<p>If I need to verify my information for FAFSA, what do they usually ask for?
They only asked me to "correct" my information. So this is verification? It is supposed to tell me what I specifically need to do on my SAR right?
Can someone tell me?</p>
<p>Verification you are asked for tax returns and have to complete a form with some additional information. If they find a discrepancy they will go in and correct it.</p>
<p>If you have just been asked to "correct" your information I suspect you may have something outstanding that needs to be completed - for instance if you put your tax return status as 'will file' you would need to go in and correct your taxes and change it to show you have filed taxes.</p>
<p>Verification has got to be the most annoying thing ever. Basically, it means every college you applied to will want signed copies of their verification form, your 1040s, your parents 1040s, everyone's W-2s, and if you are like us, your 1099s and business tax return and tons more. We have spent hours and hours and over a ream of paper making all the copies for this. And all the colleges asked at different times. Some originally said they didn't need it, then changed their minds. It's been going on since January and I just got a new one today. Arrrggghhh. And they didn't find one correction.</p>
<p>Be really efficient, scan your taxes and email them to each finaid dept- return receipt requested, so you have proof they got it</p>
<p>When I needed to make and send copies of my forms, I just went out and made 7 copies of each and placed them all into envelopes. All I then needed to do was address the envelopes.</p>
<p>By the way, you are officially asked for Verification when there is a sneaky little asterisk next to your EFC on the SAR. If there is no *, then maybe all you have to do is correct some left out bits or a mistake or two. Of course, schools can ask you for whatever they need.</p>
<p>Is it true that FAFSA Verification is more likely to occur if you are Pell Grant elligible?</p>
<p>
[quote]
FAFSA: Verification</p>
<p>Verification is a process to confirm information you provided on the FAFSA. The U.S. Department of Education selects some FAFSAs for verification. Others are selected by schools due to discrepancies in their data.</p>
<p>These are the main reasons for being selected:</p>
<pre><code>* You were chosen randomly.
* The FAFSA you submitted was incomplete.
* Your FAFSA contains estimated information.
* The data you provided on the FAFSA is inconsistent.
</code></pre>
<p>If you are selected for FAFSA verification, you must provide specific documentation. Not all students selected for verification have to submit the same documents. Save the records and materials that you used to complete the FAFSA.</p>
<p>Verification ensures that the information students and parents report is accurate. Verification prevents ineligible students from receiving aid by reporting false information and ensures that eligible students receive all of the aid for which they are qualified.</p>
<p>The sooner you verify your information, the sooner you’ll be able to receive financial aid if you’re eligible.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The above is from the Sallie Mae site.</p>
<p>In regards to verification occuring more when one is Pell eligible: This is not the case. Approximately 1 out of every 3 applicants is randomly selected by the Department of Education, whether they are Pell eligible or not. Some schools choose to verify 100% of their FA applicants. Other schools only select those applications which have conflicting data but were missed by the random selection. Conflicting data can be as simple as listing 3 in household but 2 on tax exemption. It can also result from having the AGI listed at 87,000 but earned income as 53,000. Also, having all zero's at the end of the dollar amounts (10,000; 25,000; etc) can trigger the request.</p>
<p>If the schools just asks for a correction; the most likely cause is something minor that is in conflict, such as using "will file" or answer a standard question incorrectly or failing to answer a question at all (such as skipping the "Are you male?" question.) Go back in and review all of your submitted information and change anything that is blank or is wrong.</p>
<p>Most Financial Aid Offices hate requesting verification documents...so we try very hard to avoid it.</p>