Grace Ruiz

3321 West Sells Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85017

(602) 642 - 6184 / GRA2130856@maricopa.edu

July 17, 2019

Dear Maricopa Community College’s Financial Aid Office,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. My name is Grace Ruiz, and I am a second-year
student at Phoenix College currently pursuing my Associates in Fine Arts. I am making this contact to
request a reevaluation of my financial aid package for the 2019-2020 school year. As a preface, for the
2018-2019 school year, I utilized approximately $5,330 worth of financial aid in the form of a General
Scholarship, a Drama Award, Federal Pell Grant, and Federal Work Study. This money was a critical
contribution that determined if I was going to further my education, and was crucial to my completion
of my first year at Phoenix College. After consideration for the upcoming year’s scholarships, Federal Pell
Grant, and Work/Study, I was awarded $0. I am requesting you to revise this value due to Special
Circumstances.

My current financial situation falls under a few of the FAFSA Special Circumstances grounds for
an appeal:
● The family is concerned that it will not be able to meet its required contribution
○ According to my Student Center, my Expected Family Contribution is $33,255. This is
72% of my mother and father’s combined income earned from work ($45,630) in 2017.
As you can see, this is a completely unrealistic expectation.
● The previous year’s income was affected by a significant one-time event that aren’t typical of
the family’s ability to meet its required contribution.
○ On 6/29/17, my mother underwent a complicated medical procedure in the form of a
spinal fusion. From this day forward, she was unable to attend work due to being in the
hospital for the procedure, attending a rehabilitation center, and returning to the
hospital during future dates because of side effects from the surgery.
○ Over-the-counter medication was required during and after this time, with co-pays
being out-of-pocket.

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 ○ On 12/15/17, my mother received and deposited $41,314 due to taking her Social
Security Benefits early and in one lump sum. She took out her earnings early because of
her and my father’s separation, displacement of home, and need to pay for necessities
(elaborated on more below) while being unemployed. She was dealt a penalty for her
actions. Although her income earned from work for 2017 was $8,541, this adjusted her
income for the year to $49,855 and making my family’s adjusted gross income $101,716.
On average, my family’s adjusted gross income is around $53,000 and allows me to be
eligible for consideration of awards. This temporary inflation of income due to a one-
time event done in the middle of December caused me to be ineligible for the Pell Grant
and other financial aid opportunities.
● A parent loses a job or experiences a salary reduction.
○ My mother was granted a leave of absence from her position at the Isaac School District
from 6/29/17 - 10/29/17 under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). As stated on the
documentation, “FMLA is unpaid leave.”
○ In addition, the form stated “We will need a doctor’s note releasing you back to work
with no restrictions…” Unfortunately, my mother was unable to return to work at all
after her surgery because she would always have restrictions due to her health.

In addition, certain events influenced the above. My mother and father were unofficially
separated during this time. This is why their 2017 Tax Returns were filed as “Married, but Filing
Separately.” My mother and I were forced to relocate, as my father forced her to find another living
situation. As a result, my mother and I were paying for hotels, visiting Women’s Support Centers, and
living with family. My needs were financed solely by my mother’s savings and limited income for the
majority of the year. However, since my parents were legally married in 2017, I had no choice but to
report both of their income taxes to FAFSA. It is a false representation of the money we had available to
support ourselves on.

I did my best to report all information I should submit to be approved for an appeal. If required,
I am happy to provide more information and documentation. Feel free to communicate through any
means listed in the header. My educational future depends on this decision and I appreciate your time.

Thank you for your consideration,

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Grace Ruiz