• Some of your personal information may be pre-populated with the information you provided when you registered for your AAMC profile. Be sure to update any incorrect information before submitting your application, particularly your date of birth.
• You are required to complete fields marked with an asterisk.
• You cannot proceed to the next page of the application if a required field is left blank.
• Enter income and other dollar amounts in whole dollars. Round to the nearest dollar, if necessary.
• If documentation that includes sensitive personal information is required (e.g., Social Security number (SSN), Social Insurance Number (SIN), or other government ID numbers), redact or mask that information before uploading it to your Fee Assistance Program application.
• Review your Application Summary carefully to ensure your information is complete and accurate. Select “Edit” to revise your answers before submitting.
   

The AAMC recognizes that some of the information you submit as part of your Fee Assistance Program application is sensitive. Any personal information submitted as part of your Fee Assistance Program application will be treated in accordance with the AAMC Privacy Statement. Supporting materials are retained by the AAMC for a limited time and then securely destroyed. To the extent the AAMC publishes information related to the Fee Assistance Program, such information will be reported using aggregate data, which does not reveal your identity.

Information you entered when you registered for an AAMC account will populate on the first page you see in the application process (My AAMC Profile). Review the information and update or complete it, as necessary.

Double check that your date of birth is correct. Also, ensure that your email address is accurate; this email will be used to contact you with application updates.

Note: Changes you make to My AAMC Profile in the Fee Assistance Program application may update across your AAMC service program profiles and vice versa.
 

Enter your citizenship status and your U.S. address, phone number, and state of legal residence on the Applicant Information page. You may change information on this page before submission. After submission, you may request changes to your mailing address and phone number by contacting program staff.

The Applicant Financial Information page has several components. Guidance on how to answer the questions in each component is provided below.

Marital Status

Your marital status determines the information you are required to submit in this component. Answer “Yes” if you were married as of Dec. 31, 2023. If you were married, you are required to enter your spouse’s financial information. If you were not married, or were no longer married, as of Dec. 31, 2023, answer “No.” If you are uncertain about your marital and tax status, review the Marital Status Definitions table below, which also details the Household Income you are required to report. Note: You are the “Applicant.”
 

Marital Status Definitions

Family Size

To enter your family size, enter “1” for yourself, “1” for your spouse (if applicable), and “1” for each dependent listed on your 2023 IRS 1040 tax form.

Taxable Income

Have you filed your federal tax return for 2023?
If you have already filed your 2023 tax return, select “Yes” and enter your adjusted gross income as it appears on your tax return.

If you intend to file a tax return with the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) but have not yet done so, select “Not Yet.” Before the April federal tax filing deadline (typically April 15), the AAMC will accept federal W-2 and 1099 income data and forms in lieu of a federal IRS 1040 tax form. However, the AAMC may require the federal IRS 1040 tax form before the tax filing deadline to verify the family size you listed on the application. After the federal tax filing deadline, you cannot select “Not Yet.” If you are required to file a tax return, even if you filed an extension, you must submit an IRS 1040 tax form to the Fee Assistance Program before your application can be processed.

If you are not required to file a tax return, select “Will Not Be Filing.” However, if you have earned income, you are still required to enter the income listed on your IRS W-2 or 1099 form.

Note: If you are married or separated and did not or will not file a joint tax return, you are required to enter the sum of your and your spouse’s individual incomes in the required fields. If you and your spouse filed separately, you must also provide your spouse’s IRS 1040 tax form. Be sure both of you sign and date your IRS 1040 tax forms before submitting them.

Have you received W-2 or 1099 forms from your employer(s) for 2023? Will you be receiving W-2 or 1099 forms from your employer(s) for 2023?

Employers typically provide either a W-2 or 1099 form to full- or part-time employees and contractors around Feb. 1 of each year. These forms summarize all your wages, tips, and other earnings. Contact your employer if you are unsure if you received or will receive such a form.

If you have selected “Not Yet” or “Will Not Be Filing” for your tax filing status, input the total income you received from work as shown on your W-2 or 1099 forms.

Be sure to document all earned income. Submitting false information or omitting required or pertinent information could result in an investigation, which may impact your eligibility for fee assistance. 

Financial Aid

Financial aid is defined as any grant, scholarship, loan, or federal work-study program offered to help a student meet their college expenses. This is typically detailed on your postsecondary institution’s Financial Aid Award Letter.

The Fee Assistance Program does not consider financial aid awarded and used for tuition, books, or fees to be part of your income. Only the portion of financial aid awarded for living expenses is considered income. 

To complete this section, you will need to reference your Financial Aid Award Letter and your school’s cost of attendance sheet or similar documentation that details the cost of tuition for the academic year and how much students typically pay for books and fees. This information is usually found on the financial aid or admissions sections of your school’s website; more details on this documentation appear below.

If you have received or will be receiving financial aid for the 2023-24 academic year, select “Yes” when prompted for this information and enter the financial aid amount awarded for living expenses.

If you answer “Yes,” indicating you have received or will receive financial aid, the Financial Aid Calculator will appear. Use this calculator to determine the amount of aid you were awarded for living expenses. The calculator will prompt you to enter the total financial aid awarded, total tuition amount, total amount spent on books, and total amount spent on fees (e.g., lab, studio, activities, or other fees) for the 2023-24 academic year, which it will subtract from the total amount of financial aid received for the 2023-24 academic year. This will calculate the financial aid awarded for living expenses to be entered into the application.

The program staff recommends you use the following formula to ensure you are entering your financial aid information appropriately: Total financial aid awarded for the 2023-24 academic year — Total tuition amount for the 2023-24 academic year — Total amount spent on books for the 2023-24 academic year — Total amount spent on fees for the 2023-24 academic year = Financial aid awarded for living expenses.

If you received any financial aid, you will be required to submit a copy of the cost of attendance sheet and your Financial Aid Award Letter. Your Financial Aid Award Letter must include your school’s name and website address, the full amount of financial aid received, and the breakdown of the cost of attendance as provided by your school. (If the cost of attendance is not included in the Financial Aid Award Letter, it can usually be located and printed from the school’s website.) The Fee Assistance Program will not accept IRS Form 1098-T Tuition Statements, semester bills, account summaries, loan statements, or FAFSA documentation in lieu of your award letter and cost of attendance sheet.

If you did not receive financial aid for the 2023-24 academic year, answer “No” in this section. If you answer “No” and have submitted your Fee Assistance Program application, you will be required to provide a letter from your school stating that you have not received financial aid for the 2023-24 academic year. This letter must appear on the school’s letterhead and be signed by a representative of the school’s financial aid office.

Housing and Food Assistance

Some students receive housing assistance and live with relatives or are provided housing by a relative or friend. If any of these scenarios applies to you, select “Yes” for this question. If you did not receive assistance from a relative or friend, or your housing assistance was provided as part of your financial aid award or through a federal, state, or local welfare program, select “No.”

The Housing/Food Assistance Calculator will appear if you select “Yes” for the question. Use this calculator to determine the value of your housing and food assistance. Estimate what you would have paid monthly for rent based on market rates for similar housing in your area. Use the same method to estimate the food assistance you received as a dollar amount.

If you received housing and/or food assistance from a relative, friend, or other entity, you must submit a signed Housing and Food Assistance Letter that documents the assistance you received in 2023. The letter must be signed with either a handwritten or a digital signature that includes an audit trail, such as a DocuSign or Adobe signature.

Income Earned While Living in Another Country 

If you lived and worked outside of the United States in 2023 and received income that is not reflected on your IRS W-2 or 1099 forms, select “Yes” when prompted for this information, and enter the amount of money you earned. Convert this income to U.S. dollars.

If you received income while residing in a country other than the United States, you must submit a signed Foreign Income Letter that documents the income you earned abroad. The letter must be signed with either a handwritten or a digital signature that includes an audit trail, such as a DocuSign or Adobe signature.

Social Security Benefits

Enter the full amount of benefits you received from the Social Security Administration in 2023. In addition to retirement benefits, be sure to include survivor benefits, disability benefits, or other, less common benefits you received. Enter “0” if you did not receive any benefits from the Social Security Administration.

Federal, State, and Local Welfare Programs

Enter the total value of food stamps (SNAP), housing vouchers, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or other welfare program benefits you or your spouse (if applicable) received last year.

If you received such benefits, you must submit a formal statement of the benefits you received from the government agency that administers the benefit program(s). Enter “0” if you did not receive benefits from any other federal, state, or local welfare programs.

Financial Gifts

Enter the combined value of gifts of cash that you received last year if the total value is greater than $200. This amount includes one-time gifts of cash as well as cash provided throughout the year for general living expenses. For example, if a relative gave you $100 per month for general living expenses for 12 months, enter $1,200 in this section. Similarly, record one-time gifts of cash.

Enter “0” if you did not receive cash gifts or their combined total was less than $200; you do not need to report such gifts.

If you received cash totaling more than $200 last year, you must submit a signed Financial Gift Letter that documents the amount you received. The letter must be signed with either a handwritten or a digital signature that includes an audit trail, such as DocuSign or Adobe signature.

Child Support

Enter the sum of all child support payments you received. Do not include information about any child support payments you made.

If you received child support payments, you must submit an official document that details the amount you received last year. Enter “0” if you did not receive child support payments.

Alimony or Spousal Support

Enter the total alimony or spousal support you received. Do not include information about any spousal support payments you made.

Note: If you indicated that you have already filed your federal tax return, you will not see this question because this income is included in your taxes.

If you received spousal support payments, you must submit a signed, formal document that details the amount you received last year. Enter “0” if you did not receive alimony or spousal support.

Income or Financial Support Received From Other Sources

Enter the total amount of other income or financial support you received last year that you have not reported in the previous sections, (e.g., stimulus checks, veterans benefits, or an inheritance).

If you received income or financial support from other sources, you must submit a formal document that details the amount you received in the previous year. Enter “0” if you did not receive income or financial support from other sources.

Note: If you have indicated you are “married, filing separately,” proof of income for both you and your spouse is required. If only one spouse has income documentation, and you will not be able to provide a proof of income for the other spouse, you must provide a letter from the spouse without proof of income stating the source of their income (e.g., they are supported by their spouse). The spouse without proof of income must sign and date this letter, and you must upload the letter to “Other Documentation.”
 

Note: If you are under age 26 on the day you submit your application and you do not qualify for an exception (noted below), you must include your parents’ financial information on your Fee Assistance Program application. You must agree to provide your parents’ financial information to continue with your application. Refer to the Are You Eligible? section of this document for more details on this requirement. 

Double check your profile to be sure that your date of birth is accurate. If your birthdate is incorrect, or you falsely state you were age 26 or older, when you were, in fact, under the age of 26 at the time of application, you are at risk for an investigation. In addition, the inaccurate date, indicating you were age 26 or older, may result in your not being prompted to provide your parents’ financial information, which is required for applicants under age 26. Refer to the Violations and Investigations section of this guide for more information.

Applicants under age 26 may not be required to provide their parents’ financial information if they qualify for any of the following exceptions. If you are under age 26 and one of the following circumstances applies that prevents you from obtaining a parent’s financial information, contact program staff before submitting your application:

• You were legally emancipated.
• You do not know if a parent is living.
• You do not have a relationship with a parent and do not communicate with each other.
• You have a parent who is incarcerated or institutionalized or is permanently incapacitated or hospitalized.
• You were in foster care or in the care of a legal guardian at the time you reached the age of majority.
• You have another circumstance that prohibits you from obtaining a parent’s financial information.

If you think you might fall under one of these exceptions, contact the Fee Assistance Program outreach team at fap@aamc.org or 202-828-0600 for instructions on how to complete the parental requirement before submitting the Fee Assistance Program application.

If you are under age 26 on the day you submit your application and you do not qualify for an exception, you must agree to provide your parents’ financial information to continue with your application.

Note: The Fee Assistance Program application contains a threshold question for parental information for applicants under age 26: “Do you have any living parents?” Answering “No” to this question indicates that your parents are deceased and therefore no other information about your parents will be asked. Failure to respond to this question accurately may result in an investigation. Refer to the Violations and Investigations section of this guide for more information.

The AAMC defines “parents” as biological parents, adoptive parents, and stepparents. If you were adopted, you do not have to report your biological parents’ information. In addition, you are required to submit information about a stepparent only if they were married to one of your biological or adoptive parents as of Dec. 31, 2023.

Grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, aunts, uncles, and other relatives are not considered parents for the purposes of this application.

The program staff understands that some parents may be unwilling to provide their financial information; however, you must submit this information to be considered for the Fee Assistance Program unless an extenuating circumstance prohibits you from obtaining that information (see exceptions listed above).

Marital Status

If you have living parents, you are required to indicate their marital status as of Dec. 31, 2023. Your parents’ marital status determines what other information is required for this component. If you and your parents are uncertain of your parents’ marital status, review the Parental Information: Marital Status Definitions table on the next page. Note: You are the “Applicant.”

Parental Information: Marital Status Definitions

Enter the full name and state of legal residence of each parent. You can update the information on this page before submission. After submission, you will be unable to edit these fields.

If your parents’ marital status is “Married,” enter both parents’ names and state of legal residence. When you get to the Parent Financial section, you will report income for one parental household.

If your parents’ marital status is “Divorced, One or Both Remarried,” “Divorced, Neither Remarried,” “Not Married, Living Separately,” “Not Married, Living Together,” or “Separated,” enter both parents’ names and states of legal residence. When you get to the Parent Financial section, you will report income for both parental households.

If your parent is “Widowed” or “Single,” enter your parent’s name and state of legal residence. When you get to the Parent Financial section, you will report income for one parental household.

Depending on the marital status of your parent(s), one or two tabs to enter financial information will appear. Each tab represents the full household of your parent(s). For each household, enter income and other dollar amounts, rounding to the nearest whole dollar. Enter income for all parents in the household, including a parent’s spouse (if applicable), even if they file taxes separately. The following components make up the Parents’ Financial Information page.

Family Size

To enter your parents’ family size, enter “1” for your parent, “1” for your other parent or parent’s spouse (if applicable), and “1” for each dependent listed on your parents’ 2023 IRS 1040 tax form.

Taxable Income

Have your parent(s) filed their federal tax return(s) for 2023?

If your parents have already filed their 2023 tax return, select “Yes” and enter their adjusted gross income as it appears on their tax return.

If your parents intend to file a tax return but have not yet done so, select “Not Yet.” Before the April federal tax filing deadline (typically, April 15), the AAMC will accept IRS W-2 and 1099 income data and forms in place of an IRS 1040 tax form. However, the AAMC may require the federal IRS 1040 tax form before the tax filing deadline to verify the family size listed on the Fee Assistance Program application. After the federal tax filing deadline, you cannot select “Not Yet.” If your parents are required to file a tax return, even if they filed for an extension, they must submit an IRS 1040 tax form to the Fee Assistance Program before your application can be processed. If your parents are not required to file a tax return, select “Will Not Be Filing.” However, if your parents have any earned income, you are required to enter the income listed on their IRS W-2 or 1099 forms.

Note: If your parents are married or separated and did not or will not file a joint tax return, you are still required to enter the sum of their individual incomes in the fields where income is required. You are also required to provide the IRS 1040 tax form for both parents if they are married but filed tax returns separately. Be sure all appropriate parties sign and date their IRS 1040 tax forms before submitting them.

Have your parent(s) received a W-2 and/or 1099 forms from their employer(s) for 2023? Will your parent(s) be receiving W-2 and/or 1099 forms from their employer(s) for 2023?

Employers typically provide either a W-2 or 1099 form to full- and part-time employees and/or contractors around Feb. 1 of each year. These forms summarize all wages, tips, and other earnings. Ask your parents to contact their employer if they are unsure if they have received, or will receive, such a form.

If you have selected “Not Yet” or “Will Not be Filing” as your parents’ tax filing status, input the total income they earned from work as shown on their W-2 or 1099 forms.

Be sure to document all earned income. Submitting false information or omitting required or material information could result in an investigation, which may impact your eligibility for fee assistance. 

Housing and Food Assistance

Some people receive housing assistance and live with relatives or are provided housing by a relative or friend. If any of these scenarios applies to your parents, select “Yes” for this question. If your parents did not receive assistance from a relative or friend, or their housing assistance was provided through a federal, state, or local welfare program, select “No.”

The Housing/Food Assistance Calculator will appear if you select “Yes” for this question. Use this calculator to determine the value of your parents’ housing and food assistance. Estimate what they would have paid monthly for rent based on market rates for similar housing in their area. Use the same method to estimate the amount of food assistance they received as a dollar amount.

If your parents received housing and/or food assistance from a relative, friend, or other entity, you must submit a signed Housing and Food Assistance Letter that documents the assistance they received. The letter must be signed with either a handwritten or a digital signature that includes an audit trail, such as a DocuSign or Adobe signature.

Income Earned While Living in Another Country 

If your parents lived and worked outside of the United States in 2023 and received income that is not reflected on their IRS W-2 or 1099 forms, select “Yes” and enter the amount of money your parents earned. Convert this income to U.S. dollars.

If your parents received income while residing in a country other than the United States, then you must submit a Foreign Income Letter, signed by your parents, that documents the income they earned abroad. The letter must be signed with either a handwritten or a digital signature that includes an audit trail, such as a DocuSign or Adobe signature.

Social Security Benefits

Enter the full amount of benefits your parents received from the Social Security Administration in 2023. In addition to retirement benefits, be sure to include survivor benefits, disability benefits, or other, less common, benefits they received. Enter “0” if your parents did not receive any benefits from the Social Security Administration.

Federal, State, and Local Welfare Programs

Enter the total value of food stamps (SNAP), housing vouchers, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or other welfare program benefits your parents received last year.

If your parents received such benefits, you must submit a formal statement of the benefits they received from the government agency that administers the benefit program(s). Enter “0” if they did not receive benefits from any other federal, state, or local welfare programs.

Financial Gifts 

Enter the combined value of gifts of cash that your parents received last year if that total value is greater than $200. This amount includes one-time gifts of cash as well as cash provided throughout the year for general living expenses. For example, if a family friend gave your parents $100 per month for general living expenses for 12 months, enter $1,200 in this section. Similarly, record one-time gifts of cash. 

Enter “0” if your parents did not receive cash gifts or their combined total was less than $200; you do not need to report such gifts.

If your parents received cash totaling more than $200 last year, you must submit a signed Financial Gift Letter that documents the amount they received. The letter must be signed with either a handwritten or a digital signature that includes an audit trail, such as a DocuSign or Adobe signature.

Child Support

Enter the sum of all child support payments your parents received. Do not include information about any child support payments your parents made.

If your parents received child support payments, you must submit an official document that details the amount they received last year. Enter “0” if they did not receive child support payments.

Alimony or Spousal Support

Enter the total alimony or spousal support your parents received. Do not include information about any spousal support payments they made.

Note: If you indicated that your parents have already filed their federal tax return, you will not see this question because the income is included in their taxes.

If your parents received spousal support payments, you must submit a signed, formal document that details the amount they received last year. Enter “0” if they did not receive alimony or spousal support.

Income or Financial Support Received From Other Sources

Enter the total amount of income or other financial support that your parents received last year that you have not reported in the previous sections (e.g., stimulus checks, veterans benefits, or an inheritance).

If your parents received income or financial support from other sources, you must submit a formal document that details the amount they received in the previous year. Enter “0” if they did not receive income or financial support from other sources.

Note: If you have two living parents, or your parent(s) has remarried, proof of income is required for both parents. If you only have one parent with income documentation and will not be able to provide proof of income for the second parent, you must provide a letter from the second parent stating the source of their income (e.g., they are supported by their spouse). This letter must be signed and dated by the second parent and uploaded to “Other Documentation.” 

The Application Summary provides a summary of the information you entered in your application. You can access your Application Summary at any time. Before submitting your application, please review this section carefully, making sure all your information is correct. You may edit the information you entered by selecting the pencil icon in the header of the Applicant Information section.

To submit your Fee Assistance Program application, you must indicate that you understand and accept the terms of the Certification Statement. If you do not indicate that you understand and accept the Certification Statement terms, you will not be able to submit your application. Adherence to the Certification Statement is necessary to enable the AAMC to maintain a fair process for you and other applicants.

Full Text of the Certification Statement

By selecting “I Agree” at the end of the Certification Statement, you acknowledge that you have read and understand these terms.

I certify that I have read and understand the policies and procedures contained in the Fee Assistance Program Essentials, Calendar Year 2024 and that I agree to comply with them. Further, I certify that the information provided in this application is complete and accurate.

I understand and agree to the AAMC Website Terms and Conditions and the AAMC Privacy Statement.

I understand that any alleged violation of this Certification Statement or any alleged activity that could compromise the integrity or security of my Fee Assistance Program application may be investigated. If I violate the terms of this Certification Statement, including the additional terms and conditions stated in the Fee Assistance Program Essentials, Calendar Year 2024, or fail to fully cooperate in any investigation, I may face the following consequences, further outlined in the Fee Assistance Program Essentials, Calendar Year 2024:

• The AAMC may issue a report of the factual findings of the investigation to legitimately interested parties, both now and in the future.
• I may lose my eligibility to apply to, or receive an award from, the Fee Assistance Program in the future.

I have read and agree to comply with the terms of the Certification Statement, including the additional terms and conditions stated in the Fee Assistance Program Essentials, Calendar Year 2024, and I understand the consequences for failing to comply.