Special Circumstance: SAI Calculation Appeal
Financial Aid and Scholarships provides a Special Circumstance: SAI Calculation Appeal regarding changes to a family's financial situation, based on new information submitted by the student. On exception, Financial Aid and Scholarships will review and consider changes to the student's available aid based on the information provided.
Completing a Special Circumstance: SAI Calculation Appeal is the process of allowing students/families to address income changes in the current calendar year, versus the previous year. The income change may result in a revision to the Student Aid Index (SAI), and any change in the SAI will help our office determine whether a student becomes eligible for additional financial aid. Students/families can also get an estimate of these changes by using the UC Davis Financial Aid Estimator, which provides an estimation of financial aid for prospective full-time, undergraduate students.
Does your FAFSA Submission Summary reflect a Student Aid Index (SAI) of -$1500?
If so, you have already been offered the maximum amount of financial aid available at UC Davis. Submitting a Special Circumstance: SAI Calculation Appeal at this time cannot further decrease your SAI of -$1500, and therefore will not make a student eligible for additional financial aid. If a student's expenses exceed the estimated cost of attendance, then the student can consider submitting a Cost of Attendance Appeal.
Changes Warranting a Student Aid Index (SAI) Review
Changes warranting an SAI review are limited to these specific situations:
- Layoff/Unemployment
- Disability
- Retirement
- Death
- Divorce/Separation
- Child or spousal support
- Out-of-pocket medical costs not covered by insurance occurring between January and December of 2024. Expenses must not exceed medical expenses as allowed by financial aid regulations.
- Change in the number of family members in the household to whom you or your parents provide more than 50% support.
Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing time as Special Circumstance: SAI Calculation Appeals will be reviewed in the order received. You will be notified by Financial Aid and Scholarships when your appeal has been processed, or if any additional information is required.
Please note, that if selected for verification, your appeal will not be reviewed until after verification has been completed.
The Department of Education will allow us to review and start making corrections on August 1. We will review documents in the order in which they are received. The review process could take 6-8 weeks.
Special Circumstance: SAI Calculation Appeal Instructions
The following processing information is for the 2024-25 academic year.
PROCESSING TIMES
The Department of Education will allow us to review and start making corrections on August 1. We will review documents in the order in which they are received. The review process could take 6-8 weeks.
- Disability
- Retirement
- Divorce/Separation
- Child or spousal support
- Out-of-pocket medical
- Death of a parent
- Layoff/Unemployment
Please note: The deadline for fall 2024 quarter tuition and fees is September 15, 2024. If your appeal request has not been processed in advance of this due date, you may submit a Deferred Payment Plan request through the Student Accounting office before the deadline of September 15, 2024.
DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS
LOSS OF INCOME/RESOURCES
As a result of layoff/unemployment, disability, retirement, divorce/separation, child or spousal support.
The following documentation is required:
- Complete signed 2023 tax return and all 2023 W-2s (REQUIRED for all appeals with changes in income)
- Three (3) most current earnings statements from each job held between January and December 2024
- Anticipated income for the remaining months of 2024
- If laid off, a letter of termination from the employer and a copy of the final earnings statement
- Notice of unemployment insurance award
- Disability benefits eligibility letter
- Retirement benefits statement
- Divorce decree or statement of separation
- Agency verification of loss or reduction of benefits
- Court/legal documentation (child/spousal support) verifying the date support ends
DEATH
The following documentation is required:
- Death Certificate
- Any information about income from death (i.e., life insurance, death benefits, pension plans)
OUT-OF-POCKET MEDICAL COSTS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE
Medical expenses must be significant* and must have been paid by parents or students between January and December 2024.
The following documentation is required:
- Receipts and/or billing statements from medical provider(s) that the family or student has paid out of pocket. Past due or unpaid bills are not accepted.
- Itemized statement from insurance company documenting costs not covered by insurance.
Please complete and attach the Itemized Medical Expenses Form when submitting your appeal.
*Significant out-of-pocket medical expenses, as defined by the Department of Education, begin at $2,098 for a household of one parent with one student in college.
CHANGES IN THE NUMBER OF FAMILY MEMBERS
Include any changes to the number of family members. These family members must be someone for who you, or your parents, provide more than 50% support.
The following documentation is required:
- A detailed statement explaining the reason for the change
- List names, ages, relationships, and number in college
Special Circumstance: SAI Calculation Appeal Submission Instructions
StudentForms allows you to submit documents electronically directly to UC Davis Financial Aid and Scholarships.
Please review the following before continuing to StudentForms:
1. You will need to register with your student information before requesting a Special Circumstance: SAI Calculation Appeal. Once you are logged on, you may request the appeal by clicking the "Manage Requests" button and selecting the SAI appeal.
2. When requesting the Special Circumstance: SAI Calculation Appeal, you will need to enter an explanation for the request. This is not your appeal statement, so please keep your explanation brief.
3. Once the request is submitted, you will see the documents needed before completing the appeal submission process. Please note, the Third-Party Documentation students are required to upload refers to any supporting document for a student's appeal (i.e., taxes, bills, additional statements, etc.). If Financial Aid and Scholarships requests additional documentation; it will also be labeled as "Third-Party Documentation".
4. Once all appeal documents are uploaded, click the "Submit" button, then the "Finish" button.
The Department of Education will allow us to review and start making corrections on August 1. We will review documents in the order in which they are received. The review process could take 6-8 weeks.