2027-2028 Student Income Reduction Review

Select this option if you have experienced a reduction in income or benefits (including becoming a dislocated worker or displaced homemaker) that affects either:

• The 2026 calendar year (January 1, 2026–December 31, 2026), or
• The 2026–2027 academic year (August 2026–June 2027).

If you are married and are the only one that experienced the reduction in income, additional information and documentation may be required for the spouse whose income was not affected.

Examples of acceptable supporting documentation include:

• A copy of the most recent pay stub.
• Documentation of unemployment benefits and/or severance pay. Documents should be official and include a company letterhead, agency name, or other identifying contact information.
• If self-employed:
  • Profit and loss statements or quarterly business income documentation, if available.
  • If proof of the income loss is not yet available, the review may need to be completed after the end of the calendar year using IRS Form 1099 or other documentation showing annual earnings.
• If married, and the spouse did not experience a reduction in income, the spouse may be required to provide their 2025 W-2 form(s) if they were employed.

Select this option if you divorced or separated after submitting the FAFSA® and receiving the FAFSA Submission Summary (formerly the Student Aid Report, or SAR).

Examples of acceptable supporting documentation include:

• A final divorce decree.
• A legal separation agreement.
• If there is no legal separation agreement, a signed statement from you indicating the date of separation. Additional documentation may also be required.
• Documentation showing you no longer live together, such as:
  • Utility bills
  • Bank statements
  • Separate lease agreements
• Your signed 2025 federal income tax return and W-2 form(s).

Select this option if your spouse passed away after submitting the FAFSA® and receiving the FAFSA Submission Summary (formerly the Student Aid Report, or SAR).

Examples of acceptable supporting documentation include:

• A copy of the spouse's death certificate.
• Your signed 2025 federal income tax return and W-2 form(s).

The FAFSA Submission Summary (formerly the Student Aid Report, or SAR) asks contributors to report the total amount of child support received during the most recently completed calendar year. For example:

• If the FAFSA was submitted in 2026, child support received during 2025 is reported.
• If the FAFSA was submitted in 2027, child support received during 2026 is reported.

Select this option if the child support reported on your FAFSA Submission Summary has ended since you submitted your FAFSA.

Examples of acceptable supporting documentation include:

• Court documents showing that the child support obligation has ended, including the date of the final payment or the date the obligation expired (for example, when a child turned 18 or graduated from high school).
• Documentation showing the amount of any child support currently being received for other children, if applicable.
• If child support ended without a court order, a payment history or ledger from the agency or entity that processed the payments showing that payments have stopped.

Select this option if you received one-time income during 2025 that will not be received again in 2027. Examples include an IRA or pension distribution, inheritance, or gambling winnings.

Examples of acceptable supporting documentation include:

• Bank statements showing the one-time funds were received and the current account balance.
• Receipts showing how the funds were spent.
• Other documentation demonstrating the funds are no longer available (for example, proof that the funds were used to pay debts or other expenses).

Select this option if your parent is financially supporting an immediate family member who is not included in your family's FAFSA household size and is not claimed as a dependent on your parent's federal tax return. Examples include providing financial support to a grandparent or other close relative.

Only documented expenses are considered. Cash gifts or lump-sum payments without supporting documentation cannot be reviewed. For medical expenses, only the portion not covered by insurance may be considered.

Examples of acceptable supporting documentation include:

• Bills or invoices showing the expense and the family member's name and contact information.
• Paid receipts or canceled checks that correspond to the bills or invoices.
• Bank statements showing the payments made to satisfy the bills or invoices.

Select this option if your parent reported another family member on the 2027-2028 FAFSA Submission Summary and that family member is:

• Enrolled at least half-time at an eligible postsecondary institution,
• Working toward a degree or certificate in a Title IV eligible program, and
• Paying eligible educational expenses out of pocket.

Examples of acceptable supporting documentation include:

• Documentation from the school verifying enrollment, including the enrollment dates. This may include an enrollment verification letter or a class schedule showing the school's name and the student's enrollment information.
• A student account statement or financial ledger showing tuition, fees, and other educational charges, along with how those charges were paid.

Select this option if your parent paid eligible medical expenses out of pocket for themselves or a dependent they can claim on their federal tax return.

Only medically necessary expenses that were not reimbursed by insurance will be considered. Elective procedures and the portion of expenses paid by insurance are not eligible.

To be considered, expenses must:

• Have already been paid in full or be covered by a current payment plan.
• Exceed the 11% Income Protection Allowance (IPA) threshold.
• Have been incurred while the student was enrolled.

Eligible expenses may include, but are not limited to:

• Medical, dental, and vision care
• Prescription medications
• Health insurance premiums paid out of pocket
• Insurance deductibles and copayments
• Durable medical equipment, such as eyeglasses, crutches, blood pressure monitors, or similar medically necessary items

Examples of acceptable supporting documentation include:

• Bills or invoices, along with canceled checks or paid receipts showing payment.
• If the expense is being paid through a payment plan, documentation of the payment agreement and a payment ledger showing the healthcare provider's information.
• A copy of your parent's federal income tax return and Schedule A (Itemized Deductions), if applicable.