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 Financial Aid & Residency > Financial Aid > Residency Appeals |
Financial Aid Resources About the Financial Aid Division The Financial Aid & Residency Division provides guidance on matters pertaining to financial aid as well as applications for state residency. Our services include confidential advice and assistance filing for and appealing decisions related to financial aid and residency. Please see below for information on how to handle financial aid and residency conflicts. Do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance. New: Loan Repayment Calculator Financial Aid In order to apply for financial aid, you must fill out the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To continue to receive financial aid, you must refile the FAFSA each year - the deadline to file is early March. The FAFSA must be filled out in order to qualify for both federal financial aid and CalGrants. Emergency Loans If you are in need of immediate financial help, the Financial Aid Office will grant you an emergency, interest free, loan up to a maximum of $650. The loan must be repaid in full through the CARS billing statement within 60 days. Emergency loans can be used for any unexpected expenses or to cover costs if there is a delay in the disbursement of a student's financial aid refund. For more information on Emergency Loans, visit: http://uga.berkeley.edu/fao/emergencyloans.html Work-Study/Loan Conversions Work-study amounts can be converted to loans if you decide that you do not want to take a work-study job. However, it is more difficult to convert loans to work-study as the money is allocated according to the initial requests for work-study. If you are even marginally interested in work-study, be sure to check "yes" for the FAFSA question that pertains to your interest in work-study. For more information on Work-study/loan conversions, visit: http://workstudy.berkeley.edu/Work-Study%20FAQ.htm Budget Appeals If your school expenses are greater than the amount the Financial Aid Office determines as the standard student budget, then you may appeal to the Financial Aid Office for an increased budget. To do this, you must document the need for an increased budget, such as increased rent or living expenses. Consult the Student Advocate's Office for further assistance if you plan to file a budget appeal. To download the Student Budget Appeal form, visit: http://students.berkeley.edu/fao/pdf/budgeapp06-07.pdf Parent Contribution Appeals If there is a significant change in your parent(s) income since the previous year, you may appeal to the Financial Aid Office to change the Expected Parental Contribution. Appeals can be made on the basis of increased family medical expenses, loss of employment, or reduced income for the upcoming year. Consult the Student Advocate's Office for further assistance if you plan to file a parent contribution appeal. To download the Parent Contribution Appeal form, visit: http://students.berkeley.edu/fao/pdf/pcappeal06-07.pdf Back to Top Residency How to Establish California Residency for Tuition Purposes To file for residency for tuition purposes, log into your Bearfacts account at bearfacts.berkeley.edu. Click on the second button which says "SLR - Statement of Legal Residence" and fill out the forms as stated. You can fill in the forms, save the information, and return to the SLR to make changes/updates before you submit the entire SLR. The last day to file for residency is the last business day prior to the beginning of the semester. The following three requirements must be fulfilled before applying for residency. 1. Physical Presence a. You must have been in the state of California for at least one year prior to the residency determination date (determined by the Residency Office). b. Any time spent outside of California for more than 21 cumulative days will prevent you from being classified as a resident. c. You must be able to provide documentation to prove that you were present in California during the academic year as well as all university vacations, and breaks. The documentation can include receipts, bank statements, credit card bills, and housing contracts. The burden of proof is on you to demonstrate that you were present (as opposed to the University having to prove that you were NOT present). 2. Intent You must prove to the Residency Office that you intend to make California your permanent home. Ways to show intent are as follows: a. Register to vote in California and vote in the elections; b. Obtain a California driver's license within 10 days of coming to California; c. Register any vehicles in California within 20 days of settling in California; d. File California state income tax forms; e. Transfer all accounts to a California bank or branch. 3. Financial Independence FOR UNDERGRADUATES ONLY: a. You must show that you have been financially independent for a minimum of 2 fiscal years prior to the residency determination date. You must prove that your income from work and financial aid exceeds your expenses for the past two years.b. You must show self-sufficiency for the upcoming year. If denied California residency by UCB's Residency Office, you have 45 days to appeal the decision to the UC Office Of General Counsel. Please consult our office for further assistance if you would like to appeal the decision of the Residency Office. The above guidelines do not apply to all students. For further information and exceptions, please visit the Residency Affairs Unit in the Office of the Registrar at 120 Sproul Hall or visit: http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Residency/legalinfo.html College Calculator Student Calculator Back to Top |
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