Michael Wilmot v. New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority

── Michael Wilmot v. New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority ── Court: New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division Date: May 15, 2026 Category: General NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited . R. 1:36-3. SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION DOCKET NO. A-2072-24 MICHAEL WILMOT, Petitioner-Appellant, v. NEW JERSEY HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORITY, Respondent-Respondent. _________________________ Submitted May 5, 2026 – Decided May 15, 2026 Before Judges Rose and DeAlmeida. On appeal from the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. Michael Wilmot, self-represented appellant. Jennifer Davenport, Attorney General, attorney for respondent (Sookie Bae-Park, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel; Vijayasri G. Aryama, Deputy Attorney General, on the brief). PER CURIAM  Michael Wilmot appeals from a January 30, 2025 decision of the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (NJHESAA), rejecting his incomplete application for the Home and Community Based Services Provider Loan Redemption Program (Program). Because we conclude the NJHESAA's decision "is supported by sufficient credible evidence on the record as a whole," R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(D), we affirm. We summarize the facts from the record before the NJHESAA. The Program was federally funded and administered by the NJHESAA, which accepted applications for one month only, between July 1, 2024 and July 31, 2024. Under the "one-time" Program, successful applicants were awarded up to $50,000 in student loan redemption. To qualify for the Program, applicants were required to meet certain criteria and submit an online application, including a completed four-page employer certification form. Instructions for completing this form were expressly stated on the first page. Pertinent to this appeal, instruction number four advised: "Before submission, ensure that the applicant and HR representative both provide a hand[]written signature on the form." Instruction number five advised: "Upload the completed and signed form with the online application no later than July 31, 2024." A-2072-24 2  On July 3, 2024, Wilmot applied to the Program by uploading an online application and two pages of the four-page employer certification form. Wilmot did not include section two of the form, titled: "Section 2: To Be Completed By The Human Resources Representative." Five months later, on December 13, 2024, the NJHESAA issued a written decision deeming Wilmot "ineligible for the [Program] due to: Agency Provider or Specific Site Eligibility Status." By email dated December 26, 2024, Wilmot appealed. In his email, Wilmot provided additional information, including his employer's license . On January 17, 2025, the NJHESAA issued a written decision. Acknowledging Wilmot met "Agency Provider or Specific Site Eligibility Status," the agency nonetheless determined Wilmot "remain[ed] ineligible to participate in the Program." The NJHESAA found the application was incomplete in view of a "Missing or Incomplete Employer Certification." By email dated January 27, 2025, Wilmot requested "a copy of the employment verification form." Wilmot explained: "It seems in my original copy it did not scan double sided, and I disposed of the original copy. If you could please se