Income Adjustments

What Is an Income Adjustment?

When a student files a FAFSA, there are mandatory income questions which must be answered by the student (and the parents if they are a dependent student). The income reported is required and is used by the U.S. Department of Education to process the FAFSA. An Income Adjustment is considered when significant changes in income have occurred to a student and/or their parent(s). Consideration will be given when the income information reported on the FAFSA no longer accurately reflects the student’s and/or family's ability to contribute toward the student's education as they could before. The process involves the review of submitted documentation supporting the changes in income. This documentation will be used to determine how to adjust the data elements on the FAFSA to more accurately reflect current financial circumstances.

What Are the Qualifying Conditions for an Appeal?

At Lehman College, an Income Adjustment appeal may be considered for a student (independent or dependent) and/or to the parent(s) of a dependent student when the following conditions exist:

• A significant loss of income has occurred due to a period of unemployment, termination of current employment, change of jobs, or a reduction of wages or hours from current employment.
• Money was earned during the tax year information used on the FAFSA. However, money could no longer be earned after that tax year due to disability or natural disaster that occurred after the relevant tax year.
• A student (if independent) or parents (if dependent) separated or divorced after filing the FAFSA.
• A student's (if independent) or parent's (if dependent) spouse has died after the FAFSA was filed.
• A student and/or parent previously received unemployment compensation or a type of untaxed income or benefit but have since completely lost that income or benefit. The untaxed income or benefit must be from a public or private agency, from a company, or from a person because of a court order.

FOR THE 2025-2026 YEAR (This includes Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026)

If you are planning to enroll for the Summer 2025, Fall 2025 and/or Spring 2026 semesters, you may submit an official request starting July 1, 2025. To submit an official Income Adjustment Request for the 2025-26 Academic Year, please click here.

Once the official request form is received, you will be contacted via email by a financial aid representative in 7-10 business days.

Once all requested documentation is successfully submitted, processing time is estimated at 4-5 weeks. Failure to submit all requested documentation will delay the process of finalizing your request. 

**Please note, submitting a request does not guarantee your request will be approved.**