
If projected income is used for determining need, an update of the projection may be requested at a later date. Updates are submitted using the Update of Parent 2008 Projected Year Income Statement Form (PDF).
Graduate Sibling Support Verification
Students attending graduate school are eligible to apply for financial aid as an independent student. Because of this and graduate fellowships, many families can no longer claim that they are providing a minimum of half support to graduate siblings of the Luther student. To submit details, please download and complete the Graduate Sibling Support Verification Form (PDF).
Student Income Reduction
Significant reductions in student income may also be considered. To submit details, please download and complete the Student Projected Income Reduction Request Form (PDF).
Death, Divorce or Separation
If a recent death or a change in marital status had occurred in the family, please contact the Financial Aid Office for further guidance.
One-time Income
The Financial Aid Office may use professional judgment to remove one-time income received during the past calendar year in determining aid eligibility. One-time income from sources such as capital gains, inheritance, etc., (sources of income not expected to recur in subsequent years) may be considered.
Please provide a signed copy of the 2007 federal tax return and schedules A through F, if filed, indicating the line item(s) reflecting the one-time income. To submit details, please download and complete the Parent-Student One-Time Income Form (PDF).
Unusual Medical/Dental Expenses
The federal formula used in calculating the family contribution allows for normal medical expenses. Payments for unusually high medical and dental expenses may be considered.
We are unable to consider expenses paid through a pre-taxed flex account. To report unusual medical expenses paid in the 2007 tax year, complete and submit the Medical/Dental Appeal Request for Paid Expenses (PDF) form. If you are experiencing large medical expenses during the 2008 calendar year, please complete and submit the Medical/Dental Appeal Request for Projected Expenses form (PDF).
Elementary or Secondary Educational Tuition Expenses
Academic year tuition expenses for the upcoming year for siblings attending private elementary/secondary schools may be considered. Tuition costs must be documented by the school the sibling will be attending. To submit details, please download and complete the Elementary/Secondary Education Expense Form (PDF).
Educational Loan Payments
Educational loan payments made by parents during the past calendar for their own educational loans, PLUS loans, or private educational loans borrowed for the student or another child may be considered. Payments made by the parent for another child’s federal student loans are not allowed. To submit details, please download and complete the Parent Educational Loan Payment Appeal Request Form (PDF).
Social Security Benefit Reduction
Social Security benefits received by the family may be reduced when a family member turns 18 or graduates from high school. If your family benefits are reduced from the amount reported on the FAFSA, please complete the 2008-09 Social Security Benefits Reduction Appeal Request (PDF) and provide the documentation requested.
Child Support Payment Reduction
If child support payments have been, or will be, reduced from the amount reported on the FAFSA, please complete the 2008-09 Child Support Reduction Appeal Request (PDF).