Appeal for Income Reduction
Although the formula to determine financial aid eligibility is standard for all applicants, there is some flexibility in recalculating eligibility in light of special circumstances. For example, if you or your family has experienced an income reduction due to unemployment, disability, divorce, or death, you can have your financial aid eligibility recalculated using updated information. Other special circumstances include loss of non-taxable income (e.g., child support, social security benefits, etc.). In all cases, special circumstances must be fully documented with a detailed, signed, and dated statement, federal tax returns, death certificates, court documentation, or letters from appropriate agencies, individuals, or employers. If there are other circumstances that affect the amount you and your family are expected to contribute toward your education, please contact SFAS; however, keep in mind that the reasons must be sound and that you will have to provide adequate proof to support any adjustments.
New Students: An Appeal for Income Reduction cannot be evaluated until after the following conditions have been met:
All required documents have been submitted to Student Financial Aid Services (SFAS)
The enrollment deposit has been paid.
Continuing Students: An Appeal for Income Reduction may be considered if the following conditions have been met:
Your 2021-2022 FAFSA has been received by Student Financial Aid Services (SFAS)
All required documents have been submitted to the office
NJIT Acceptable Circumstances and Tax Year Information Used for Re-evaluation:
The special circumstance that a family falls under will determine which supporting documents are needed to process the re-evaluation. Please note that a family must be currently experiencing one of these circumstances and it must have occurred on or after 2019 for us to proceed.
To initiate a Special Circumstances request, please review the acceptable conditions, below,
- Unemployed
- Disability-Permanent or Long Term (6 months or greater)
- Retirement
- Death of Parent or Spouse
- Divorce or Separation (after FAFSA is filed)
- Loss of untaxed income or unemployment benefits
- Loss of full-time employment (full-time employment is defined as having worked 35 hours per week for 30 weeks)
- Unreimbursed & Paid Medical or Dental Expenses
- Medical (not covered by insurance)
Acceptable Documentation for each Special Circumstance:
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Signed and dated statement explaining the circumstance and whether the unemployed person has returned to work.
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2019 & 2020 Federal Tax Returns, all schedules, W-2s and 1099s (and 2021 Federal Tax Returns, W-2s and 1099s after 02/15/22).
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Last pay stub for 2020 or 2021 showing year-to-date earnings.
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Most recent pay stub for current employer, if applicable.
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Unemployment benefits determination letter that shows the weekly amount of gross and net unemployment benefits OR denial of unemployment benefits with an explanation.
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Termination letter on company’s letterhead.
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Documentation of severance pay.
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Documentation of any other received or expected taxed/untaxed income for 2020 and/or 2021.
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Signed and dated statement explaining the circumstance, type/date of disability and whether the disabled person has returned to work. 2019 & 2020 Federal Tax Returns, all schedules, W-2s and 1099s (and 2021 Federal Tax Returns, W-2s and 1099s after 02/15/22).
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Letter from the employer (on company letterhead) stating the last date of employment.
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Last pay stub for 2020 or 2021 showing year to date earnings.
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Copy of disability/worker’s compensation benefits documents showing date of claim and amount of benefits.
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Social Security documentation indicating start date and monthly benefit amount.
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Documentation of any other received or expected taxed/untaxed income for 2020 and/or 2021.
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Signed and dated statement explaining the circumstance.
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2019 & 2020 Federal Tax Returns, all schedules, W-2s and 1099s (and 2021 Federal Tax Returns, W-2s and 1099s after 02/15/22).
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Last pay stub for 2020 or 2021 showing year-to-date earnings.
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Pension documentation indicating start date and monthly benefit amount.
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Social Security documentation indicating start date and monthly benefit amount.
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Documentation of any other received or expected taxed/untaxed income for 2020 and/or 2021.
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Signed and dated statement explaining the circumstance.
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2019 & 2020 Federal Tax Returns, all schedules, W-2s and 1099s (and 2021 Federal Tax Returns, W-2s and 1099s after 02/15/22).
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Last pay stub for 2020 or 2021 showing year-to-date earnings.
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Death certificate.
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Social Security documentation indicating start date and monthly benefit amount.
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Documentation of any other received or expected taxed/untaxed income for 2020 and/or 2021 (e.g. life insurance).
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Signed and dated statement explaining the circumstance from both parties. Must also list the addresses where each resides.
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2019 & 2020 Federal Tax Returns, all schedules, W-2s and 1099s (and 2021 Federal Tax Returns, W-2s and 1099s after 02/15/22).
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If Divorced: Divorce decree
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If Separated: Copy of separation agreement if available and
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Proof of separate residences (utility bill; gas, water, electric, driver’s license, official lease, mortgage statement, etc.). Cell phone bills and bank statements are not acceptable.
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Proof of monthly amount of child support and alimony received.
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Documentation of any other received or expected taxed/untaxed income for 2020 and/or 2021.
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Signed and dated statement explaining the circumstance, reason, date of termination, and amount received in 2020 and/or 2021.
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2019 & 2020 Federal Tax Returns, all schedules, W-2s and 1099s (and 2021 Federal Tax Returns, W-2s and 1099s after 02/15/22).
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Benefits cancellation letter from an agency or court indicating date of termination and reason.
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Documentation showing total amounts of benefits received for the current year
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Documentation showing total amounts of benefits received in the prior year
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Documentation of any other received or expected taxed/untaxed income for 2020 and/or 2021.
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Signed and dated statement explaining the circumstance and whether the person has returned to full-time work
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2019 & 2020 Federal Tax Returns, all schedules, W-2s and 1099s (and 2021 Federal Tax Returns, W-2s and 1099s after 02/15/22).
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Last two (2) pay stubs showing year-to-date earnings
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Unemployment benefits determination letter that shows the weekly amount of gross and net unemployment benefits OR denial of unemployment benefits with an explanation.
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Letter on company’s letterhead indicating loss of full-time work.
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Documentation of any other received or expected taxed/untaxed income for 2020 and/or 2021.
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Signed and dated statement explaining the circumstance. This must include a detailed breakdown of all unreimbursed & paid medical/dental expenses, date of occurrence, and amounts covered by insurance. Who incurred expenses and for whom?
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2019 & 2020 Federal Tax Returns, all schedules, W-2s and 1099s (and 2021 Federal Tax Returns, W-2s and 1099s after 02/15/22).
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Schedule A (from 2019 and/or 2020 Federal Tax Return).
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Explanation of Benefits Statements from insurance for each expense.
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Supporting documentation of out-of-pocket medical expenses with proof of payments by the family.
NJIT Appeal for Income Reduction Process
Download the Appeal for Income Reduction application here.
Gather all of the documentation needed to complete your appeal application packet.
Scan and upload that information to the SFAS office using our MappingXpress instructions.
Once your request is received, an evaluation process will take place. You will be contacted with the results of our final review, generally within 4 to 6 weeks of submitting all required documentation. If after an initial review of your special circumstance it is determined that additional documents are needed, a formal request will be sent via email. This may result in delays in processing.
You are still responsible for any outstanding charges or late fines while under special circumstances review.