LIBERTY UNIVERSITY’S
FINANCIAL AID OFFICE
1971 University Boulevard
Lynchburg, VA 24515
(888) 583-5704
(434) 582-2053
Liberty.edu/FinancialAid
FinancialAid@liberty.edu
ID #
Name
2020–2021 PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT APPLICATION
1 OF 3
PJ 20/21
Professional judgment is a process in which Financial Aid administrators may evaluate a student’s account for additional aid eligibility
due to unique and unusual circumstances. A student must have a veried FAFSA on le with Liberty University. If a FAFSA has already
been submitted, but was not selected for verication, the student must still complete the verication process. Students should continue the
enrollment process of registration and completing Financial Check-In (FCI) if they plan to attend Liberty, and should not wait on the outcome
of a professional judgment before completing these items. Not registering and/or not completing FCI may result in a late fee, loss of housing
preference, loss of course schedule, etc. Students should continually check ASIST for updates or additional documentation requests. Form
submission deadlines: April 1st for Resident students and June 1st for Online students. Please have the student’s name and Liberty ID on
all documents to prevent processing delays. The table below lists basic verication requirements:
Dependent Students Independent Students
2020–21DependentVericationform,completedand
signedbyatleastoneparent
2020–21IndependentVerication
form,completedandsigned
Copyofyourandyourparent(s)'2018IRS
TaxReturnTranscriptorIRSTaxReturn
Copyofyourandyourspouse’s(ifapplicable)
2018IRSTaxReturnTranscriptorIRSTaxReturn
Professional Judgment Request (check all that apply)
Please note that document requests encompass multiple years and might not be applicable to the student/parent at the time of
application submission.
AFFECTED BY COVID-19
P
lease check this box if the circumstances selected below are due to COVID-19. Must check additional boxes below that apply.
LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT
We review loss of employment that took place for at least 12 consecutive weeks after Jan. 1, 2018 and before Dec. 31, 2020.
Documentation Needed:
Ofcialdocumentationverifyingdateofjobloss(e.g.severanceletter,unemploymentdecision,etc.)
Finalpaycheckstub(s)received
Unemploymenthistorysummaryreportingbenetsreceivedtodateandbalanceremainingin2019or2020
Copyof2018IRSTaxReturnTranscript:
Dependentstudentsshouldsubmittheirparent’sIRSTaxReturnTranscript(s)orIRSTaxReturn(s)
Independentstudentsshouldsubmittheir(andtheirspouse’s,ifapplicable)IRStaxreturntranscript
CopyofallW2sreportedonthe2018IRSTaxReturnTranscript(s)orIRSTaxReturn(s)
Ifemployedafterjobloss,pleaseincludemostrecentpaycheckstubsofanyandallemployment
LOSS/REDUCTION OF SELF-EMPLOYMENT INCOME
We review loss or reduction of gross income (before expenses) that took place for at least 12 consecutive weeks after
Jan. 1, 2018 and before Dec. 31, 2020.
Documentation Needed:
Statementindicatingdateofself-employmentlossorreduction
Copyof2018IRSTaxReturnTranscriptorIRSTaxReturn:
Dependentstudentsshouldsubmittheirparent’sIRSTaxReturnTranscript(s)orIRSTaxReturn(s)
Independentstudentsshouldsubmittheir(andtheirspouse’s,ifapplicable)IRSTaxReturnTranscriptorIRSTaxReturn
Forlossofself-employmentincome:IncomeStatementshowingnetearnedincomeforthe2019/2020taxyear
Forreductionofself-employmentincome:ProFormaIncomeStatementprojectingincomeforthe2019/2020taxyear
Ifemployedafterjobloss,pleaseincludemostrecentpaycheckstubsofanyandallemployment