When filling out your 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you will be using your tax information from 2023, which is what allows the FSA to know how much aid you might need to go to college. However, for some people, their financial situation isn’t the same as it was when they filled out those tax forms over a year ago.
Examples of this might be:
- Significant changes to your financial situation, such as loss of employment or pay cuts.
- Tuition expenses at an elementary or secondary school.
- High amounts of medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance.
- A family member who recently became unemployed.
- Other changes in income or assets that may affect your eligibility for federal student aid.
What do you do if you have special financial circumstances?
The first thing to do is to complete your FAFSA, as instructed and then notify the financial aid offices at the college or career school listed on the FAFSA form. The financial aid office may take these special circumstances into account and adjust your FAFSA information. Your school may ask you to document your special circumstances so that they can consider making an adjustment to your FAFSA information.
It’s important to do this soon, so that there is plenty of time for the school to go over your circumstances and make those adjustments in time for you to receive the financial aid you need.
For more information on filling out the FAFSA, please visit UCanGo2.org.