If you’re on the ball and raring to go back to school, perhaps you’ve already filled out your 2012-13 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

If you file electronically, you can find out in just three to five days how much financial aid you’re eligible to receive. (It takes a bit longer, up to three weeks, for those who prefer to mail in a paper application and don’t provide an email address.)

So, what happens if you don’t get as much aid as you were counting on—or if you’re flat-out denied?

You can appeal.

Some of the most common reasons for appealing financial aid decisions include:

• Incomplete or incorrect information on your FAFSA form
• Loss of a job or housing
• Uninsured medical expenses
• A divorce or death in the family

How does the appeal process work? Where do you start?

1. Contact the school’s financial aid office. Some schools have appeal forms right on their websites. Some don’t. Either way, someone in the financial aid office will be able to help you begin the process.

2. Update your application online if possible. If your application was rejected simply because of incomplete or incorrect information, the FAFSA processing center will send you an email with instructions on how you can make corrections online, even if you filed a paper application.

3. Make your case in writing if needed. If there’s more to this wrinkle in your game plan than missing or incorrect information on your application, tell your story. And do it in writing. Financial aid appeals go before a committee, so don’t expect to make your case over the phone or at someone’s desk.

4. Back it up with documentation. Be ready to provide any and all documents requested, such as a termination letter, proof of unemployment benefits, copies of recent paychecks and monthly expense statements in the case of a job loss.

5. Keep it brief. Be honest, straightforward and concise.

If you still have burning questions, you can reach the Federal Student Aid Information Center several ways:

• By phone at 1‑800‑4‑FED‑AID (1‑800‑433‑3243) or 319‑337‑5665
• By email at FederalStudentAidCustomerService@ed.gov
• Through FAFSA’s live online help site.