You completed your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and everything seems to be going smoothly. But then you receive your FAFSA submission summary and notice you’ve been selected for FAFSA verification.
While it might be surprising and unnerving, don’t panic. It’s actually pretty common to be selected for FAFSA verification.
Here’s what it means, common reasons applicants are chosen, and how to move forward.
What Is FAFSA Verification?
FAFSA verification is a process that the U.S. Department of Education uses to ensure the information on your FAFSA is accurate. Sometimes the U.S. Department of Education randomly chooses applicants for verification; other times, colleges or universities that received your FAFSA information may request verification.
Unfortunately, you won’t receive federal financial aid until verification is complete, so it’s important to take it seriously if you’re chosen for FAFSA verification.
Common Reasons for FAFSA Verification
There are several reasons why a FAFSA applicant might be chosen for verification. It could be as simple as overlooking a question on the form, or because information you provided needs confirmation. Let’s go over the common reasons this process can be triggered:
Random selection
In many cases, colleges and universities might randomly select applicants for FAFSA verification as part of their process. Some schools even verify all applicants’ FAFSAs. So again, getting this notification is no reason to panic.
Your FAFSA has incomplete data
If you overlooked a question or failed to provide certain information on the FAFSA, your application could be flagged for verification. In this case, you’d simply answer the question you missed or provide the information your college or university needs.
Your FAFSA has inaccurate or contradictory information
You might be selected for FAFSA verification if there’s inaccurate or contradictory information on your application. In this case, you’ll need to verify the information and provide supporting documentation if your school requests it.
Your FAFSA needs more documentation
If you estimated a piece of information, such as your income or moving date, this could trigger a verification. Simply correct the estimate and provide corresponding documents as backup.
What should you do if you’re chosen for FAFSA verification?
It’s important to act quickly if you’re chosen for FAFSA verification, as waiting could impact your financial aid eligibility. The first thing you should do is check your Student Aid Report to see if you have a message from the Department of Education. If you do, it’ll likely provide further insight into why you were chosen and the next steps to take. You can also contact your school’s financial aid office if you have questions.
As part of the FAFSA verification process, your financial aid office will likely ask you to submit certain documents, including but not limited to:
- Verification worksheet
- IRS tax return transcript
- Marriage certificate
- Social security card
- Alien registration card
- Other information/documentation
Keep in mind that requirements and documents will vary depending on your specific circumstances. If you need to provide tax documentation for your FAFSA, you may be able to access it through the IRS Direct Data Exchange. This tool lets you transfer tax and income data directly to your FAFSA, streamlining the application process.
What happens next?
Once you’ve submitted your documents, your Financial Aid Office will use them to verify the information on your Student Aid Report. It will then make any necessary corrections, and if the errors or discrepancies impact your total financial aid, you’ll be given a revised award.
If you are selected for FAFSA verification, stay calm—this happens to many applicants, and in some cases, schools verify every applicant. Processing FAFSA verifications typically takes two to three weeks, but can take longer during peak season. Your information will need to be verified before your financial aid can be disbursed, so it’s important to address any issues quickly.
If you find that there is still a gap after financial aid, scholarships, grants, or institutional assistance, ELFI may be able to help cover the remaining cost of college. Explore ELFI’s private student loan options, including undergraduate, graduate, and parent loans. A member of ELFI’s award-winning student loan advising team is standing by to answer your questions!
