What is Verification?
Verification is the process of evaluating the accuracy of your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The U.S Department of Education (ED) selects a percentage of FAFSA applications for verification each year. USI also reserves the right to select additional students for verification.
Affected Programs
Applicants selected for verification cannot receive Federal or State financial aid until the verification process is completed. If you are selected for verification after aid has been disbursed, certain types of aid will be returned to ED until verification has been completed.
The list below is not exhaustive. Contact us if you are receiving aid not represented below and you have questions.
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Federal Work Study
- Federal Direct Student and Parent PLUS Loans
- 21st Century Scholarship
- Frank O'Bannon Grant and State Performance Incentive Programs
- State Adult Student Grant
- William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship
Notification of Selection
Applicants are initially notified of their selection for verification by ED on the FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS). Students are also notified by USI; primarily through the myUSI portal. Instructions for checking myUSI may be found online at https://www.usi.edu/financial-aid/resources/forms-and-documents. In addition, students will receive letters and e-mails to remind students of their responsibility.
Required Documents
ED customizes verification. You will need to check myUSI to see what requirements are specific to you. As we receive information from you and/or ED, we may be required to request additional documentation.
See our Acceptable Tax Documents handout located on our forms and handouts page for more information. Be sure to select the correct academic year.
***IMPORTANT*** If you choose to email documents, please see our handout on Sending a Secure/Encrypted Email.
Deadlines
You are strongly encouraged to submit all requested verification documents as soon as possible and our priority processing deadline is June 1. Processing times vary, but during peak times of the year such as July and August, processing may take up to 8 weeks or more.
- Some financial aid cannot be paid after the end of the term; therefore, all documents should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the end of the term for processing.
- A 120-day grace period (after your last day of attendance) or the deadline published in the Federal Register (whichever comes first) applies for Pell Grant and Direct Loans. However, it is important to note that Direct Loans cannot be certified after the end of the loan period (final semester attended).
Please remember that Federal and State Financial aid cannot be disbursed until this process has been completed. Failure to complete verification by the deadline will result in reduction or cancellation of state and federal financial aid.
Review of Documents
Once all documents have been received, USI will compare your documents to your FAFSA. If discrepancies are found, USI will make the necessary corrections to the FAFSA and it will be resubmitted electronically to ED for processing. Note: We are required to resolve conflicting information; therefore, worksheets may be sent back to you for confirmation and/or additional documentation may be requested.
Notification of Results
If we must make corrections to the FAFSA, you will receive an updated FAFSA Submission Summary. The FSS will detail the items that were corrected, and it will provide a recalculated Student Aid Index (SAI). You will also receive an email informing you that verification has been completed and reminding you to check myUSI for updated award information.
Errors
Most FAFSA items cannot be changed after verification has been completed. After the verification process has begun, it is best to work directly with Student Financial Assistance to make corrections.
Reporting Fraud
Students who purposely give false or misleading information on any of the verification documentation may be fined, sentenced to jail, or both. In cases where intent to commit fraud to obtain federal funds is suspected, USI will refer the case to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General for review and resolution. No further processing of financial aid will occur until the case has been resolved.