Contribution Appeal Forms
You can find both of the appeal forms here.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. The 2023-2024 FAFSA used 2021 tax year information, so an appeal will be considered only for changes in the more recent 2022 tax year.
Important Contribution Appeal notes
The following financial situations are examples of special circumstances that can be considered:
- Loss of employment
- Reduction in earnings
- Paid medical costs not covered by insurance
- Death of a parent
- Tax Liens
- 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.
Special Circumstances and Required Documentation Accordion Closed
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE TYPES OF DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED CIRCUMSTANCES 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
- 2022 taxes must be filed before appealing.
- Students with a zero EFC do not need to submit the appeal form as their EFC cannot be reduced to below zero, and they 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.
- Please note, an approved appeal will not necessarily result in a change to your financial aid.
- Estimate your EFC with 2022 tax information with: https://studentaid.gov/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
- The deadline to submit an appeal for the 2022-2023 academic year is April 10, 2023.
- The deadline to submit an appeal for the 2023-2024 academic year is April 10, 2024.
Contact Us
Special Circumstances and Required Documentation Accordion Closed
| SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE | TYPES OF DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED | CIRCUMSTANCES 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 |
In order to submit the Contribution Appeal form, please contact our office to set up an appointment with an advisor at 928-523-4951 or Financial.Aid@nau.edu.
