In special circumstances, the Financial Aid Director may perform a professional judgment and use expected income that better reflects your family’s financial situation.
You must first, however, complete the FAFSA using actual income. The judgment is made after the FAFSA has been submitted.
Professional Judgment for Dependent Students
If the parent(s) of a dependent student had a change in income due to a layoff or other involuntary loss of taxed or untaxed income, their income used to complete the FAFSA may no longer be an accurate indicator of your family’s ability to contribute toward your educational costs.
The Professional Judgment Form you complete depends on when you were laid off or when the involuntary reduction of income first occurred. Please choose the appropriate link listed below.
2018-2019 Academic Year
Professional Judgment for Independent Students
If you or your spouse have had a change in income due to a layoff or other involuntary loss of taxed or untaxed income, your income used to complete the FAFSA may no longer be an accurate indicator of your family’s ability to contribute toward your educational costs.
Make sure you choose the correct Professional Judgment Form listed below. If you, the student, have been laid off, are not currently employed and qualify/qualified for unemployment benefits, choose form #1.
2018-2019 Academic Year
- Student is currently laid off, not working and qualifies/qualified for unemployment benefits
- The student’s spouse has been laid off or the student/spouse has had an involuntary loss of income (not a layoff) that occurred in 2016
- The student’s spouse has been laid off or the student’s spouse has had an involuntary loss of income (not a layoff) that occurred in 2017