Verification

FAFSA Verification

About FAFSA Verification

FAFSA Verification is a review process mandated by the U.S. Department of Education (34 CRF, Part 68) that requires financial aid offices to verify that information reported on the FAFSA application is true and accurate. At minimum, the government will randomly select 30% of a college's population for this process. Manhattan College is also required by federal law to verify FAFSAs that present conflicting information.

A selected FAFSA does not have a finalized Expected Family Contribution (EFC). This means that the FAFSA needs to be verified by a financial aid administrator before need-based financial aid can be determined. Need-based aid includes institutional grants and federal aid (Pell Grant, FSEOG, subsidized Stafford and Perkins loans). Therefore, pending aid may be offered, but the aid and loans on the award letter and tuition billing statements are subject to change until the verification review is completed. 

Some states also validate the financial data of their state grant recipients. It is important to provide information to those sources as requested. 

The Financial Aid Administration office also holds responsibility to report suspected cases of federal aid fraud, waste, or abuse to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Inspector General (34 CFR 668.16), and to the Dean of Students at Manhattan College. Please rest assured that fraud cases seldom occur and such cases are very atypical compared to the standard verification corrections submitted by our counselors. 

Notification to Students

Most students can see that their FAFSA was selected for verification by reviewing their Student Aid Report (SAR) on fafsa.ed.gov after filing a FAFSA. Read the notification sent to impacted students via postal mail and campus email on May 20, 2013. Students with selected FAFSAs are required to provide documentation as specified within three weeks from the official notice date.

Pending Verification Reviews and Tuition Payment

  • Although tuition bills may show pending aid, no need-based financial aid (including Stafford and/or Perkins loans) will be credited to the account until the verification review is completed.
  • Pending reviews, for any reason, do not extend any financial aid and/or payment deadlines. Students must make payment arrangements to cover the balance, excluding all tentative need-based aid. 
  • Starting in July, students may apply for a tuition deferral option, which extends the semester's tuition payment deadline.
  • Failure to comply within three weeks of the official notice date may result in the cancellation of all need-based aid and the student will be responsible for the larger balance due accordingly.
  • Please consult our office policies for ramifications of a past due tuition balance.

Verification Instructions for 2013-2014

1. Complete and sign the 2013-2014 Verification Worksheet, attaching additional documents as explained on the form.

2. For tax filers who did not use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool:

a. Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (see: File FAFSA Quicker) or Order free Tax Return Transcripts from the IRS:

  • 2012 Parent IRS Tax Return Transcript
  • 2012 Student IRS Tax Return Transcript

For non-tax filers who did not use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool:

  • Copy of 2012 W-2 statement(s) for Parent(s)
  • Copy of 2012 W-2 statement(s) for Student

Other Tax Filing Circumstances

3. Submit other documents as requested; regularly check your MC student e-mail account for correspondence from our office. Review the common circumstances below and supply any applicable documents to our office:

CIRCUMSTANCE SUBMIT
Student's biological/adoptive parents are divorced, and the parent listed on the FAFSA is not remarried. Copy of divorce decree
  • Student's biological/adoptive parents are separated or were never married, and the parent listed on the FAFSA is not married.
  • Student's parent remarried and is separated from their current spouse.
 Parental Separation form with supporting documentation (as explained on form).
Student and/or parent(s) received SNAP Benefits in 2012. Fill out the relevant section on the Verification worksheet - Attach the household's annual SNAP earnings statement for 2012.
Student and/or parent(s) PAID child support in 2012. Fill out the relevant section on the Verification worksheet - Attach documentation for the total amount of child support paid in 2012.
You are required to submit proof that you completed high school or equivalent program of study. Complete BOTH of the following: 
Student's biological/adoptive parent is deceased. Copy of death certificate
Student and/or parent(s) own real estate property aside from their permanent residence. Fill out the relevant section on the Verification worksheet - Copy of Schedule E from the 2012 federal tax return.
Student reports a household income below the Poverty Guidelines for 2013, as established by the U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services. Expense/Resource Worksheet

 

Please review the circumstances below if you have not filed your federal tax return or you filed outside of the United States, and supply any applicable documents to our office:

TAX FILING CIRCUMSTANCE SUBMIT
The student and/or parent(s) filed an amended federal tax return. Provide ALL of the following: 

1. A 2012 IRS Tax Return Transcript (irs.gov).    

2. A 2012 IRS Tax Account Transcript (irs.gov).

3. A signed copy of the original 2012 federal income tax return filed with the IRS.

4. A signed copy of the 2012 IRS Form 1040X (Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) that was filed with the IRS.
The student and/or parent(s) have an approved federal tax filing extension. After filing a 2012 federal income tax return, use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (see File FAFSA Quicker) or submit an IRS Tax Return Transcript. Verification reviews cannot be completed until the federal tax return(s) is filed and appropriate documentation is submitted. Please make alternative payment arrangements.
Student and/or parent(s) is self-employed. Submit a signed statement certifying the amount of the individual’s AGI and the U.S. income tax paid for the 2012 tax year.
Student and/or parent(s) filed a 2012 federal income tax return with Puerto Rico, another U.S. territory (e.g., Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Marianas Islands), or with a foreign country Submit a signed copy of that 2012 federal income tax return(s).
Recent Victims of IRS Identity Theft A signed copy of the paper 2012 federal income tax return filed with the IRS and one of the following:              
  • A signed copy of IRS Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit), if one was submitted to the IRS.
  • A statement with signature and date by the identity theft victim, explaining that the IRS is investigating the matter.
  • A copy of a police report filed to address the identify theft with the IRS.

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How to Submit Your Documents

Please write the student's name and campus ID number on all forms and documents.

Submission options:

Manhattan College

Office of Financial Aid Administration

4513 Manhattan College Parkway

Riverdale, NY 10471

Track Your Verification Review Status

The review process may take up to two to six weeks to complete, due to the intricacies of each verification case. Verification cases are reviewed when all required documents are received, by date order.

Students can track their verification review status at Self-Service > Financial Aid > Follow-up & Current Award Status  and contact us with any questions.

Verification Review Process

The Federal Student Aid Administration does not seek to take financial aid away from students, but imposes verification reviews in order to ensure that students are truly eligible before need-based aid is disbursed.

Within two to six weeks from receiving all required documents, a financial aid administrator will complete the review to one of the following outcomes:

  • No changes are needed; the student’s verification review status is updated to ‘Satisfied’ on Self-Service, our office notifies the student via e-mail that their financial aid award letter is ready.
  • FSA processes the electronic corrections and sends the student an e-mail; the student’s verification review status is updated to ‘Satisfied’ on Self-Service and our office notifies the student via e-mail that their financial aid award letter is ready.
  • More information is needed to satisfy federal regulation requirements; our office e-mails the student a request for additional information.

 

The Financial Aid Administration office also holds responsibility to report suspected cases of federal aid fraud, waste, or abuse to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Inspector General (34 CFR 668.16), and to the Dean of Students at Manhattan College. Please rest assured that fraud cases seldom occur and such cases are very atypical compared to the standard verification corrections submitted by our counselors.