Wildfire or Natural Disaster - How to Ask for More College Financial Aid - Tip Sheet

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Bulrr

This quick reference guide explains how students can request additional college financial aid after a wildfire or other natural disaster affects their family’s ability to pay. It outlines when to file an appeal, which special circumstances qualify (such as job loss, catastrophic loss, temporary housing, or high unreimbursed medical expenses), and how to contact the financial aid office. It also details what documentation to provide, how to write a brief appeal letter, and how colleges implement adjustments based on the financial aid formula and holistic review.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages1

AccessFree to download

How to Ask for More College Financial Aid Due to a Wildfire or Natural Disaster

Why Appeal for More Financial Aid?

Special Circumstances from Natural Disasters

When to Appeal for More Financial Aid

How to Appeal for More Financial Aid

How to Write the Financial Aid Appeal Letter

What Is Adequate Documentation?

How an Appeal Is Implemented

Treatment of Medical Expenses

Other Special Considerations

Quick Reference Guide How to Ask for More College Financial Aid Due to a Wildfire or Natural Disaster Students can qualify for more college financial aid when they are affected by a natural disaster, such as wildfires, earthquakes, mudslides, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes. Why Appeal for More Financial Aid? □ Families should appeal for more financial aid when their ability to pay for college is affected by special circumstances □ Natural disasters can be hazardous to your financial health □ Special circumstances focus on changes, such as changes in income, assets and expenses, as well as cash flow challengesand other circumstances beyond the family’s control Special Circumstances from Natural Disasters □ Job loss, furloughs or a decrease in income □ Catastrophic loss (including personal belongings) □ Rent for a temporary place to stay □ Death of a dependent student’s parent □ High unreimbursed medical and dental expenses □ Hardship distributions from retirement plans When to Appeal for More Financial Aid □ Appeal for more financial aid whenever the family’s ability to pay is affected by special circumstances □ You can appeal at any time, even in the middle of the year □ File an appeal as soon as you know about the special circumstances How to Appeal for More Financial Aid □ Ask the financial aid office about their appeals process □ Some colleges have an appeal form and others just ask the family to write a letter □ Identify the special circumstances that affect the family’s ability to pay for college □ Attach copies of documentation of the special circumstances □ Mail the appeal letter with delivery confirmation or by certified mail, return receipt requested □ Confirm receipt by calling the financial aid office a week after mailing the letter and ask if they need more information How to Write the Financial Aid Appeal Letter □ Keep the letter short, to one or two pages □ Summarize the special circumstances in a bulleted list, one special circumstance per bullet point □ Be specific as to the dates and the financial impact of the special circumstances, such as estimated replacement costs □ Don’t ask for a specific amount of money, as it can cause you to get less money □ State whether you were uninsured or underinsured (e.g., you didn’t have fire or flood insurance) □ Provide reliable contact information for the student and parents (if applicable) What Is Adequate Documentation? □ Provide independent third-party documentation to the college financial aid office, not the admissions office □ Documentation should relate to the special circumstances, such as a layoff notice or unemployment notice for job loss □ Other documentation can include photos, bills, receipts, FEMA application, insurance paperwork, and letters from people who are familiar with the family’s situation (e.g., teachers, social workers, school counselors, doctors and clergy) How an Appeal Is Implemented □ After the college decides to make an adjustment, the process is formulaic, not subjective □ For example, a job loss or pay cut yields a reduction in income, which leads to a new Student Aid Index, which leads to a new determination of financial need, which yields a new aid offer □ Sometimes, a college will make an adjustment to the cost of attendance instead, when the appeal relates to a component of the cost of attendance (e.g., textbooks, computer, peripherals, transportation, or dependent care) or when the student already has a zero or negative Student Aid Index □ The review is holistic, taking all factors into account, including insurance payouts, not just losses Treatment of Medical Expenses □ Adjustments are based on unreimbursed medical expenses, including insurance premiums, co-pays, and deductibles □ The adjustment will be reduced by 11% of the Income Protection Allowance (IPA) from the financial aid formula, an allowance for medical care built into the financial aid f

FAQs

When should a student appeal for more college financial aid after a disaster?

Appeal whenever the family’s ability to pay is affected by special circumstances, and it can be filed at any time, even mid-year. File as soon as the special circumstances are known.

What special circumstances from natural disasters can qualify for more aid?

Common examples include job loss or decreased income, catastrophic loss (including personal belongings), rent for temporary housing, death of a dependent student’s parent, high unreimbursed medical and dental expenses, and hardship distributions from retirement plans.

What documentation is considered adequate for a financial aid appeal?

Provide independent third-party documentation to the financial aid office, such as a layoff or unemployment notice, photos, bills, receipts, FEMA application materials, insurance paperwork, and letters from people familiar with the family’s situation.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Bulrr