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EFC/SAI Calculation Appeal

Students must submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before requesting an EFC/SAI Calculation Appeal. The Student Aid Index information used in processing EFC/SAI Calculation Appeals can only be obtained by first submitting a FAFSA. Beginning with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, the SAI has replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the 2023-2024 FAFSA and prior years.

Sometimes information you provide on your FAFSA no longer accurately reflects your or your family’s financial situation. If your financial circumstances have changed, there are situations where financial aid professionals at the University can review and update your FAFSA to reflect these changes. These changes may - or may not - impact your financial aid.

Choose one of the SAI options below for next steps. Please note that your Student Aid Index (SAI) is determined by your FAFSA and can be found on in the “Eligibility Overview” section of your FAFSA Submission Summary (previously known as the Student Aid Report for 2023-2024 FAFSA and prior years).

My SAI is equal to or less than 0

My SAI is greater than 0

If your SAI is less than or equal to 0 you have already been offered the maximum amount of aid you are eligible to receive.

If your SAI is greater than 0 please read the information below about the conditions which do/do not qualify for an EFC/SAI Calculation Appeal including how to submit the appeal and possible outcomes. The appeal process is a way for us to ensure you are receiving the maximum amount of aid possible based on the changes in your financial circumstances.

Conditions that may be considered

Conditions that may not be considered

How to request and complete an EFC/SAI Calculation Appeal

Examples of third-party documentation for the appeal

Possible outcomes of the appeal

*There are limitations to the circumstances the U.S. Department of Education will allow financial aid professionals to consider for appeal. To remain equitable, our office will review all applications on a case-by-case basis (also referred to as a professional judgment).

The following conditions may be considered:

  • Loss or reduction of income including but not limited to loss of employment, reduction of pay, death of a parent or spouse, reduction/loss of child support, and divorce or separation (please note that in situations where there has been a loss of employment, a family contribution appeal cannot be processed until the individual has been unemployed for at least 4 weeks)
  • Non-recurring income
  • High healthcare expenses paid out of pocket
  • Impacted by a natural disaster

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The following conditions will not be considered:

  • Bankruptcy, foreclosures or collection costs associated with outstanding debts
  • Consumer debt (credit cards, car payments, loans, etc.)
  • Payments on back taxes owed to the IRS
  • Lottery or gambling winnings or losses
  • One-time income used for non-life essential items (e.g. family vacation and/or luxury purchases)

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To request and complete an EFC/SAI Calculation Appeal (student instructions):

  1. Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  2. Go to the StudentForms website (please wait at least 48 to 72 hours after submitting your FAFSA)
    1. If you have not set up your StudentForms account, you may need to do so. See our StudentForms Account webpage for instructions.
  3. After you have logged into StudentForms, click on the "Manage Requests" button near the top of the page
  4. Find "Professional Judgment: Special Circumstance — EFC/SAI Calculation Appeal" listed. Click the blue plus + sign button to add the request for the appropriate aid year. Example: 2024-2025 is for fall 2024 and spring and summer 2025.
  5. The system will ask you to briefly explain your reason for this request. This does not need to be in-depth. You will provide more information as part of the appeal later in the process.
  6. Once you have added the appeal, a tab should be listed on your account with an EFC/SAI Calculation Appeal for the aid year. Click on the tab to see your appeal tasks.
  7. Click on appeal link that says "Dependent or Independent Special Circumstance — EFC/SAI Calculation Appeal" to show the tasks associated with the appeal. This should include filling out the web form and submitting third-party documentation to support and strengthen your appeal.
  8. Once you have filled out the web form and uploaded your supporting third-party documentation, click the Submit button to submit your appeal
  9. Once all requested documentation is submitted, you will receive a notification via your MIX email of the outcome of the review within five to seven business days. Please note this time may be extended during peak processing times.

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Examples of Third-party Documentation for the Appeal

With any professional judgment — including EFC/SAI Calculation Appeals — the individual appealing must submit sufficient third-party documentation to support the reason(s) for the appeal as well as to strengthen their appeal. If sufficient documentation is not initially submitted, it may be requested (delaying the review process). Please see below for examples of documentation that may be provided based on the reason for the appeal. While it is not required to submit all examples listed, individuals should provide as much documentation as is needed to adequately support their appeal.

Loss or Reduction of Income

This includes but is not limited to loss of employment, reduction of pay or temporarily laid off or furloughed, family business closure, death of a parent or spouse, and reduction/loss of child support and divorce or separation. Please note that in situations where there has been a loss of employment, an EFC/SAI Calculation Appeal should not be submitted until the individual has been unemployed for at least 4 weeks.

Loss of Employment

  • Signed letter on company letterhead of separation from employer indicating late date of employment
  • Signed letter on company letterhead of severance package if received for termination
  • Documentation of unemployment benefits reflecting dollar amount received per week
  • Most recent W-2s
  • Copy of most recent Tax Return Transcript if your federal tax information (FTI) did not import directly from the IRS into your FAFSA.

Reduction of Pay or Temporarily Laid Off or Furloughed

  • Signed employment offer letter on company letterhead indicating yearly salary and start date
  • Documentation of unemployment benefits reflecting dollar amount received per week
  • If there is a reduction of income, a paycheck stub prior to the reduction and at least two paycheck stubs after the reduction
  • If the student or parent/guardian is laid off, a signed letter from the employer on company letterhead reflecting an estimated time to return to work
  • Most recent W-2s
  • Copy of most recent Tax Return Transcript or a signed 1040 Federal Tax Return including all schedules

Family Business Closure

  • A statement of expenses for the entire year of business income earned, any future earnings for the business or earnings from other employment and the date of business closure. The statement must be signed and dated by the parent. We cannot accept just a typed name. An electronic signature or signature written with a stylus is acceptable.
  • If employed in a new position, provide the most recent two paystubs from the new employer
  • Most recent W-2s
  • Copy of most recent Tax Return Transcript or a signed 1040 Federal Tax Return including all schedules

Death of a Parent or Spouse

  • Copy of death certificate or obituary of parent or spouse
  • Copy of the two most recent pay stubs or W-2 of surviving parent
  • Copy of the two most recent pay stubs or W-2 for student if independent
  • Copy of life insurance documentation, if insured

Reduction or Loss of Child Support

  • Court documentation supporting reduction or loss of child support
  • Documentation of benefits obtained online from your state showing the amount of the child support, the start and end dates, and the total amount of any past child support payments owed to you

Divorce or Separation

  • Legal separation papers, copy of divorce decree, letter from your attorney, copies of utility bills (water, gas, or electric) showing separate addresses, or separate lease/rental agreements
  • Copy of the two most recent pay stubs or W-2 for the student (if independent) or parent recorded on the FAFSA if you are a dependent student

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Non-recurring Income

Examples of non-recurring income include rollovers, capital gains, emergency withdrawals from retirement accounts, etc.

  • 1099 tax forms or documentation of one-time income (if this includes a rollover, documentation should state that it is a rollover)
  • Receipts and detailed description of how the funds were used. Only education-related expenses will be considered, not discretionary purchases
  • Signed copy of 1040 Federal Tax return with all Schedules

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High Healthcare Expenses Paid Out-of-Pocket

  • Schedule A if you completed Schedule A with your 1040 federal tax return
  • Receipts or cancelled checks of payments you paid out-of-pocket for healthcare expenses if you did not complete Schedule A
  • Healthcare expenses paid out of pocket must exceed the allotted 11% Income Protection Allowance
    • The Income Protection Allowance (IPA) is a percentage of your household income — based on information submitted on your FAFSA — that the Department of Education estimates should be used to cover your family's annual out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. When a student submits an EFC/SAI Calculation Appeal to let the WVU Hub know that their latest FAFSA no longer represents their family's current financial situation, the Hub's staff considers out-of-pocket healthcare expenses that exceeded that estimate.

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Impacted by a Natural Disaster

You can appeal in natural disaster situations in which the natural disaster led to a loss or reduction of income because of an inability to work or there were other high or unexpected expenses incurred for the upkeep and maintenance of your primary home or temporary housing directly related to or caused by the natural disaster.

  • Submit the same documents listed above in relation to loss or reduction of income
  • Submit documentation of expenses, pictures of damage, receipts for repairs, disaster assistance or relief paperwork, and insurance documents if applicable

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Possible Outcomes of an EFC/SAI Calculation Appeal

  • No change: The change in circumstances did not impact your Student Aid Index (SAI) or financial aid.
  • Reduced SAI but no change in financial aid offer: The change in circumstances reduced the SAI but not change it enough to impact your financial aid eligibility.
  • Reduced SAI and adjustments made to federal loans: The change in circumstances reduced the SAI and qualified you for some subsidized loan funding to replace the equivalent unsubsidized loan funding.
  • Reduced SAI and adjustments made to state and/or federal grants: The change in circumstances reduced the SAI and qualified you for additional state and/or federal grants.
  • Reduced SAI and adjustments made to state and/or federal grants and federal loans: The change in circumstances reduced the SAI and qualified you for additional state and/or federal grants as well as qualifying for some subsidized loan funding to replace the equivalent unsubsidized loan funding.

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© 2024 West Virginia University. WVU is an EEO/Affirmative Action employer — Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran. Last updated on October 2, 2024.