Verification

<p>So when filing my D's FAFSA this year, I didn't get the verfication * for the first time since I started filing for both my kids. She also fell out of range for any Pell grant money for the first time. I don't mind the verification process --I mean, there's not much too it, plus I have to do that much and then some for my son's school every year anyway because it's a Profile school-- but it got me to wondering...</p>

<p>are you more likely to be selected for verification if you qualify for gov't grant money? Are other folks here who do not qualify for Pell grants frequently chosen for verification?</p>

<p>My daughter qualifies for the Pell. She has had an * all 3 FAFSAs (haven’t done this years yet). She was actually verified by her school the first 2 times but not last time. (the school does not have to verify you if you have a * and they can still choose to verify you if you do not have a *)</p>

<p>But Thumper has posted that they have been verified every FAFSA though have never qualified for federal grant aid.</p>

<p>Okay, interesting! I wasn’t sure if my new un-*'d status correlated with not qualifying for Pell funds. Guess not!</p>

<p>Four years of applications for S1-- no Pell Grant and no verification.</p>

<p>Year two with S2–both Pell years, both *. </p>

<p>Maybe a coincidence.</p>

<p>If you don’t mind me asking, what do you mean by “verification *”?</p>

<p>Schools are required to verify a minimum of 30% of the FAFSAs they receive. Some verify more. If you are selected for verification you will have to provide documentation to the school to “verify” the data on your FAFSA. This might include copies of tax returns, W2s, completing a form showing where other family members are enrolled in college, etc.</p>

<p>It’s really not a big deal, just makes an extra step. Certainly not too much to ask for the aid received. The college required copies of all tax forms and W-2’s and a couple forms of their own.</p>

<p>Okay thanks, I think I’m starting to understand this better.</p>

<p>But what does rent mean when he says “So when filing my D’s FAFSA this year, I didn’t get the verfication *”? Are you sometimes asked for verification right away?</p>

<p>FAFSA selects 30% of FAFSAs for verification. Some may be random, some may be for other reasons. A * by the EFC means that FAFSA has been selected (or has in the past, I assume this has not changed) by FAFSA for verification. However a school does not have to verify the FAFSAs selected by FAFSA. They can have their own criteria. Some may verify all the FAFSAs the receive that have a * until they reach the required 30%. Some choose their own criteria. Some verify every FAFSA (My son’s school does)</p>

<p>Wait, so if we have the * (I do), does that mean we need to send documents to the government? Or only if it’s selected (and later asked for by) my school? I guess I don’t have to do anything until my school asks for something, right?</p>

<p>Also, my EFC isn’t showing up, but I think this is because a mistake my dad made with his birth date, so it should be fine once he corrects the PIN and resigns it, right?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>You don’t send anything to anyone till they request it. Then it will be the school(s) that ask, not the govt.</p>

<p>I don’t know how the correcting the birthdate goes.Was it wrong on FAFSA or when he applied for the PIN? I would assume it will be ok once he corrects it.</p>