FAFSA Adjustment

When you (the student) file the 2020–21 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 2018 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 2020–21 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.

On this page:

• FAFSA Adjustment Policy
• How to Apply
• Supporting Documentation

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 2020–21 aid year include: 

• Health care expenses (e.g. medical, dental, etc.) paid during the 2019 calendar year that were not covered by insurance or a third party.
• Loss of all or part of one of the following sources of 2019 taxable or untaxed income as it compares to the 2018 income reported on the 2020-2021 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 2018 and was reported on the 2020-2021 FAFSA.
• A parent included in the household on the student’s 2020-2021 FAFSA is enrolled at least half-time in a degree- or certificate-granting program during the 2020-2021 academic year at a college/university that participates in the federal student aid programs.
• The parents included in the household on the student’s 2020-2021 FAFSA were married at the time the student filed his or her FAFSA and were reported as such on the FAFSA, but the parent’s marital status is now separated, divorced, or widowed, and marital change occurred on or before December 31, 2020.
• Elementary or secondary school tuition expenses for a dependent child were paid between July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020 that were not covered by a third party.

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How to Apply

You (and members of your household, if required) must complete and return the 2020–21 FAFSA Adjustment Form and supporting documentation to RaiderConnect by February 15, 2021 The submission of a FAFSA Adjustment Form does not guarantee your EFC will be adjusted. See our Important Dates page for processing timelines for FAFSA Adjustments and other financial aid documents.

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 email account when the result of your FAFSA Adjustment Form is available to view in WINGS Express.

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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 2019 calendar year that were not covered by a third party	2019 Federal income tax form (including schedules 1-6), Schedule A – Itemized Deductions, Receipts/print out of payments from medical provider, or Canceled checks.
Loss of all or part of one of the following sources of 2018 taxable or untaxed income reported on the 2020–21 FAFSA: Wages, salaries, and tips; Unemployment; Adjusted Gross Income; Child support paid; Child support received; Living allowances paid to military, clergy, and others; or Veteran’s non-educational benefits	Signed copy of the 2019 Federal Tax Return (including schedules 1-6), 2019 W-2(s), and a letter from previous employer on company letterhead indicating date of termination or reduction in employment hours or wages. On agency letterhead, verification of any untaxed income received during January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019.
A one-time event, such as an inheritance, windfall, settlement, buyout, withdrawal, etc., occurred in 2018 and was reported on the 2020-21 FAFSA	For taxable one-time income, a signed copy of the 2019 Federal Tax Return (including schedules 1-6) and 2019 W-2(s) For untaxed one-time income, verification on agency letterhead of income received during January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019.
A parent included in the household on the student’s 2020-2021 FAFSA was enrolled at least half-time in a degree- or certificate-granting program at a college/university that participates in the federal student aid programs.	Enrollment verification from the college/university indicating the parent is enrolled at least half-time in a degree seeking program during that is Title IV eligible during May 2020 to April 2021.
The parents included in the household on the student’s 2020-21 FAFSA were married at the time the student filed his or her FAFSA and were reported as such on the FAFSA, but the parent’s marital status is now separated, divorced, or widowed, and marital change occurred on or before December 31, 2020.	Copy of separation agreement, divorce decree, or letter from lawyer stating terms of separation or divorce. Copies of parent’s 2019 W-2’s, and a signed copy of parent’s 2019 Federal Income Tax Return (including schedules 1-6). 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 that were not covered by a third party and are beyond the amounts already accounted for on the FAFSA.	The names and ages of the dependent children attending elementary or secondary school, Proof of child’s tuition expenses were paid between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020, proof the costs were not covered by a third party, and 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 RaiderConnect to discuss your circumstance to determine if other forms of documentation may be considered.