Extenuating Circumstances that aren't reflected by FAFSA

[binks09]

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<p>Okay, so I’ve been accepted to UCLA (#1) and now have been looking at financial aid and scholarships.</p>

<p>The FAFSA does not reflect the financial trouble we are in right now… my dad was recently diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s) and my mom only works part time (basically, we have gone from an approximate 150k family to around 45k since my dad is now on disability.
Since this diagnosis was around application time (October-November), he was still able to work for a few months, completing the 2008 year. Anyways, once we did the FAFSA and stuff, our EFC was really high, around 10k over the UCLA tuition cost, meaning that we would get nothing in terms of grants and aid.</p>

<p>Now… I have two options…</p>

<li>Write a letter to UCLA financial aid and present evidence and the circumstances that would almost show my FAFSA is null and void. (Would this even work?)</li>
<li>Use most of my college fund (which sucks right now since its in the market, it was at one time up 50%, now only around 1%) for my first year, maybe a small loan, and then declare myself as independent, where I would only make around 8-10k for 2009, and hopefully getting and super low EFC for 2010.</li>
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<p>Any suggestions?</p>

[Altema]

<ol>
<li><p>UCLA has a form to introduce extenuating circumstances. The form can be found here: [UCLA</a> Financial Aid Office - Forms | Petitions | Verification Forms](<a href=“http://www.fao.ucla.edu/forms.html]UCLA”>http://www.fao.ucla.edu/forms.html) It’s called the projected income petition for parents. I personally had to do that but if your parents have a considerable amount in savings, and I mean over 60k, you probably won’t get much. My family situation kind of matched your but I got very little aid because of the savings issue. </p></li>
<li><p>I doubt you can declare yourself as an independent. From the UCLA Financial Aid website: </p></li>
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In order to be considered independent for financial aid purposes you must meet one of the following criteria:</p>

<p>• You must turn 24 before January 1 of the academic year that you are applying for.</p>

<p>• Graduate/Professional student.</p>

<p>• Married (as of the day you complete the FAFSA).</p>

<p>• Have children who receive more than half of their support from you.</p>

<p>• Have dependents (other than your children/spouse) that live with you and receive more than half of their support from you.</p>

<p>• Veteran of the United States Armed Forces <em>At the time since you turned age 13, both of your parents were deceased, you were in foster care, or a dependent or ward of the court.</em> An emancipated minor as determined by state court.</p>

<p>• Are or were in legal guardianship as determined by state court.</p>

<p>• At any time on or after July 1, 2008 you were an unaccompanied and homeless youth (see FAFSA for specific qualifications)</p>

<p>If you do not meet any of the criteria listed above, but can document extreme family circumstances that prevent you from obtaining your parents information/support, you may file an Independent Appeal Form (available under FAO Forms on our site) with the Financial Aid Office for a possible re-evaluation of your status.

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