SAI Calculation Appeal

Examples of Third-Party Documentation

With any professional judgment — including 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
• Loss of Employment
• Reduction of Pay or Temporarily Laid Off or Furloughed
• Family Business Closure
• Death of a Parent or Spouse
• Reduction or Loss of Child Support
• Divorce or Separation
• Non-recurring Income
• High Healthcare Expenses Paid Out-of-Pocket
• Impacted by a Natural Disaster

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 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

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
• Signed copy of 1040 Federal Tax return with all Schedules

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.

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