Financial circumstances change, and you may have special circumstances that affect your and/or your family’s ability to contribute to your education. We are here to help.
If you or your parents have special circumstances that are impacting your ability to contribute, you can consider requesting an Economic Hardship Appeal for reconsideration of your Student Aid Index (SAI) and eligibility for financial aid. We will review your appeal and adjust the information on the aid application, as appropriate, based on your current financial situation.
Availability and Deadlines
Berkeley students planning on enrolling for the 2026-27 academic year will be able to submit an economic hardship appeal beginning in May. Visit our Estimate Your Financial Aid page to learn how to use the UC Financial Aid Calculator to estimate the impact of a change in income on your financial aid package.
Entering students enrolling in Summer Sessions, who have a 2025-26 aid application on file at UC Berkeley, can request an economic hardship appeal for reconsideration of their summer financial aid beginning in June.
The priority submission deadlinesto submit a COMPLETED economic hardship appeal are as follows:
Students enrolled for the full 2025-26 academic year- March 2, 2026
Summer 2026 – three weeks before the end of the last session of summer enrollment
Students enrolled for Fall 2026 only – October 9, 2026
Students enrolled for the full 2026-27 academic year – March 6, 2027
Special Circumstances
Special circumstances we will generally consider through an Economic Hardship (SAI) Appeal:
Loss or reduction of income, including but not limited to loss of employment, reduction of pay, death of a parent or spouse, and reduction/loss of child support;
Change in income due to a divorce or separation;
One time only income distributions;
High out of pocket medical and/or dental expenses;
Costs associated with a natural disaster;
Costs associated with K-12 private education expenses;
A dependent, undergraduate sibling’s college expenses ONLY if the family is experiencing another significant financial hardship listed above.
Special circumstances we do not consider through an Economic Hardship (SAI) Appeal:
Changes to assets or inability to liquidate assets;
Loss of overtime or bonus;
Bankruptcy, foreclosures or collection costs associated with outstanding debt;
Consumer debt (credit cards, car payments, loans, etc.);
Lottery or gambling winnings or losses;
One-time income used for non-life essential items (e.g.. family vacation);
Parents (step parents or biological parents) who do not wish to provide support;
Marital separation where the parents are still living together;
Sibling’s college expenses if the family is not experiencing an additional financial hardship as outlined above.
Processing Times:
There are several factors that impact how quickly your appeal can be reviewed, including the time of year in which documents are received. We encourage you to read the instructions on the appeal form; incomplete submissions will create additional delays. In general, it can take 6-8 weeks for appeals to be processed, once everything is submitted.
Economic Hardship Appeal
Follow the instructions below to request an Economic Hardship Appeal
Note: If this is your first time using the Berkeley Financial Aid Forms website, you will need to register. This is a onetime process that matches up your personal information with the aid application we have on file for you. Find out how to get started with the financial aid form instructions to get started.
After you have logged into the Berkeley Financial Aid Forms website, click on the blueManage Requestsbutton at the top of the page.
Choose the option titled: Professional Judgement: Special Circumstances- EFC/SAI Appeal. Click on the green+ button to add the appeal to items that Need Action.
You will be asked to provide a brief explanation as to why you are requesting the appeal. You will have an opportunity to go into more detail about your and your family's special circumstances later on the appeal form.
Once you have completed the web-form, you will be asked to upload documentation that supports the appeal.
When everything is in order, click the Submit button to submit your appeal.
The documentation you will be asked to submit will vary based on your special circumstance. For 2025-26, see below:
Special Circumstance
Impact
Required Documentation
Reduction or Loss of Employment or Benefits
Your parent(s) income for 2024 or 2025 will be less than what was earned in tax year 2023.
Copy of a termination letter of employment or other benefits, including verification of severance pay or other retirement benefits.
Copy of year-to-date earnings (last paycheck stub in current year or 2024 W-2), unemployment benefits, disability benefits.
A signed copy of the 2023 federal tax return and W-2 wage statements (if not previously submitted to our office during the verification process.
Signed copy of the 2024 Federal Income Tax return, including all schedules/attachments, if available.
Reduction or Loss of Untaxed Income
Child Support, untaxed portions of IRA or pension distributions (rollover), or other untaxed income.
Copy of divorce/separation agreement, verification of a rollover (1099-R), or other documentation indicating the start and end date of benefits.
Change in Marital Status after the aid application was completed
Your parents were married; separated; divorced; or widowed.
Separation agreement, divorce decree, or death certificate.
One Time Payment Received
You or your parent(s) received a one-time lump sum payment in 2023.
Signed copies of the 2023 and 2024 federal tax return.
2023 and 2024 W-2 wage statements.
Documentation detailing one-time payment amount and source.
Unusual/Necessary Expenses
If you or your parents will incur medical/dental expenses, paid private school tuition for dependents, or have a tax lien in 2025.
Statement from the insurance provider stipulating amount of medical expenses not covered by insurance;
Private school tuition statement detailing out cost and any financial aid received;
A statement from the IRS and/or State Franchise Tax Board indicating monthly payment amount on back taxes.
Expenses Related to a Sibling's Enrollment in College. Can ONLY be considered in combination with an existing financial hardship circumstance listed above.
Your sibling is considered a dependent for financial aid purposes, enrolled half-time or more in a degree or certificate program at a post secondary institution as an undergraduate student.
Verification of sibling enrollment; and
A financial aid offer letter that details the school's estimated cost of attendance and the financial aid awards offered to the sibling.