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Proof of Payment

Step Up proof of payment: what FES-UA accepts

The 2026-27 FES-UA handbook centers proof of payment on a complete paid receipt or an invoice that clearly demonstrates paid-in-full status.

Last reviewed: July 18, 2026 · 2026-27 rules

Prepared by Sunshine Claim Buddy; reviewed by its founder, a Florida FES-UA parent. How we review guides

The short answer

Use either a receipt with the complete transaction date and amount paid, or an invoice with the complete transaction date that clearly shows paid in full through a paid stamp, matching invoice and payment amounts, or a zero balance. The document must also break down base cost, taxes, fees, discounts, and total.

Current proof-of-payment checklist

  • The transaction date is complete, including the year.
  • The paid amount is visible and matches the amount being claimed.
  • A paid invoice shows “paid in full,” equal invoice/payment amounts, or a zero balance.
  • The cost breakdown shows item price, taxes, fees, discounts, and total.
  • The item or service can be connected to the provider and category documents.
  • For tuition-management systems, the school, student, transaction description, amount, and date of full payment are visible.

Important 2026-27 change: older guides may describe separate bank, card, PayPal, or check records as the primary proof. The current FES-UA handbook instead lists a paid receipt or paid-in-full invoice. Follow the current official handbook for a live claim.

Special payment situations

SituationWhat the current handbook says to show
Buy now, pay laterOnly the amount already paid at the time of submission can be reimbursed.
Reward points or gift cardsThe proof must make the cash value and full purchase price clear.
Private cash sellerCash purchases from private sellers not affiliated with a company or institution are denied; handwritten or unofficial notes are not accepted.
Multiple students in tuition softwareIdentify the specific scholarship student and specific transactions being claimed.

Anonymized before-and-after example

Not enough

Invoice total: $185. No payment amount, paid stamp, zero balance, or full transaction date.

Review-ready

Invoice dated 08/12/26 showing subtotal, tax, $185 total, $185 payment, and $0 balance.

Redact safely

Remove unrelated account numbers, full card numbers, and unrelated transactions, but keep the transaction date, provider, amount, paid status, student or service details, and cost breakdown visible. Save a permanently redacted copy rather than relying on a removable annotation.

Compare the receipt and payment evidence

SunshineClaimBuddy reads documents locally, flags sensitive information, and helps families spot amount, date, provider, and paid-status mismatches before opening EMA.

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Related resources

Invoices
Provider invoice templateCheck the fields that support the category.
On Hold
Fix an on-hold requestRespond before the 30-day window closes.
EMA
EMA checklistRun the entire packet before upload.
Workflow
FES-UA reimbursement guideSee where proof fits in the full process.

How this guide was reviewed

We checked the proof-of-payment and reimbursement sections of the 2026-27 FES-UA Family Handbook on July 18, 2026. Read our editorial method.

Official sources to verify

2026-27 FES-UA Family Handbook Step Up proof-of-payment deadline FAQ

Independent resource: SunshineClaimBuddy is not affiliated with or endorsed by Step Up For Students. Verify live requirements on the official website.