Verification

What is Verification and how did I get selected?

Verification is the process by which an educational institution confirms the accuracy of the data reported on an individual student's FAFSA. About 30% of all Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA's) are selected for verification by the Central Processing System (CPS). Bellevue University, through the Office of Financial Aid (FA), may also select applicants for verification to correct any potential conflicts in information. If your application is selected, FA is required to collect all necessary documentation from you and your parents or spouse, if applicable, per federal guidelines. Information from these documents is then compared to your FAFSA information and corrections to the FAFSA are made when necessary. FA must verify all applicants selected for verification, including students previously verified by another school.

It is the responsibility of all students chosen for verification to submit the required verification documentation as listed below to FA soon as possible. Bellevue University does not award federal (Title IV) aid until the verification process is complete.

On the rare occasion that a student is selected for verification after being awarded Title IV aid, the student will be subject to all the rules and requirements of verification as those applicants who were selected before being awarded. If the student's federal Title IV aid eligibility changes as a result of corrections made through the verification process, the student will be responsible for any reduction to their Title IV aid. CPS will issue the student an updated SAR, reflecting any corrections made to their FAFSA, and FA will notify the student, through Bellevue University email, of any changes to their Title IV aid. All Title IV aid changes will also be reflected on their Financial Aid Award.

How will I know if my FAFSA is selected for Verification?

All Bellevue University students who are selected for verification will be sent a Verification Communication to their BU email requesting the federally required verification documents needed to complete the verification of their FAFSA. If the student has not been assigned a BU email, Verification Communication will be sent to the email listed on their BU application.

What documents do I need to submit for Verification?

If you are a DEPENDENT student (answered "No" to all questions in "Step Three" of your FAFSA and had to provide parent information) please submit the following documents:

• VERIFICATION WORKSHEET
• Signed copy of your federal tax return you used to fill out the FAFSA, if applicable.
  If you did not file a tax return please submit a written statement stating why you did not and will not file taxes for that year.
• Signed copy of your parent(s) 2010 federal tax return, if applicable.
  If your parents not file a tax return please submit a written statement stating why you did not and will not file taxes for that year.

If you are an INDEPENDENT student (you answered "Yes" to at least one question in "Step Three" of your FAFSA and did not have to provide parent information) please submit the following documents:

• VERIFICATION WORKSHEET
• Signed copy of your 2010 federal tax return, if applicable.
  If you or your spouse did not file a tax return please submit a written statement stating why you did not and will not file taxes for that year.
  If you do not have a copy of the requested tax return(s), you can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and request a "Tax Return Transcript". This form, signed by the taxpayer, is acceptable in lieu of an actual tax return.

I thought I submitted all of the documents needed for Verification. Why are you requesting more information?

If you did not submit all of the requested documentation or failed to complete or sign the submitted documents or if the counselor verifying your FAFSA needs additional information or documentation, you will be contacted by FA and be requested to submit the information still needed to complete the verification process. You will usually be contacted by your BU email (or the email listed on your BU application if a BU email hasn't been assigned), but may also be contacted by phone, if necessary, or mailed a request if no phone or email is available. Please submit the requested information back to our office as soon as possible!!

Additional forms that may be needed upon request:

• Low Income Form
  Form to be completed when BU noted that a low or zero 2010 income was reported by you or your parent(s). Clarification as to how you lived on this income is needed. 2. 2011-2012 Explanation of Financial Support
• Untaxed Income Form
  On the financial aid application, you or your parent(s) reported a non-taxable income from the corresponding tax year. When verifying your application, we were unable to determine exactly what type of untaxed income the above amount was. Please provide the appropriate source.

When is an application sent back for reprocessing and how will I be notified of any changes made to my FAFSA?

If a discrepancy is found during the verification process, all necessary corrections are made to the FAFSA then sent to CPS for reprocessing. Once the corrections have been processed by CPS, you will receive another SAR which will reflect any changes made to your FAFSA as well as any changes to your Expected Family Contribution number (EFC). You will then be awarded financial aid based on the updated EFC.

How long does Verification take?

Once all of the requested verification documents are submitted, the verification process can take up to 3 weeks due to the quality of the verification documents submitted to SFA, the number of discrepancies and/or other student eligibility issues present on the application, and the volume of applications being received by FA.