Appeals
Once you have received and reviewed your financial aid award letter, you may appeal its decision if your family's financial situation has changed significantly since you filed your application. You may also appeal if the application does not adequately reflect some unusual aspect of your financial situation.
Any of the following circumstances may result in the granting of additional financial aid:
- Loss of income through unemployment or underemployment for eight weeks or longer
- Medical expenses not covered by insurance
- Death of an immediate family member
- Unusual expenses related to special education needs of siblings
- Disability
- Change in student's off-campus living expenses
- Additional expenses for winter session classes
- Additional expenses for computers purchased for educational purposes
To initiate an appeal, read the Appeal Fact Sheet, and download the Undergraduate or Graduate Financial Aid Appeal Form (see Forms section). These forms are also available in the Financial Aid Services Office. You will need to include a written explanation and supporting documentation detailing your situation, and will be subject to a verification process. To ensure that your appeal is processed accurately, Financial Aid Services will request special documentation. It may include a statement of unemployment and/or termination of benefits, copies of medical bills not covered by insurance, a federal tax return for 2007, or expected income for 2008.
To determine whether your appeal warrants further consideration, please contact Financial Aid Services before filing. Due to the large number of appeals received, processing may take up six weeks. Because UMass Amherst commits most aid funding during its first review of on-time applicants, students are encouraged to seek alternative financial resources to meet any additional need.
