Section 479A of the Higher Education Amendments of 1992 authorized
the financial aid administrator to exercise Professional Judgment (PJ) on
a case-by-case basis. The aid administrator may adjust the expected family
contribution (EFC).
With the passage of the Higher Education Amendments of 1992,
there is now a single need analysis methodology for all Title IV programs
including the Federal Pell Grant. This has given the Financial Aid Administrator
the authority to use professional judgment for the Pell Grant as well as all
other Title IV programs.
The following are conditions/reasons for which a student may
request an adjustment to their EFC.
- Death of a parent or the independent student's spouse.
- Loss of employment by student/spouse/parent..
- Loss of earnings due to disability.
- Loss of untaxed income and benefits.
- Separation or divorce of parent or student after application.
- Loss of dependent student income.
- One time income (ex. Back year social security payments).
It is the policy of the Division of Student Financial Assistance
that we begin to use PJ to make adjustments to the EFC on October 1st
of the current award year. By waiting until October to gather the current
year income information, this enables students and parents to provide the
United States Department of Education with more accurate information. Accuracy
in your income projection(s) is very important. It is the policy of EKU's
Division of Student Financial Assistance to not process future adjustments
for any student who underestimates his/her household income by more than 10%
for an adjustment calculation. For adjustments to income processed after January
1 of the award year, students and parents will be asked to provide current
tax forms or W-2s. Once again, this is to provide the Department of Education
with the most current, up-to-date information possible.
Procedure to follow:
- You must write a letter requesting a review of the current financial
situation. This letter should explain in detail the current financial
situation and why an adjustment to the EFC is warranted.
- Personnel in the Division of Student Financial Assistance will review
all letters of request on a case-by-case basis.
- If an adjustment is warranted, then you will be sent a Professional
Adjustment Form to complete.
- Once the form is returned to the Division of Student Financial Assistance,
it will be reviewed by the financial aid administrator. Any discrepancies
will have to be resolved before the final adjustment to the EFC can be
made.
- Corrections to your FAFSA will be made electronically by the Division
of Student Financial Assistance and sent to the Federal Processor. Once
the correction is made by the U. S. Department of Education, the Division
of Student Financial Assistance will notify you by mail of the change
in your expected family contribution and new award amount(s).
You will be notified if there is no change
to your EFC or financial aid awards.
