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 veried FAFSA on le with Liberty University. If a FAFSA has already
been submitted, but was not selected for verication, the student must still complete the verication 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 verication requirements:
Dependent Students Independent Students
2020–21DependentVericationform,completedand
signedbyatleastoneparent
2020–21IndependentVerication
form,completedandsigned
Copyofyourandyourparent(s)'2018IRS
TaxReturnTranscriptorIRSTaxReturn
Copyofyourandyourspouse’s(ifapplicable)
2018IRSTaxReturnTranscriptorIRSTaxReturn
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:
Ofcialdocumentationverifyingdateofjobloss(e.g.severanceletter,unemploymentdecision,etc.)
Finalpaycheckstub(s)received
Unemploymenthistorysummaryreportingbenetsreceivedtodateandbalanceremainingin2019or2020
Copyof2018IRSTaxReturnTranscript:
Dependentstudentsshouldsubmittheirparent’sIRSTaxReturnTranscript(s)orIRSTaxReturn(s)
Independentstudentsshouldsubmittheir(andtheirspouse’s,ifapplicable)IRStaxreturntranscript
CopyofallW2sreportedonthe2018IRSTaxReturnTranscript(s)orIRSTaxReturn(s)
Ifemployedafterjobloss,pleaseincludemostrecentpaycheckstubsofanyandallemployment
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:
Statementindicatingdateofself-employmentlossorreduction
Copyof2018IRSTaxReturnTranscriptorIRSTaxReturn:
Dependentstudentsshouldsubmittheirparent’sIRSTaxReturnTranscript(s)orIRSTaxReturn(s)
Independentstudentsshouldsubmittheir(andtheirspouse’s,ifapplicable)IRSTaxReturnTranscriptorIRSTaxReturn
Forlossofself-employmentincome:IncomeStatementshowingnetearnedincomeforthe2019/2020taxyear
Forreductionofself-employmentincome:ProFormaIncomeStatementprojectingincomeforthe2019/2020taxyear
Ifemployedafterjobloss,pleaseincludemostrecentpaycheckstubsofanyandallemployment
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
2 OF 3
PJ 20/21
REDUCTION OF INCOME (Check all that apply)
REDUCTION IN WAGES/HOURS:
Current employer has reduced wages and/or hours for at least 12 consecutive weeks in 2018, 2019, or 2020 for you,
your spouse, or your parent (if dependent).
Documentation Needed:
Employerdocumentationverifyingchangeinemploymentstatus(e.g.furlough)
Copyofpaycheckstub(s)receivedbeforereductionandcopyofmostrecentpaycheckstub(s)sincereduction
in2019or2020
Copyof2018IRSTaxReturnTranscript:
Dependentstudentsshouldsubmittheirparent’sIRStaxreturntranscript(s)
Independentstudentsshouldsubmittheir(andtheirspouse’s,ifapplicable)IRStaxreturntranscript
REDUCTION IN INCOME/BENEFITS:
You, your spouse, or your parent(s), if dependent, lost income or benets outside
of employment (i.e. child support, unemployment, etc.).
Documentation Needed:
Third-partyofcialdocumentationreportingdateincomeorbenetwasterminated/exhausted
Copyof2018IRSTaxReturnTranscript:
Dependentstudentsshouldsubmittheirparent’sIRStaxreturntranscript(s)
Independentstudentsshouldsubmittheir(andtheirspouse’s,ifapplicable)IRStaxreturntranscript
DUE TO MEDICAL LEAVE:
You, your spouse, or your parent(s), if dependent, lost income due to medical leave related to the illness or injury of an
immediate family member of the student (or spouse, if applicable).
Documentation Needed:
Doctor’snoteindicatingillness/injuryrelatedtolossofincomeanddatessurroundingmedicalleave
Disability,worker’scompensationorotherapplicabledocumentationshowinganyincomegeneratedwhileonmedicalleave
asaresultofmedicalleave
Lastfullpaycheckstubbeforemedicalleaveofemployeewholostincome
WITHDRAWAL OF PENSION:
You,yourspouse,oryourparent(s),ifdependent,madeawithdrawal/distributionofpensionduetohardships(e.g.lossof
employment).Pleasesubmitacopyofthe2018IRStaxreturntranscript.Dependentstudentsshouldsubmittheirparent’sIRS
taxreturntranscript(s)andindependentstudentsshouldsubmittheir(andtheirspouse’s,ifapplicable)IRStaxreturntranscript.
DIVORCE/SEPARATION
You/your parents divorced or separated after the FAFSA was completed.
Documentation Needed:
Forseparation:SignedstatementindicatingdateofseparationANDtwoofcialdocuments(e.g.copyoflease,utilitybill,drivers
license,etc.)verifyingthephysicaladdressoftheabsentspouse/parent(noP.O.boxes)
Fordivorce:Adivorcedecree
Copyof2018IRSTaxReturnTranscript:
Dependentstudentsshouldsubmittheirparent’sIRStaxreturntranscript(s)
Independentstudentsshouldsubmittheir(andtheirspouse’s,ifapplicable)IRStaxreturntranscript
CopyofallW2sreportedonthe2018IRStaxreturntranscript(s)
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
3 OF 3
PJ 20/21
UNUSUAL MEDICAL/DENTAL EXPENSES
Medical and/or dental expenses for 2018, 2019, or 2020 that were paid out-of-pocket (i.e. not what insurance covered) for
you, your spouse (if applicable) and/or your parent(s)/sibling(s), if dependent.
Documentation Needed:
AcopyofScheduleAfromyour2018,2019,and/or2020incometaxreturn(itemizeddeductionsschedule)
Copiesofcanceledchecksforout-of-pocketpaymentsand/orreceiptsofpayments
AcopyofyourFSAorHSAaccountshowingpaymentsAND/ORacopyofyourmedicalaccountlistingpaymentsanddates
DEATH OF PARENT OR SPOUSE
Your spouse/parent passed away after the FAFSA was completed.
Documentation Needed:
Copyofthedeathcerticateorapublishednewspaperobituarywithdateofdeath
Copyof2018IRSTaxReturnTranscript:
Dependentstudentsshouldsubmittheirparent’sIRStaxreturntranscript(s)
Independentstudentsshouldsubmittheir(andtheirspouse’s,ifapplicable)IRStaxreturntranscript
CopyofallW2sreportedonthe2018IRStaxreturntranscript(s)
PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION
Onlyelementary/secondarytuitionexpensespaidfor2018,2019,or2020areconsidered.Pleasesubmitdocumentationon
letterheadorabillreportingtheamountoftuitionpaidandthenamesofthechildrenwhoattended.Fees,books,supplies,etc.
cannotbeincludedinthisamount.
Dependentstudents:Tuitionpaidforsiblingsonly
Independentstudents:Tuitionpaidfordependentchildrenonly
COLLEGE TUITION COST FOR PARENTS
Parent(s)mustbeenrolledatleasthalf-timepersemester/quarter,inregionallyaccreditedinstitution,andworkingtowarda
degree,certicate,orprogramleadingtoarecognizededucationcredential.Pleasesubmitdocumentationonletterheadorabill
fromthecollegereportingtuitionexpenses,numberofcredithours,anddegreeprogramforthe2020–2021academicyear.
Statement of Certication and Authorization
If circumstances change, I/we accept the responsibility for contacting the Financial Aid Ofce in writing with the corrected information. I also
understand that submitting this form late in any term may eliminate potential eligibility due to processing time, awarding, and disbursement
requirements. All submitted documentation becomes part of the ofcial record and therefore cannot be returned. Documents that become part
of the Education Record are protected for privacy under federal law.
By signing this worksheet, you (we) certify that all the information reported on it is complete and correct. Because this information
may affect federal aid eligibility, purposely giving false or misleading information may cause you to be ned up to $20,000, sent to
prison, or both.
StudentSignature Date ParentSignature Date
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signature
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signature
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