Special Circumstances
At Case Western Reserve University, we recognize that family situations are complex and can change unexpectedly. While the FAFSA and CSS Profile provide a snapshot of your past finances, we understand this information may not accurately reflect your current circumstances and ability to contribute toward educational costs.
If your situation has changed significantly, you may request a reevaluation of your need-based financial aid eligibility. Reevaluations are categorized as either Special Circumstances (financial changes) or Unusual Circumstances (changes in dependency status).
Please review the categories below to determine which appeal process is right for you. Note that all requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and submission does not guarantee an increase in your financial aid offer.
Special Circumstances (Financial)
Use this process if there has been a significant change in your family's financial resources not reflected in your 2026-2027 financial aid applications.
- Common Examples: Involuntary loss of income, extreme medical/dental expenses (exceeding 11% of income), death of a parent or spouse, or maintaining two households for employment.
- Exclusions: We generally cannot grant appeals based on discretionary spending, standard consumer debt, or expected fluctuations in assets/income (such as self-employment, overtime, or bonuses).
- Required Action: Complete the 2026-2027 Special Circumstances Appeal Form by providing a personal statement (Section A), attaching third-party documentation (Section B), and, if applicable, estimating your 2026 income (Section C).
Download Special Circumstances Form (PDF) | Upload to Secure Portal
Unusual Circumstances (Dependency)
Use this process if you are facing unique family circumstances, unrelated to finances, that prevent you from contacting your parents or obtaining their financial information.
- Common Examples: Abandonment by parents, an abusive family environment, or an inability to locate parents.
- Exclusions: Per federal regulations, we cannot grant an appeal based solely on a parent’s refusal to contribute, a parent not claiming the student on taxes, or a student demonstrating total self-sufficiency.
- Required Action: Complete the 2026-2027 Unusual Circumstances Appeal Form by providing a personal statement and submit supporting evidence from a third-party professional (counselor, social worker, etc.).
Download Unusual Circumstances Form (PDF) | Upload to Secure Portal
Timeline and Next Steps
- Ensure you have submitted any outstanding verification documents requested in your portal
- New/Admitted Students: Use your admission portal
- Current Students: Use your My Financial Aid portal.
- Processing: Once all required documents and sections are submitted, a review usually takes about two to three weeks, but can be longer depending on the time of year. We will contact you via email if further clarification is needed.
- New/Admitted Students: Reviews begin in March.
- Current Students: Reviews begin by July.
If you are unsure which path applies to you, please reach out by email (financialaid@case.edu) or phone (216.368.4530). We are happy to talk you through the process.