Financial Aid Support for Families Impacted by the Southern California Fires

by Paul Martinin Uncategorized

These resources are offered to support families with college-bound students in the Los Angeles area affected by the January 2025 wildfires. College financial aid offices want to understand changes in your financial circumstances as a result of this natural disaster to comprehensively evaluate your financial need and award need-based aid.

Through a financial aid appeal, you can submit new information about the financial impact of this event to supplement and amend the information submitted on the FAFSA or CSS Profile. Through a process known as Professional Judgment, the college financial aid office will include new factors like reduction in income, extraordinary expenses, and loss of assets in their evaluation or re-evaluation of your financial aid eligibility and award.

It’s important to advocate for these changes and engage in this process early. Start with these resources and work with your college counselor for support. Reach out to the financial aid offices; they are there to help.

Workshop Recording

This workshop was recorded on February 18, 2025, in partnership with LAISCC schools.

Financial Aid Appeal Letter Template

Use this appeal letter as a template for requesting an adjustment to financial aid.  Edit language to best reflect your personal circumstances. The italicized sections are prompts for writing.

College Money Method | Financial Aid Appeal Letter for Natural DisasterDownload

Q&A

These are the questions asked by families during our workshop, along with answers and guidance provided.

If we did not apply for financial aid previously, can we now apply post-fire?  What if they’ve already been accepted or the financial aid deadline has passed?

Yes. While schools have a preferred deadline, they continue to receive and process financial aid applications. They would provide financial aid based on available funds. You should also submit an appeal for special circumstances that detail the financial impact of the fires on your household finances. It’s important to know you can submit a financial aid appeal anytime, even when a student is already enrolled.

How will colleges create a financial plan for those impacted by the fires?

Colleges will incorporate all new information submitted, including 1) changes in income, 2) changes in assets, and 3) expenses incurred due to the fires. These expenses can offset the income colleges consider in the financial aid evaluation. There are details of their process at the beginning of the workshop recording.

I was told you can’t appeal FAFSA related to changes in financial circumstances and must appeal with each school. Is this true?

Yes, all appeals for special financial circumstances would be submitted to each school’s financial aid office. You can write a general appeal that can be submitted repeatedly to save time, but be sure to use the specific forms required by a school’s financial aid office.

How can we best demonstrate the need that we have this year if we continue to have income that wouldn’t normally be granted aid?

Colleges will consider expenses that result from the natural disaster as an offset to your income. Depending on the amount of these expenses, it may reduce the available income colleges consider and result in need-based eligibility.