Verification
Updated in November 2019 for the 2020-21 program year and updated in April 2019 for the 2019-20 program year.
Verification is the process used by the institution to check the accuracy of the information the student and, in the case of a dependent student, the student’s parents, provided when applying for Title IV federal student aid via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Information is verified by obtaining documentation, including in some cases, a signed statement or worksheet attesting to the accuracy of the information. Verification ensures the accuracy of data used to establish eligibility for need-based federal student aid. This guide will explain the various aspects of verification and the documents required to complete the process.
Available as a PDF only.
Learning Objectives
Lesson 1: Introduction to Verification
- Understand the principles of verification;
- Know when verification is required and for which Title IV programs;
- Know what data elements must be verified;
- Identify verification tracking groups; and
- Understand verification documentation requirements for each data element.
Lesson 2: Changing Applicant Data
- When corrections must be reprocessed via the Central Processing System;
- What an update is and when it can be made; and
- Professional judgment and the authority to utilize it.
Lesson 3: Interim Disbursements, Time Frames, and Policies and Procedures
- A school's options for making interim disbursements;
- The time frames associated with verification; and
- The policies and procedures a school should have in place regarding verification.
Publication Date: 11/26/2019
