Special Circumstances
Special Circumstances is used to address substantial changes to information collected on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or components reflected in the Cost of Attendance (COA). Please note that if the Petition for Special Circumstances is approved, it may not yield any additional aid being offered to you.
Petition for Special Circumstances – Income Adjustment:
If the financial information that you provided on your FAFSA does not reflect your/your family’s current financial situation due to extenuating circumstances, this request may allow the Financial Aid Office to update your FAFSA. Please note that Special Circumstance requests are NOT guaranteed to be approved. Special Circumstance requests cannot be approved after the applicable semester has ended. The deadline to submit this form and accompanying documentation is 30 days before the end of the semester to ensure processing times can be met.
Some examples of Special Circumstances include, but are not limited to:
- Changes in employment status or income;
- Divorce or separation of a dependent student’s parent or of an independent student, etc.
If you would like to request for Special Circumstance Consideration due to change(s) in income, please complete the form for the appropriate academic year and attach the supporting documents. For information about how to securely send official documents to our office, please visit our website.
Petition for Special Circumstances – Cost of Attendance Adjustments:
If your costs are in excess of the institution’s Cost of Attendance (COA), which include tuition, fees, books & supplies, food & housing, personal expenses and transportation costs, then you may request to increase your COA. Please note that requests for the increase to the COA are NOT guaranteed to be approved. Special Circumstance requests to increase COA cannot be approved after the applicable semester has ended. The deadline to submit this form and accompanying documentation is 30 days before the end of the semester to ensure processing times can be met. Some examples of Special Circumstances due to added costs can include, but are not limited to:
- Child care expenses
- Computer purchase (allowable only ONE time)
- Unusually high or additional medical/dental/disability expenses, etc.
If you would like to submit a request to increase your Cost of Attendance, please complete the form for the appropriate academic year and attach the supporting documents. For information about how to securely send official documents to our office, please visit our website.
Unusual Circumstances
Unusual Circumstance (Dependency Override) is used to address a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation in which the student is unable to contact parents or where contact with parents poses a risk to such student. This would enable an otherwise dependent student to apply for financial aid without parent information. The deadline to submit this form and accompanying documentation is 30 days before the end of the semester to ensure processing times can be met.
Some examples of Unusual Circumstances INCLUDE, but are not limited to:
- Parental abandonment or estrangement;
- Abuse or endangerment caused by parents;
- Legally granted refugee or asylum status;
- Human trafficking.
Unusual Circumstances DO NOT include:
- Parents refusal to contribute to the student’s education.
- Parents refusal to provide information for the FAFSA or verification.
- Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
- Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.
If you would like us to review your unusual circumstance to see if your situation warrants a dependency override, please complete the form for the appropriate academic year and attach your supporting documents. For information about how to securely send official documents to our office, please visit our website.
Review Process
The Special and Unusual Circumstance review process typically takes 3-4 weeks from the date a completed request and all required documentation is received by the Leeward Community College Financial Aid Office. During peak processing times, it could take longer but no more than 60 days to be reviewed. Please be aware that not all requests will be approved, and if approved, not all cases will result in an increase to a student’s aid package.
If a student is granted a dependency override, this status will continue for each subsequent award year unless the student informs us that their circumstances have changed or we have conflicting information about the student’s independence.
In the case where it is determined that the request for an Unusual Circumstance does not warrant a dependency override, the student will need to correct their FAFSA form and provide parent’s information. If the student’s parents are unwilling to provide their information on the FAFSA form, the student will only be eligible for the dependent-level Direct Unsubsidized Loan and must also complete the Parent Refusal to Complete the FAFSA Form for the appropriate academic year.
2024-2025 Academic Year Form for Parent Refusal to Complete the FAFSA
2025-2026 Academic Year Form for Parent Refusal to Complete the FAFSA
Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) is available to the parent(s) of classified dependent students who are enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) to help pay the cost of their educational expenses. PLUS loans can help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. These loans are typically awarded to students who do not demonstrate financial need or may be used to supplement a Federal Direct Stafford loan. Parents are expected to begin making payments after the loan is fully disbursed, unless a deferment is requested.
Eligibility
- The parent (biological, adoptive, or in some cases, stepparent) of a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time
- The parent must not have an adverse credit history; and
- Students must meet all general eligibility requirements for federal student aid.
Interest Rate
The interest rate on Federal Direct PLUS Loans is variable/fixed rates. Each year the index rate is determined as the “high yield of the 10-year Treasury note” auctioned at the final auction held prior to the June 1 preceding the July 1 of the year for which the rate will be effective, + 4.60% capped at 10.50%. Once calculated it will be fixed for the life of that loan. View current interest rate for PLUS loan.
Loan Fees
There is a loan fee on all Direct Parent PLUS Loans. The loan fee is a percentage of the loan amount and is proportionately deducted from each loan disbursement. The percentage varies depending on when the loan is first disbursed. View current loan fee for PLUS loan. The fee goes to the government to help reduce the cost of the loans.
Repayment
If the parent requests a deferment, they will not need to make payments while the student is enrolled at least half-time and for an additional six months after the student graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time enrollment. The parent will also have the option of requesting a deferment as part of the PLUS loan application process or by contacting their loan servicer. If the parent does not request a deferment, they will be expected to begin making payments after the loan is fully disbursed (paid out).
Annual PLUS Loan Eligibility
Eligibility is based on the following equation:
- Cost of Attendance (COA) – Financial Aid Resources = PLUS loan eligibility
For more information, visit our Cost of Attendance.
Apply for a Federal PLUS Loan
If your parent is interested in borrowing a Federal Direct PLUS Loan you and your parent must complete the following steps online:
- The student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form
- The parent must complete a Federal Direct PLUS Loan Application
- The parent must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN)
For more information on PLUS loans, visit the Federal Student Aid website.
Alternative Loan
Alternative or private loans are another option to consider for financing education. Alternative loans are designed to help students with educational expenses that exceed other financial aid such as grants, scholarships, work-study, and federal loans. FAFSA is not required. Alternative loans are credit-based; therefore, a co-signer may be needed. These loans are made by private organizations such as banks and credit unions and have terms and conditions that are set by the lender. For more information regarding alternative student loans, you may contact your bank or lender of your choice directly.
Contact Information
Contact the Financial Aid Office
Please use your UH email account when communicating with us via email. Please also include your student ID # in your message. If you do not have a UH email account, “Get a UH Username!” to create an account. Our response time for emailed questions may take an estimated 3–5 business days during peak times.
Hours:
Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Address:
96-045 Ala Ike, AD 201 (Student Services Welcome Center)
Pearl City, HI 96782
Phone: (808) 455-0606
Fax: (808) 454-8804
Email: lccfao@hawaii.edu
Federal School Code: 004549