What is Verification?
What verification means
Verification is the process of checking the accuracy of the information students provide when they apply for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
Because the effectiveness of the federal student financial aid programs depends on the accuracy of the data students report, schools must verify information provided by students and parents on the FAFSA.
The verification of selected applicants applies to the following federal programs: Pell Grant, subsidized Stafford and unsubsidized Stafford loans, Perkins loan, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), College Work Study programs, and all state of Kansas programs.
I've Been Selected
The U.S. Department of Education randomly selects students who must be verified. At least 30% of all students who apply for financial aid will be selected for the verification process.
Remember— You cannot receive federal financial aid until the verification process is completed.
Approximately 2-3 weeks, after completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). If you completed the paper FAFSA application, it will take approximately 4-5 weeks. The SAR will reflect the information you provided on the FAFSA.
On the first page of your SAR, you will see a number preceded by the letters EFC (Expected Family Contribution). This is the amount that a family can be expected to contribute toward a student’s college costs. Your SAR may also tell you that you have been selected for verification.
If you are selected, you will need to submit certain financial documents to the Financial Aid Office, as well as a Verification Worksheet that we will provide. The documents will vary, depending on your status as an independent or dependent student.
The required documents are a signed copy of yours and/or your parent's (or spouse's, if applicable) most recent federal tax return and all supporting W-2s.
Depending on the type of income (taxed or untaxed) reported on your FAFSA, some additional documentation may be requested.
We consider the SAR to be your notification of verification. However, we also send out a notification from our office. This will detail the required documents and include the Verification Worksheet.
My Information Is Correct?
After reviewing your documents, if we find no errors on your SAR, you will receive an award letter from our office.
The award letter will indicate the federal programs you are eligible to receive and the amount of your estimated financial aid awards.
What If Corrections Need To Be Made?
After reviewing your documents, if we find errors your SAR is electronically sent to the federal processor for corrections. The federal processor will then electronically return your corrected information to our financial aid office.
You will receive a corrected SAR electronically or in the mail, and if there are no further changes, the verification process is finished.
You will receive an award letter with the amounts of estimated financial aid.
What Happens Now?
If you do not submit the required documents for verification, you are not eligible to receive financial aid.
Remember when you are selected for verification, the federal government requires you to submit requested documentation to the financial aid office.
Anyone who has not turned in the required documents within 30 days of notification will be notified his/ her file is no longer considered for financial aid awarding. To reactivate a file, a student will need to contact the financial aid office and determine what is needed to complete the file.
Things Have Changed
If there are significant changes in your life, such as, divorce or loss of job, you may contact the financial aid office and ask for consideration of your special circumstances or complete a Special Circumstances Form.
Special circumstances could be one of the following:
- Maintaining two households
- Medical expenses not covered by insurance
- Tuition payments for elementary or secondary school
- Family income changing significantly
Household Size
If your household size or number enrolled in postsecondary education has changed as a result of a change in your marital status, the information can not be updated.
However, if these numbers change for any other reason, you must
update the household size and the number enrolled in postsecondary education.
Dependency Status
Dependency status refers to a student’s classification as either
dependent or independent for financial aid purposes.
You are considered independent if you meet one of the following:
- Age 24 by December 31 of the award year
- Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
- Enrolled and officially admitted in a graduate or professional program
- An orphan or ward of the court, until age 18
- Married
- Have legal dependents other than a spouse. (Legal dependent(s) must receive more than half of their support from you.)
All other students are considered dependent for financial aid purposes. This means you must report your parent’s income and/or tax information.
Changing Your Dependency Status
There is an appeal process for students who do not fit the criteria for independent status, yet feel they have a special circumstance that warrants independent status. Contact the financial aid office to get further information or complete an Independent Appeal Form.
Washburn University
1700 SW College
Topeka, KS 66621
Phone: (785) 670-1151
Toll-Free: 800-524-8447
financialaid@washburn.edu
