What Happens if I’m Selected for Verification?

Verification is a process used to ensure that certain FAFSA information is accurate. The U.S. Department of Education or your school may select your FAFSA for verification. Some students are selected randomly, and some schools verify every FAFSA they receive.

Don’t panic if you were chosen for verification. It is a normal part of the process.

FAQ

Why would my FAFSA be selected for verification?

There are two ways a FAFSA can be selected for verification:

1. Federal Student Aid selected the FAFSA. The FAFSA Processing System selects some applications, including some at random. A correction to a FAFSA can also result in selection.
2. The school selected the FAFSA. A school must verify information it has reason to believe is inaccurate. It may also request documentation under its consistently applied policies, including from every applicant.¹

What do I do if I am selected for FAFSA verification?

If you were selected for verification, you should:

1. Review your FAFSA Submission Summary for messages from the U.S. Department of Education. If you’ve been selected, an asterisk ( * ) will appear next to your SAI number. Read the instructions in the “Next Steps” section on what to do next.

2. Gather the requested documents. Provide only the requested information and be sure that all documents have the appropriate signatures.

3. Complete a verification worksheet, if required. If you are selected for verification, many schools may require that you to complete a verification worksheet.

4. Return all verification materials as soon as possible. The sooner you verify your information, the sooner you’ll be able to receive financial aid if you’re eligible.

FAFSA verification is an important process used to ensure that the information you have submitted is accurate.

This verification helps prevent ineligible students from receiving aid by reporting false information and ensure that only eligible students receive all of the aid for which they are qualified.