Filing A Financial Aid Appeal
An appeal is a way for a student and his/her family to communicate with the Financial Aid Services Office changes beyond the family’s control that have occurred since the FAFSA was filed or that was not reflected or explained on the FAFSA.
If an appeal is approved, financial aid eligibility is re-evaluated for federal aid since in most cases additional institutional aid is not available. Note: Changes in federal financial aid eligibility do not change or affect the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award calculated by HESC.
Eligible Appeal Circumstances
Significant or catastrophic loss of family income/benefits (student and/or parent) due to loss of job, retirement or disability.- Parent/Student who is widowed/separated/divorced after the FAFSA was filed.
- Necessary medical and/or dental expenses which were paid, but not covered by insurance, and will not be covered by insurance in the future.
- Personal bankruptcy that occurs during the current financial aid year.
- Required increase cost during the students period of enrollment (typically August- May)
- Additional transportation expenses for students residing outside states other than New York, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania.
- Additional educationally-related costs due to a disability or unexpected medical cost.
- Childcare expenses required to attend classes.
- Additional costs for required research, internship or field study.
- Additional room charges beyond standard charge when increase in cost is not due to choice of student.
- Other reasonable, educationally-related expenses reviewed and approved by the Associate Director or Director of Financial Aid Services at Binghamton University.
- Other special circumstances outside of the student’s control.
How To File An Appeal
- Be sure you have filed your FAFSA. (Binghamton University’s Federal School Code is 002836.)
- Submit a letter explaining your circumstance(s) attached to the Special Circumstances form to Financial Aid Services
- Once all information is submitted, the appeal will be reviewed. The student will be contacted via email within 10 business days of the decision or if additional information is required.
Ineligible Appeal Circumstances
- Personal choice decisions – i.e., assets exhausted due to family vacation, new car, income property, high mortgage payments, or credit card expenses
- Income level is already too high and an appeal would not change outcome.
- Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by the U.S. Department of Education after filing the FAFSA is already zero (0) – in which case the student is already eligible for the maximum amount for federal student aid, such as grants and loans.
