NASFAA Urges ED to Extend Verification Relief Before 2022-23 FAFSA Cycle Opens
By Owen Daugherty, NASFAA Staff Reporter
NASFAA on Tuesday joined the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) in a letter addressed to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona lamenting the fact that the verification waivers recently granted by the Department of Education (ED) won’t be extended to the 2022-23 award year.
Acknowledging that ED alluded to possible waivers still being considered for upcoming award year, the letter notes the importance of giving students and institutions clarity before the application cycle begins next month.
“Continuing the July verification waiver is smart policy that works for taxpayers and exemplifies good government. The days of improper payments arising from misreported family and income information on the FAFSA are limited,” the letter states, pointing to the upcoming implementation of the FAFSA Simplification and FUTURE Acts in the 2024-25 award year as reasoning.
Along with NCAN, NASFAA provided data points and anecdotes on how the verification waiver has helped students who were previously held up by verification requirements to receive financial aid offers and disbursements by the start of classes, allowing them to enroll when they otherwise might not have been able.
The letter calls on ED to waive the verification requirements for the 2022-23 award year and asks the department to do so as soon as possible and no later than Oct. 1 when the application cycle begins.
“The most beneficial impact for students and institutions is a seamless continuation of the current verification waiver,” the letter concludes.
Publication Date: 9/8/2021
Jennifer A | 9/15/2021 11:13:37 AM
Strong support for NCAN and NASFAA for the letter addressed to Education Secretary Cardona. It is ridiculous to require students to slog through verification of V1 information again, especially considering it'll be 2020 Covid taxes being reviewed on the 22/23 FAFSA. If it was right to waive such requirements for 2019 tax information, student's definitely deserve to have such requirements waived for 2020 tax information.
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