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Verification

Click here to access Verification Forms.

Verification is the process established by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) to check the accuracy of FAFSA applications.  The USDOE selects approximately thirty percent of all applications for verification. If the USDOE selects your application, a message appears on your Student Aid Report (SAR) and the Financial Aid Office (FAO) will mail you a letter with instructions on completing the verification process. If selected, you will have to complete certain verification requirements.

The verification process involves the following steps:

• You must send all requested documentation to the FAO for review.
• If the verification process results in changes to your application, the FAO will transmit corrections electronically to the USDOE federal processor.
• The USDOE federal processor will reprocess corrected data, send you a new SAR, and transmit corrected application results to the FAO.
• The FAO can then begin to process your financial aid.

We encourage you to respond promptly and completely to any request for verification materials.  We are unable to finalize your aid and authorize the payment of aid until the verification process is complete. 

Dependent Students must submit:

• Dependent Verification Worksheet
• Student's prior year signed federal tax returns (state returns are not required)
• Parent's prior year signed federal tax returns (state returns are not required)
• All W-2's, 1099's and supporting schedules

Independent Students must submit:

• Independent Verification Worksheet
• Student/Spouse prior year signed federal tax returns (state returns are not required)
• All W-2's, 1099's and supporting schedules

Dependent Status vs. Independent Status:

According to the USDOE, a student is a dependent of his or her parents unless one of the following criteria below are met.  Otherwise you will be required to provide your parent's information.  If your biological parents are divorced and you do not live with or receive any support from either, you must provide information on the parent (and step-parent if your parent has remarried) who has provided you the most recent support.

You are a dependent unless you meet ONE of the following criteria:

• reach the age of 24
• marry
• have a dependent child of your own for which you provide more than half of the child's support
• in a graduate program
• veteran of the armed forces
• ward of the court (both parents are deceased)

You do not qualify for independent status because your:

• parents refuse to contribute to your education
• parents are unwilling to provide information on the application or for verification
• parents do not claim you as a dependent for income tax purposes
• parents are incarcerated
• situation demonstrates self-sufficiency
• status is emancipated

However, should there be extenuating circumstances such as:

• both biological parents are deceased.  If this is the case, you should check yes to "ward of the court" on the FAFSA and proceed as independent.  You will be required to provide death certificates.
• there is an abusive family environment.  If this is the case, you must provide police/court/social services documentation.  You must also visit our office to complete a Professional Judgment Request.
• abandonment by both of your parents.  If this is the case, you must provide court documentation.  You must also visit our office to complete a Professional Judgment Request.

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