Instructional Leadership, emphasis: K-12 School Leadership (MEd)
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  1. NAU
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  3. Contribution appeal

Contribution appeal at NAU

Has your financial situation changed since completing the FAFSA?

A Contribution Appeal is for students and/or parents whose financial situation has changed since completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to re-evaluate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is a measure of a family’s ability to pay for college expenses and is used to determine need-based financial aid.

Note: Starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA, the EFC will change to the Student Aid Index (SAI). To better understand these terms, visit the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid Glossary.

Special circumstances that could be reasons for submitting a Contribution Appeal might include, but are not limited to:

  • Loss of employment
  • Reduction in earnings
  • Paid medical costs not covered by insurance
  • Death of a parent
  • Tax liens
  • Out-of-pocket payment of k-12 private education tuition

The following are not considered special circumstances:

  • Pending reduction in income due to fluctuating commissions or consumer debt
  • Refusal of a parent to provide financial support to the student (see special circumstances for more info)

Special circumstances and required documentation

Special circumstanceTypes of documentation requiredCircumstances allowed for
Unemployment
  • A copy of employment separation letter, including verification of severance pay or retirement benefits (or the lack thereof);

  • Or a copy of a letter or statement establishing the amount of eligibility for unemployment benefits;

  • Or copies of recent W2s and 1040 Tax Form or Tax Return Transcript if their current income is less than their previous year’s income
Student, spouse, parents
Disability or Injury
  • Copies of statement(s) reflecting eligibility for benefits, monthly amount received, and start and end dates of payments;

  • Or copies of current W2s and 1040 Tax Form or Tax Return Transcript if their current income is less than their previous year’s income
Student, spouse, parents
Loss of income
  • A copy of termination notice of other income (e.g., social security benefits, trust payments, alimony, child support);

  • if currently employed, submit last 2 paycheck stubs
Student, spouse, parents
Death of spouse or parent
  • Required to provide the date of the event;

  • and copies of supporting documentation or certificates
Spouse or parents
Report of one-time income
  • Required to provide a copy of your previous year’s 1099-R or other financial statement of one-time income (e.g., early IRA distribution, conversions, and rollovers);

  • Prior-prior year tax forms;

  • Prior year tax forms
Student, spouse, parents
Medical treatment
  • Copy of the statement(s) from the insurance provider, pharmacy, or medical facilities stipulating the amount of the medical expenses paid that were not covered by insurance
Student, spouse, parent, household
Private education (K–12)
  • Copy of tuition statement that includes total tuition cost as well as any financial assistance received
Student siblings (if dependent), student children (if independent)
Tax liens
  • Statement from the Internal Revenue Service and/or State Tax Board indicating monthly payment amount on back taxes owed
Student, spouse, or parents
Court-ordered payments
  • Receipt of payments
Student, spouse, or parents

Important things to know

  • The 2023–24 FAFSA used 2021 tax year information, so an appeal for the 2023–24 FAFSA will be considered only for changes that occurred during the 2022 tax year.
  • The 2024–25 FAFSA uses 2022 tax year information, so an appeal for the 2024–25 FAFSA will be considered only for changes that occurred during the 2023 tax year.
  • Taxes from the tax year where the changes occurred must be filed before submitting a contribution appeal.
  • Students with a zero EFC do not need to submit the appeal form, as their EFC cannot be reduced to below zero. They will have already been offered the maximum amount of aid.
  • An appeal will only be approved if the EFC decreases as the result of the appeal process.
  • If the appeal is approved, a student may only become eligible for the Pell Grant or subsidized loan.
  • An approved appeal will not necessarily result in a change to your financial aid.
  • Estimate your EFC with 2022 tax information using the federal government’s Aid Estimator.
  • Students are responsible for the payment of all tuition/fees and other university charges by payment deadlines, regardless of the appeal outcome.
  • Once an appeal is submitted and all required documents are received by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, it can take up to 25 business days to process the appeal.

Deadlines

How and when to submit a contribution appeal

The deadline to submit an appeal for the 2023–24 academic year is April 10, 2024.

Contact us if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with an advisor.