This page explains how to request for a Special Circumstance review for the 2025-2026 school year, the Fall semester begins on September 3, 2025.
Current RVCC Students: If you need a Special Circumstance review for the 2024-2025 school year, email us at finaid@raritanval.edu.
Before we can review your Special Circumstance, you need to:
- Submit your 2025-2026 FAFSA
- Submit all required documents to the RVCC Financial Aid Office
Income Appeal Forms for 2025-2026
RVCC Special Circumstances Guidelines
Sometimes, families have special situations that affect their ability to pay for college. These situations aren't shown on the FAFSA form. The Director of Student Financial Assistance can use professional judgment to help these families.
The FAFSA for 2025-2026 uses income from 2023. You can't use 2024 income instead. If your income changes between 2023 and 2025, it must meet certain conditions to be considered.
The FAFSA calculates how much your family can pay for college. Special Circumstances can change this calculation.
The Director of Student Financial Assistance makes decisions based on each family's situation. These decisions are final and can't be appealed.
Expectations: Meeting a Special Circumstance condition doesn't guarantee you'll get grant money. You still need to meet income guidelines set by the USDE and the State of NJ.
Income Eligibility
Families can estimate, based on their marital status and household size, if the projected income for the Special Circumstance will potentially make them eligible for a federal grant.
The State of NJ does not publish their income eligibility limits but we recommend families to use the federal guidelines for State grant determinations as well.
No institutional funds are available to families based on the Special Circumstance review.
If the projected income exceeds the Adjusted Gross Income limit based on your marital status and household size, you may not qualify for grant aid.
The household income maximums for 2025-2026 are listed below.
2025-2026 FAFSA Income limits By Martial Status and Family Size
| Family Size | Unmarried Parent with 2023 AGI* at or Below | Married Parent with 2023 AGI* at or Below |
| 2 | $64,090 | N/A |
| 3 | $80,795 | $68,365 |
| 4 | $97,500 | $82,500 |
| 5 | $114,205 | $96,635 |
| 6 | $130,910 | $110,770 |
| 7 | $147,615 | $124,905 |
| 8 | $164,320 | $139,040 |
| AGI Based on 325% of the Federal Poverty Level | AGI Based on 275% of the Federal Poverty Level |
*Your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) can be found on your personal tax return, 1040, line 11.
Please note that the income guidelines listed above are meant as a guide to assist families on their potential eligibility but other factors such as the student’s income and assets reported on the FAFSA may decrease the income eligibility amounts for the household size.
The maximum Pell grant award for the 2025-2026 academic year is $7,395 and the minimum Pell grant award is $740. Your household income would need to be at or below the amounts listed above, based on your family size and marital status, to be eligible for a Pell grant.
Unacceptable Special Circumstance Conditions:
- Furlough
- Private school tuition payments
- Credit card or other personal debt problems
- Foreclosure
- Bankruptcy
- Other discretionary expenses
Acceptable Special Circumstance Conditions and Tax Year Information:
The special circumstance determines which income year is used for re-evaluation. The situation must have happened on or after 2023.
To start a Special Circumstance request, review the acceptable conditions and follow the link that applies to you. Each form has instructions on what documents you need and where to submit them.
Once we get your request, we'll evaluate it and contact you with the results within 4 to 6 weeks via email. Parents can be copied on emails if they are Authorized Users (FERPA Authorization Form).
Note: Special Circumstance Review requests are handled on a first-come, first-served basis. If we need more documents, we'll email you, which might delay the process.
