American Rescue Plan (ARP) Special Circumstances Guidance
WCC students with documented “Special Circumstances” that negatively affect their/their family’s financial situation could be eligible for a financial aid adjustment of higher financial aid award.
For example, because of COVID, some employers have shut down, reduced work hours, furloughed employees and others may not have been able to work due to illness. Your campus financial aid office may be able to review your special circumstances to adjust the amount of financial aid you receive or would have received.
If your family has experienced a change in income due to unusual, special circumstances, your campus financial aid office has Professional Judgement and US Department of Education guided flexibility to re-evaluate your situation for the following reasons:
- Loss of job or permanent/indefinite reduction of work hours
- Separation or divorce
- Personal bankruptcy that occurs during the current financial aid year
- Death of a member of your immediate family
- Reduction/loss of child support
- High non-reimbursed medical expense
- Your parents took money out of their pension/retirement plan as a one-time payment to help cover expenses
- Other documented special circumstances outside of the student’s control
If you would like to apply for an American Rescue Plan Special Circumstance, please click on the link below and download the form.
- Please remember to include the appropriate documentation as stated on the form to support your Special Circumstance Appeal Form.
- You may mail, fax or drop off your completed Special Circumstance form along with all the required documentation to the Financial Aid Office.
Please note:
Although Federal Financial Aid appeal decisions (Special Circumstances) are at the discretion of the campus and are based on guidance provided by the US Department of Education and are completed on a case-by-case basis with all decisions considered final, WCC is compelled to make every effort to assist students in need. Once a student submits their special circumstance form they will be informed of a decision within 7-10 business days.
Contact Information
Email: finaid@sunywcc.edu
Location: Administration Building, Financial Aid Office (Room 120)
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Friday: 9:00 – 4:30 pm
Wednesday and Thursday: 9:00 – 6:30 pm