adjusted gross income (AGI). AGI is your total gross income minus specific adjustments. Gross income includes wages, dividends, capital gains, business income, retirement distributions, and other income. Adjustments may include educator expenses, student loan interest, alimony payments, and retirement contributions. AGI is always less than or equal to your gross income on your tax return. For the Fee Assistance Program, your AGI can be found on your IRS Form 1040 tax return.
applicant household vs. spouse household. In the Fee Assistance Program application, the applicant’s household is separate from the spouse’s household when reporting income and family size. Each household must be reported individually.
asterisk. A red star icon (*) found throughout the application indicating a required field. You must complete all fields marked with an asterisk (e.g., entering names, income amounts, or uploading documents).
dependent. A person other than the taxpayer or spouse for whom the taxpayer can claim a dependency exemption. You must provide at least half of the person’s total support for the year (e.g., food, shelter, clothing) to claim them as a dependent. Children or other relatives may qualify.
estrangement. To be considered estranged from a parent, you must have had no contact with that parent for at least 12 months, with some exceptions. Simply living apart or a parent’s refusal to provide financial information does not qualify as estrangement.
family size. For tax purposes, your family includes yourself, your spouse (if filing jointly), and all individuals you claim as dependents. Your household size may differ from the number of people you live with.
financial aid. Any grant, scholarship, loan, or federal work-study program that helps a student pay for college expenses. Only the portion awarded for living expenses is considered income for the Fee Assistance Program. This financial aid must be documented on a Financial Aid Award Letter that includes your school’s name, website, total aid awarded, and a cost-of-attendance breakdown. (If the cost of attendance is not included in the Award Letter, it can usually be located and printed from the school’s website.)
foreign income letter. An AAMC form available on the Fee Assistance Program website. This letter is used to document the income earned while living outside the United States. It must include either a handwritten signature or digital signature with an audit trail (e.g., DocuSign or Adobe).
household. In the Fee Assistance Program application, a household represents the group of people whose income and financial information you are reporting. This may be a single applicant, a married couple, or a parent’s household. If two household tabs appear, each represents a distinct household with its own income reporting.
housing or food assistance letter. A signed letter documenting assistance provided by a relative, friend, or other nongovernment source for housing or food; for example, if you or your parents live in a relative’s home and receive food or housing support you would normally pay for. Acceptable signatures include handwritten or digital signatures with an audit trail (e.g., DocuSign or Adobe).
legal separation. A formal, court-recognized separation from a spouse. Different from informal or physical separation, where spouses live apart but remain legally married.
marital status. Your legal relationship status. Categories include:
- Single: Not married and not in a civil partnership.
- Married: Legally married.
- Separated: Legally married but living apart; may include legal or informal separation.
- Divorced: Legally divorced.
- Widowed: Spouse has died.
other documentation. The total amount of other income or financial support you received last year that you have not yet reported in the previous section of your application; other income may include 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.
permanent address. A physical street address that is under your name.
signatures. Every AAMC-provided form (available on the website) and all letters and forms with designated signature spaces require a signature. Typed signatures are not accepted; only handwritten signatures and those with an audit trail (e.g., DocuSign or Adobe) are valid. This is required for all submissions where a signature is requested.
Social Security. A federal insurance program that provides benefits to retired people and those who are unemployed or disabled, and to their spouses, children, and survivors.
welfare. Refers to government-sponsored assistance programs for individuals and families in need (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or “TANF”), including health care assistance, food stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or “SNAP”), housing vouchers, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and unemployment compensation. Note: If a 1099 was provided to you for any benefits received, upload your 1099 to the W-2/1099 portion of your application.
withdrawn. Application status that indicates the applicant no longer wishes to be considered for the Fee Assistance Program. You may only withdraw your application after it has been submitted but before the AAMC has approved or denied it. The decision to withdraw your application is final. You will not be able to reactivate or resubmit your application or start a new application for the current Fee Assistance Program cycle once you have withdrawn your application.