83-420
07-10-11, 06-21-12
Verification (Policy and Procedure)
All students that are selected by the Department of Education are required to complete
the verification process. The Financial Aid Office will send the student a letter notifying
them of the documents needed to complete the process. The college center staff will
make every effort to assist the student and explain what the student and or parents must
submit to complete the verification process. The student will be informed that they will
not receive any Title IV financial aid until the required Verification has been completed.
The student selected for verification must complete a Verification Worksheet with relevant
tax documents attached. The following eight types of information must be verified.
1. Household size.
2. Number enrolled in post-secondary education.
3. Food Stamps - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - if receipt is
indicated on the FAFSA.
4. Adjusted Gross Income.
5. U.S. Income tax paid.
6. Untaxed income and benefits: Child Support Received and/or Untaxed payment to
IRA and Keogh plans.
7. Any other information needed such as legal separation or divorce papers, asset
income, W-2 forms, etc...
8. The Financial Aid staff will complete the on-line verification form, print it and attach
it to the student’s ISIR.
The Financial Aid staff will complete the on-line verification form, print it and attach it to the
student’s ISIR.
The student is sent a letter two times with the required documentation needed to
complete the verification process. The student will have 30 days to respond to each
notice that the ISIR verification must be completed. The student must submit the
required documents no later than (60) days after the last day of enrollment or August
30, whichever is earlier. If the student fails to complete the verification by the
deadline, the student forfeits the Pell Grant for the award year.
If an overpayment is discovered, the student is notified of the overpayment. The
Financial Aid Office will conduct an investigation to determine liability for repayment
of Title IV by the school or the student. If the student is liable, he/she is given 30 days
to repay or other action will be taken. The Director has the right to verify and file that
a student failed to provide requested documentation.
Fraud
After conducting a review of an application provided for, under paragraph (f) of this
section, any credible information indicating that an application for Title IV, HEA program
assistance may have engaged in fraud or other criminal misconduct in connection with
his or her application. The type of information that an institution must refer is that which
is relevant to the eligibility of the applicant for Title IV, HEA program assistance, or the
amount of the assistance, will be referred to the Office of Inspector General of the
Department of Education for investigation.
EXAMPLES ARE:
? False claims of independent student status
? False claims of citizenship
? Use of false identities
? Forgery of signatures of certifications
? False statements of income.
ITEMS OF DOCUMENTATION A STUDENT MUST SUBMIT TO THE FINANCIAL
AID OFFICE IN ORDER TO MEET THE VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
* Students and/or parents must submit IRS Tax Return transcript. The transcript is used to
verify adjusted gross income, tax paid, earned income credit and number of exceptions
claimed.
* Student must complete and submit to the Financial Aid Office a completed and properly
signed Verification Worksheet. There is a Verification Worksheet for dependent students and
one for independent students. The Verification worksheet is used to verify the household size
and the number in College. It also provides income and other information about the student
and/or parents. The worksheet must be properly signed before it can be used to verify the
information on the ISIR.
* If the student or parents have untaxed income, they must list the type and amount
received for the year on the verification worksheet. They must provide proof of that income
from the appropriate agency for child support received or untaxed payment to an IRA &
KEOGH plans.
* Students who indicated on their FAFSA that they have received Food Stamps –SNAP
benefits, they must provide proof from their local DSS.
* Students or parents that were not required to file a 1040, must complete the verification
form and list how they lived for the year, whether it was EBT, TANIF, Social Security,
Commodities, Grant or other.
* Student or parents unable or unwilling to provide the requested and required
documentation to meet the federal verification requirements will not be awarded any Title IV
financial aid.
* Students that are not enrolled at the institution do not have to be verified.
* There may be times that the Financial Aid Office will need additional information from the
student or parents, in addition to items, in order to complete the Verification Process.
* If during this process, the Financial Aid Office determines that part or all of the
information on the ISIR is not correct, the ISIR will be returned for corrections. The corrected
ISIR will be reviewed and the verification process will be completed. The student and/or
parents must sign the correction in order for the corrected ISIR to be valid.
* The Final step in this process to complete the on-line Verification Tool on the financial aid
system. The financial aid staff person completing the verification process must sign and date
the check list. They must also indicate the accuracy or tolerance or the check list.
* No Title IV aid will be disbursed until the required verification process has been completed
for flagged ISIR’s.
* The institution must verify all of the Title IV financial aid recipients that are flagged for
verification.
* The financial aid office can choose to verify a student who has not been selected by the
Department of Education if they see the need.
* The Financial Aid Staff will notify the student when the Verification has been completed
and his/her financial aid will be processed. The student will be informed of any funding
changes that resulted from the Verification.
Procedures
The Financial Aid Office and District Counselors will work with the students on what
documentation is needed to satisfy Federal Verification requirements, deadlines for
completion and consequences on failing to comply.
The Financial Aid Officer verifying the student’s application will check the
documentation against the ISIR. Each of the above mentioned items are verified with
the FAA Access to CPS on-line Verification Tool when verified on an ELECTRONIC
FORM. The form is printed and attached to the student’s file.
If ISIR corrections are needed because of conflicting documentation the Financial Aid
Officer will make the changes and corrections on PART II of the ISIR according to the
verification information submitted by the student and submit the ISIR for correcting to
address the changes. The same steps will be used in determining if the corrected ISIR
is accurate. Corrections and discrepancies are corrected prior to disbursing any federal
student aid.
The student is notified by mail or phone if their award is changed because of the
verification process.
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