*The last day to submit a re-evaluation request for the 2023-2024 school year is April 15, 2024*

Request for Re-evaluation

We recognize that income information presented on the FAFSA may not reflect a family’s current financial situation. Federal regulations allow Stony Brook to use professional judgment on a case-by-case basis to determine whether additional Federal aid can be given to a student due to eligible special circumstances that impact their Student Aid Index (SAI). Students with documented ‘Special Circumstances’ that negatively affect their family’s financial situation could be eligible for a financial aid adjustment that could result in additional financial aid. For example, because of COVID-19 some employers have shut down, reduced work hours, furloughed employees and others may not have been able to work due to illness. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Services may be able to review your special circumstances to adjust the amount of financial aid you receive or would have received.

In order to request a re-evaluation of your federal student aid, you must have a valid FAFSA on file. 

If your SAI is equal to -1500, you are automatically qualifying for the maximum in federal aid programs. There are no changes we can make to your FAFSA that would change your eligibility to provide additional federal aid. Your SAI can be found via your Student Aid Report (SAR) which can be accessed by following these steps. 

Disclaimer: Re-Evaluations are reviewed on a case by case basis and not all re-evaluations result in additional aid. 

• Eligible Circumstances

  If you believe your change in circumstance meets any of the below criteria, we encourage you to follow the steps provided on this page to complete a re-evaluation request:

  • You or your parent(s) earned income on your current FAFSA application and have since experienced a loss of employment. This may be a result of a disability, natural disaster,recent termination of employment, or retirement.

  •  You or your parent(s) received unemployment compensation or untaxed income or benefit on your current FAFSA application and lost that income or benefit (e.g. child support, social security benefits, one time retirement account withdrawal etc.).

  • You already applied for Federal Student Aid and since that time your parent(s) have separated, divorced or been widowed.

  • You or your parent(s) had healthcare/dental expenses that were paid out of pocket and that exceeded 11% of your income protection allowance. 

  Income Protection Allowance 2023-2024
  Number in parents' household, including student	Number of college students in the household
  	1	2	3	4	5
  2	$21,200	$17,580	N/A	N/A	N/A
  3	$26,400	$22,800	$19,170	N/A	N/A
  4	$32,610	$28,980	$25,380	$21,750	N/A
  5	$38,480	$34,850	$31,240	$27,610	$24,010
  6	$45,010	$41,380	$37,770	$34,110	$30,540
  Note: For each additional household member, add $5,080.  For each additional college student (except parents), subtract $3,610.

  Examples of eligible circumstances

  • Wolfie Seawolf’s father lost his job in March 2022 and remains unemployed currently. Wolfie's father receives unemployment benefits. The amount of the benefit is substantially less than what the income reported on Wolfie's parents' 2021 tax return.

  • Wolfie Seawolf’s parents separated after they filed the 2023-2024 FAFSA. Their divorce is not finalized but the have maintained separate residences since their separation.

  • Wolfie Seawolf needed extensive medical care after cheering too loud at a football game. The medical expenses exceeded 11% of the income protection allowance for his family and the bills have been already paid out of pocket.
• How to Request a Re-evaluation for 2023-2024

  The re-evaluation process for the 2023-2024 school year will begin May 1, 2023.

  If you believe your change in circumstance meets any of the eligible criteria, please contact our office on or after May 1 via email at finaid@stonybrook.edu or you may contact us via phone at 631-632-6840. Documentation is reviewed within 7-10 business days of submission starting May 1. If additional documentation is required upon review, we will add a To Do List item to your SOLAR account. View our How We Communicate With You video for additional information. 

  What documentation will I need to submit?

  Documentation will vary based on the nature of your re-evaluation request. Regardless of the reason, all 23/24 submissions will need to include the following:

  • 2023-2024 Re-evaluation worksheet, signed by you and a parent (if you are a dependent student)

  • 2021 Signed IRS Tax Return with all associated schedules

  • 2021 W-2 form

  *If the re-evaluation is based on a change in student income, we would need the student's documentation. If it is based on a change in parent's income, we would need the parent's documentation.*

  Additional documentation that may be required includes, but is not limited to:

  • Unemployment insurance benefits

  • Recent pay stubs

  • Termination letters

  • Death certificate

  • Survivor benefits 

  • Separation/Divorce documentation

   

  Approved re-evaluations resulting in additional grant aid can be applied retroactively within the aid year. For example, re-evaluations approved in the spring can also apply to the prior fall, provided the student was enrolled.