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Verification


What is Verification?

Each year the U.S. Department of Education selects financial aid applicants for federal verification review. This process requires Lock Haven University (LHU) to verify that the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is accurate. For purposes of this review, students are asked to submit certain documentation to the Student Financial Services Office, such as federal tax returns and W-2 wage and tax statements (i.e. W-2 forms).

Why is my FAFSA being verified?

There are several possibilities:

  • Some FAFSA applications are selected randomly.
  • Some applications are submitted with incomplete data or conflicting information.
  • Some applications are categorized as having a high probability of error (e.g. applications on which students provide estimated, not actual, income tax information).

? What happens if my FAFSA is selected for verification review?

If your application is selected for verification review, the Student Aid Report (SAR) you receive from the Federal FAFSA Processor will say so. The LHU Student Financial Services Office will also notify you that your FAFSA has been selected to be verified and will ask you to submit copies of certain documents you used to complete your FAFSA.

What documents do I have to submit and to whom?

  • A complete, signed copy of student and parent (if the student is dependent) U.S. Income Tax Returns. This includes any related 1099s and supporting schedules
  • A copy of student and parent (if the student is dependent) W-2 wage and tax statements (i.e. W-2 forms)
  • A Verification Form, which we will send to you. This form is also available online.

Please submit the documents to: Student Financial Services, 123 Russell Hall, Lock Haven, PA 17745. Please note that follow-up requests for additional information may be necessary based on our initial review of the documentation you submit.

Are any deadlines associated with Verification?

Students should submit all required verification documents to the Student Financial Services Office within 30 days of the initial request and no later than 30 days prior to their last day of enrollment for the award year.

If you do not submit your verification documents in a timely manner, the processing and disbursement of your federal financial aid will be delayed. A delay may result in your having to pay all of or part of your student bill until processing is complete.

What does the Student Financial Services Office do with my documents?

The documents you submit become part of your LHU financial aid file. The information on those documents is compared to the FAFSA information provided to us by the Federal FAFSA Processor.

I thought I already turned in the documents required for verification. Why do you need more information?

For many students, the process consists simply of a review of the tax returns, W-2 forms, and the Verification Form they submit. But sometimes we discover inconsistencies which must be resolved. When this happens, we typically send requests for additional information by mail.

If my FAFSA is selected for verification, what can I do to speed up the review process ?

  • Submit all requested documents to the Student Financial Services Office as soon as possible.
  • Submit all requested documents at the same time.
  • Make sure the documents you submit are legible and signed where applicable.
  • Make sure all documents submitted are clearly labeled with the student's name and LHU ID number.
  • Please be patient. A large number of student applications are verified, and it takes time for our staff to process the large volume of paper work. Periodically checking on the status of your file is a good idea. You may give us a call at 570-484-2344, or stop by the office, 123 Russell Hall, during office hours.

What happens if something was filled out incorrectly on my FAFSA?

If any errors are found, we will correct your FAFSA. If the error(s) changes the amount of financial aid for which you are eligible, we will send you, via either mail or a message to your LHUP email account, a revised financial aid award notification. In addition, the Federal FAFSA Processor will send you a revised Student Aid Report (SAR), which will reflect the corrections we make to your FAFSA. Finally, in the case of an overpayment (i.e. you receive funds in excess of the amount for which you ultimately qualify), we will return the funds for which you do not qualify to the appropriate source (e.g. federal government), and you will be billed for any amount owed to Lock Haven University.