When you (the student) file the 2013-2014 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you are required to provide information about your household (e.g., yourself and your spouse, if married, or your parents, if required), including 2012 income information. The household data provided on your FAFSA is used by the U.S. Department of Education’s Central Processing System to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is intended to represent your household’s financial strength.

Sometimes you or members of your household (spouse or parents) experience a special circumstance not reported on the 2013-2014 FAFSA that has impacted the household’s ability to pay for your educationally-related expenses. The FAFSA Adjustment Form allows you (and members of your household) to document your special circumstance which, if approved, may allow the Office of Financial Aid to recalculate your EFC and have your financial aid re-evaluated.

FAFSA Adjustment Policy

Annually, and on a case-by-case basis, the Office of Financial Aid may recalculate your EFC and re-evaluate your financial aid awards due to your or a member of your household's (spouse or parents) documented special circumstance. The Office of Financial Aid will require you complete the FAFSA Verification process prior to reviewing your FAFSA Adjustment Form.

Situations that qualify as a special circumstance for FAFSA adjustment for the 2013-2014 aid year include:  

  • Health care expenses (e.g. medical, dental, etc.) were paid during the 2013 calendar year that were not covered by a third party.
  • Loss of all or part of one of the following sources of 2012 taxable or untaxed income reported on the 2013-2014 FAFSA: (1) wages, salaries, and tips; (2) unemployment; (3) Adjusted Gross Income; (4) child support paid; (5) child support received; (6) living allowances paid to military, clergy, and others; or (6) veteran’s non-educational benefits
  • A one-time event (i.e. not reoccurring due to the same circumstance), such as an inheritance, windfall, settlement, buyout, withdrawal, etc., occurred in 2012 and was reported on the 2013-2014 FAFSA.
  • A parent included in the household on your (the student's) 2013-2014 FAFSA is enrolled at least half-time in a degree- or certificate-granting program during the 2013-2014 academic year at a college/university that participates in the federal student aid programs.
  • A regular IRA was converted to a Roth IRA and the amount converted was reported as taxable income for 2012 on the 2013-2014 FAFSA.
  • The parents included in the household on your (the student's) 2013-2014 FAFSA were married at the time you (the student) filed your FAFSA and were reported as such on the FAFSA, but the parent’s marital status is now separated, divorced, or widowed.
  • Elementary or secondary school tuition expenses for a dependent child were paid during the 2013 calendar year that were not covered by a third party.

How to Apply

You (and members of your household, if required) must complete and return the 2013-2014 FAFSA Adjustment Form and supporting documentation to Raider Connect by April 15, 2014. The submission of a FAFSA Adjustment Form does not guarantee your EFC will be adjusted. 

Upon receipt of your FAFSA Adjustment Form, the Office of Financial Aid will require you complete the FAFSA Verification process. Once the FAFSA Verification process is complete, the Office of Financial Aid will review your FAFSA Adjustment Form and supporting documentation. If your household has a qualifying special circumstance, the Office of Financial Aid will recalculate your EFC and re-evaluate your financial aid awards.  

You (the student) will be notified via your Wright State University e-mail account when the result of your FAFSA Adjustment Form is available to view in WINGS Express.

Supporting Documentation

You or members of your household are required to submit supporting documentation with the FAFSA Adjustment Form. For the situations that qualify as a special circumstance for FAFSA adjustment, the following items are requested:

Special Circumstance for FAFSA Adjustment Supporting Documentation
Health care expenses (e.g. medical, dental, etc.) were paid during the 2013 calendar year that were not covered by a third party
  • Proof of health care costs paid during the 2013 calendar year,
  • Proof the costs were not covered by a third party, and
  • The total dollar amount of the costs

Loss of all or part of one of the following sources of 2012 taxable or untaxed income reported on the 2013-2014 FAFSA:

  1. Wages, salaries, and tips;
  2. Unemployment;
  3. Adjusted Gross Income;
  4. Child support paid;
  5. Child support received;
  6. Living allowances paid to military, clergy, and others; or
  7. Veteran’s non-educational benefits
A one-time event, such as an inheritance, windfall, settlement, buyout, withdrawal, etc., occurred in 2012 and was reported on the 2013-2014 FAFSA
  • Proof of the one-time event,
  • A written statement that explains how the one-time event income was used, and
  • A signed copy of the Current Assets Form
A parent included in the household on your (the student’s) 2013-2014 FAFSA is enrolled at least half-time in a degree- or certificate-granting program during the 2013-2014 academic year at a college/university that participates in the federal student aid programs Proof of parent’s enrollment on at least a half-time basis in a degree- or certificate-granting program during the 2013-2014 academic year at a postsecondary institution that participates in the federal student aid programs
A regular IRA was converted to a Roth IRA and the amount converted was reported as taxable income for 2012 on the 2013-2014 FAFSA
  • A signed statement that a regular IRA was converted to a Roth IRA including the amount converted and
  • A signed copy of your 2012 Federal Income Tax Return
The parents included in the household on your (the student’s) 2013-2014 FAFSA were married at the time you (the student) filed your FAFSA and were reported as such on the FAFSA, but the parent’s marital status is now separated, divorced, or widowed
  • Proof of parent’s change in marital status,
  • Copies of parent’s 2012 W-2’s, and
  • A signed copy of parent’s 2012 Federal Income Tax Return

(Parent will be asked to sign and complete an Income and Asset Separation Form once requested items are received.)

Elementary or secondary school tuition expenses for a dependent child were paid during the 2013 calendar year that were not covered by a third party
  • The names and ages of the dependent children attending elementary or secondary school,
  • Proof of child’s tuition expenses were paid during the 2013 calendar year,
  • Proof the costs were not covered by a third party, and
  • The total dollar amount of the costs

If you or a member of your household is unable to provide the supporting documentation requested above, please contact Raider Connect to discuss your circumstance to determine if other forms of documentation may be considered.